TY  - BOOK
AU  - Hambly,Barbara
TI  - Death and hard cider
T2  - A Benjamin January mystery
SN  - 9780727850744
PY  - 2022///
CY  - Edinburgh
PB  - Severn House
KW  - January, Benjamin (Fictitious character)
KW  - Fiction
KW  - Free African Americans
KW  - Private investigators
KW  - New Orleans (La.)
KW  - History
KW  - 19th century
KW  - Detective and mystery fiction
KW  - lcgft
KW  - Historical fiction
N2  - Musician, sleuth and free man of color Benjamin January gets mixed in politics, with murderous results. September, 1840. A giant rally is being planned in New Orleans to stir up support for presidential candidate William Henry Harrison: the Indian-killing, hard-cider-drinking, wannabe "people's president". Trained surgeon turned piano-player Benjamin January has little use for politicians. But the run-up to the rally is packed with balls and dinner parties, and the meagre pay is sorely needed. Soon, however, January has more to worry about than keeping his beloved family fed and safe. During an elegant reception thrown by New Orleans' local Whig notables, the son of a prominent politician gets into a fist-fight with a rival over beautiful young flirt Marie-Joyeuse Maginot - and, the day after the rally is over, Marie-Joyeuse turns up dead. The only black person amongst the initial suspects is arrested immediately: January's dear friend, Catherine Clisson. With Catherine's life on the line, January is determined to uncover the truth and prove her innocence. But his adversaries are powerful politicians, and the clock is ticking
ER  -