Rating: 
Summary: Haunting, and very, very good.
Review: I think I should begin by saying that Barbara Hambly may be my favorite author. I keep the Darwath books by my bed, to read again and again on nights I can't sleep--Gil Patterson is a soul sister. Hambly wrote the Darwath books many years ago, and of course I have read everything else she's written, the good ones and the terrific ones. The Benjamin January books fulfill the promise of her earlier work, and they are splendid stories and engrossing mysteries, but beyond that, they stand alone as literary works of art and mood. You feel the fears, the heat and the miseries, the joys and the sorrows of this Free Man of Color, but more than that, you begin--only begin, of course--to understand the true horror of slavery and the shining glory inherent in the ability of some men and women to maintain their essential goodness when faced with the stark, uncaring inhumanity of their fellow men. No, these books won't ever help me into calm and dreamless sleep--they have a value far beyond that. Benjamin January, like Gil Patterson, is a person to me--a friend I would know immediately if I met him in real life.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting, and very, very good.
Review: I think I should begin by saying that Barbara Hambly may be my favorite author. I keep the Darwath books by my bed, to read again and again on nights I can't sleep--Gil Patterson is a soul sister. Hambly wrote the Darwath books many years ago, and of course I have read everything else she's written, the good ones and the terrific ones. The Benjamin January books fulfill the promise of her earlier work, and they are splendid stories and engrossing mysteries, but beyond that, they stand alone as literary works of art and mood. You feel the fears, the heat and the miseries, the joys and the sorrows of this Free Man of Color, but more than that, you begin--only begin, of course--to understand the true horror of slavery and the shining glory inherent in the ability of some men and women to maintain their essential goodness when faced with the stark, uncaring inhumanity of their fellow men. No, these books won't ever help me into calm and dreamless sleep--they have a value far beyond that. Benjamin January, like Gil Patterson, is a person to me--a friend I would know immediately if I met him in real life.
Rating:
Summary: excellent feel
Review: I've always been a fan of Hambly's and the Benjamin January series has been a great favorite for not only the excellent, believable charactors and solid storylines, but the little details. The motivations for the charactor's actions and the way they react come through, especially in this book. A regular reviewer would put it this way: Ben finds himself pursuing justice on a plantation run by a brutal former master, and the difficulties with reconciling with his past as well as the prejudices he faces get in the way of his investigation. But it is much more - one sees motivations and the way that friendships develop under adverse conditions, and what prices people pay to protect themselves and their loved ones to the best of thier abilities. And how people reconciliate thier actions to themselves. Yes, there are a few spots that are a little jarring to the consistancy, and a bit of a deux ex machina at the end, but in all, the plot development, the charactors, and the logical actions and reactions blended quite well - as well as the historical and location feel. When Ms. Hambly is your historical tour guide, you can feel the mists and swampy miasma rise around you as you make your way through the cypress tangles bordering the cane fields along the river... You won't get sold down the river with this one...
Rating:
Summary: An eye opener but somewhat unrealistic feeling.
Review: I've read Hambly's fantasy and vampire books, and enjoyed them. Looking through a bookstore in Maine before a research cruise for something different to read, I was glancing through the fiction section and noticed this book. It sounded like an interesting read and since I'd never read anything dealing with a realistic depiction of American slavery, I picked it up. Her writing is as well done as I expected, the descriptions of New Orleans, the plantation, the rural areas surrounding both, are all lush and/or disturbing. The depiction of slavery itself seems spot on also, and learning some of the details of went on made it a hard read in spots, but worthwhile. Her characters are all well differentiated from each other but there are quite a few of them to keep straight, I especially had difficulty with keeping track of everyone in the plantation owner's family for awhile. Hambly is able to write tender scenes, graphically violent events and suspenseful moments with equal skill. While the writing is excellent, the story itself is sometimes hard to swallow. One of the keys to allowing the reader suspension of disbelief is to read the cover where it says "A novel of suspense." It's not really a mystery, as the clues tend to be discovered by the reader and the protagonist at the same time, with explanations as to what the clues mean fairly quickly. The character is somewhat amazing, as other reviewers have mentioned. Many of the scenes read like an action movie. The character always manages to stumble across the major elements of the puzzle even if he's not actively looking for them. This is all more easily forgiven if you realize what kind of a novel it is. Still, it does take away some from the believability of the story which is why I can't give the novel 5 stars. Because of its realistic depiction of slavery and great writing style though, it's on my highly recommended list.
Rating:
Summary: An eye opener but somewhat unrealistic feeling.
Review: I've read Hambly's fantasy and vampire books, and enjoyed them. Looking through a bookstore in Maine before a research cruise for something different to read, I was glancing through the fiction section and noticed this book. It sounded like an interesting read and since I'd never read anything dealing with a realistic depiction of American slavery, I picked it up. Her writing is as well done as I expected, the descriptions of New Orleans, the plantation, the rural areas surrounding both, are all lush and/or disturbing. The depiction of slavery itself seems spot on also, and learning some of the details of went on made it a hard read in spots, but worthwhile. Her characters are all well differentiated from each other but there are quite a few of them to keep straight, I especially had difficulty with keeping track of everyone in the plantation owner's family for awhile. Hambly is able to write tender scenes, graphically violent events and suspenseful moments with equal skill. While the writing is excellent, the story itself is sometimes hard to swallow. One of the keys to allowing the reader suspension of disbelief is to read the cover where it says "A novel of suspense." It's not really a mystery, as the clues tend to be discovered by the reader and the protagonist at the same time, with explanations as to what the clues mean fairly quickly. The character is somewhat amazing, as other reviewers have mentioned. Many of the scenes read like an action movie. The character always manages to stumble across the major elements of the puzzle even if he's not actively looking for them. This is all more easily forgiven if you realize what kind of a novel it is. Still, it does take away some from the believability of the story which is why I can't give the novel 5 stars. Because of its realistic depiction of slavery and great writing style though, it's on my highly recommended list.
Rating: 
Summary: Really outstanding-readers feel what slavery was like
Review: In 1834 New Orleans, Benjamin January hopes to make some money to support himself and his mother by providing piano lessons. However, his livelihood is interrupted when his former slave master, the cruel Simon Fourchet demands he help him discover who is causing havoc at Mon Triomphe Plantation. Ben remains concerned for what Simon is capable of doing to all the slaves at his two plantations. However, he also has been there, done that, and has Simon's whip marks from a beating when he was seven to prove it. In spite of his personal fears, Ben reluctantly agrees to investigate. Someone has destroyed much of the sugar cane crop and left voodoo messages on the mill's walls. The masters believe this Turner wannabe has aroused the sentiments that easily could boil into a slave uprising. Worried about the white man's retaliation towards everyone with black skin, Ben goes undercover as a slave on the embattled plantation. As Ben makes quiet inquiries, he remembers with this new experience how humiliating being a slave is and worries that he might never regain his freedom. SOLD DOWN THE RIVER includes a great mystery with excellent characters. However, what makes this Americana fiction must reading is the depth of the period interwoven into the plot. It feels as if the audience is seeing first hand the perilous life of a slave on a plantation. The excellent who-done-it is cleverly designed and disguised. However, as with its predecessors (see A FREE MAN OF COLOR, FEVER SEASON, and GRAVEYARD DUST), this novel is a welcomed period piece that should bring much acclaim and many awards to Barbara Hambley. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: This is a Terribly Real Period Piece!
Review: It is very difficult to read this book of Ms. Hambly's because her portrayal of slavery and the slave's lot in 19th century America is so real. The book is filled with horror from cover to cover, but there is warmth, fellowship and love there too. When people are together in misery very lasting and strong bonds and friendships are forged, and Benjamin January rediscovers this when he goes undercover on a cane plantation to try to determine who is behind all the accidents and deaths occuring on his old master's plantation. January certainly has no love for Simon Fourtier, but he can't help going to help because if tragedy occurs to the white folks on a plantation, it can't help but be felt by the slaves, and they usually end up suffering the more for it. January goes to help, and goes to work as a field hand with the threat of being plunged back into the slave's life very real to him. He makes some lasting friendships, but at the same time uncovers an evil so grotesque that he can hardly take it in. Luckily for Ben, his old friend Hannibal and Abishag Shaw come to his rescue before he is actually "sold down the river". Ms. Hambly's research is very extensive, and she captures this era better than anyone I've read.
Rating:
Summary: This is a Terribly Real Period Piece!
Review: It is very difficult to read this book of Ms. Hambly's because her portrayal of slavery and the slave's lot in 19th century America is so real. The book is filled with horror from cover to cover, but there is warmth, fellowship and love there too. When people are together in misery very lasting and strong bonds and friendships are forged, and Benjamin January rediscovers this when he goes undercover on a cane plantation to try to determine who is behind all the accidents and deaths occuring on his old master's plantation. January certainly has no love for Simon Fourtier, but he can't help going to help because if tragedy occurs to the white folks on a plantation, it can't help but be felt by the slaves, and they usually end up suffering the more for it. January goes to help, and goes to work as a field hand with the threat of being plunged back into the slave's life very real to him. He makes some lasting friendships, but at the same time uncovers an evil so grotesque that he can hardly take it in. Luckily for Ben, his old friend Hannibal and Abishag Shaw come to his rescue before he is actually "sold down the river". Ms. Hambly's research is very extensive, and she captures this era better than anyone I've read.
Rating:
Summary: A smoothly written novel of suspense.
Review: This Benjamin January mystery provides a smooth novel of suspense set in New Orleans and steeped with drama and tension. January searches for more music students to earn money but accepts a deal from a cruel former master instead. His investigation into a possible slave rebellion involves him in undercover espionage in this story of an ex-slave's probe.
Rating:
Summary: A smoothly written novel of suspense.
Review: This Benjamin January mystery provides a smooth novel of suspense set in New Orleans and steeped with drama and tension. January searches for more music students to earn money but accepts a deal from a cruel former master instead. His investigation into a possible slave rebellion involves him in undercover espionage in this story of an ex-slave's probe.
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