Rating: 
Summary: All This and Pirates. Too.
Review: Yes, it takes awhile to get to the danger, but the scenes of New Orleans and Benjamin January's lives are so rich that I didn't care. As usual, I was taken by the contrast among the lives of Ben and his sisters. Dominique, pregnant and in love with her protector, Henri, has her lifestyle threatened by Henri's marriage to a young lady of icy reputation. The bride sold her own nurse! Can such a she-monster be expected to let Henri spend time with and money on his lovely placee? If you thought Olympe was the strong sister and Minou only a pampered weakling, this book will change your mind.I loved seeing Ben and Rose's relationship progress. Since this is a Barbara Hambly book, you can't expect them to go through gunfire, fire, and a hurricane with just a few scratches, but it isn't all bad, thank goodness. Hellfire Hessy's murder made me feel sad that so much of her life was wasted, but the second murder is even worse. Remember the old phrase, "Hanging's too good fer them?" Apply that to the killers. Better take mental notes because some of the information that you might suspect is just local color isn't. It *will* make sense later. That includes the pirate lore, which was fascinating in its own right. Abishag Shaw (what kind of parents named their son for one of King David's concubines???) is still sharp and sharp shooting. It's nice to see the Long Arm of the Law actually respect the amateur detective. It's also nice that he's not stupid. I still have to laugh that the publisher of Ms. Hambly's mysteries is being so cagey about not mentioning her fantasy writing. I have plenty of friends and relatives who read both genres. I suspect we're hardly alone in that.
Rating:
Summary: A banquet brawl is a slow start?
Review: Yes, it takes awhile to get to the danger, but the scenes of New Orleans and Benjamin January's lives are so rich that I didn't care. As usual, I was taken by the contrast among the lives of Ben and his sisters. Dominique, pregnant and in love with her protector, Henri, has her lifestyle threatened by Henri's marriage to a young lady of icy reputation. The bride sold her own nurse! Can such a she-monster be expected to let Henri spend time with and money on his lovely placee? If you thought Olympe was the strong sister and Minou only a pampered weakling, this book will change your mind. I loved seeing Ben and Rose's relationship progress. Since this is a Barbara Hambly book, you can't expect them to go through gunfire, fire, and a hurricane with just a few scratches, but it isn't all bad, thank goodness. Hellfire Hessy's murder made me feel sad that so much of her life was wasted, but the second murder is even worse. Remember the old phrase, "Hanging's too good fer them?" Apply that to the killers. Better take mental notes because some of the information that you might suspect is just local color isn't. It *will* make sense later. That includes the pirate lore, which was fascinating in its own right. Abishag Shaw (what kind of parents named their son for one of King David's concubines???) is still sharp and sharp shooting. It's nice to see the Long Arm of the Law actually respect the amateur detective. It's also nice that he's not stupid. I still have to laugh that the publisher of Ms. Hambly's mysteries is being so cagey about not mentioning her fantasy writing. I have plenty of friends and relatives who read both genres. I suspect we're hardly alone in that.
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