Rating: 
Summary: Historical New Orleans and a Voodoo Mystery
Review: Benjamin January, musician, doctor and free man of color, navigates the dangerous world of 19th century New Orleans. When his sister Olympe, a voodooienne, is accused of murder he knows that he will have to find the truth, because justice for the colored is hard to find. The risk to Olympe increases as yellow fever breaks out in the jail. And when January's life is targeted as well, by knife and by voodoo curse, he knows that time is running out. January's frantic search for the truth wanders through all levels of New Orleans society, from high class French Creoles, to the voodoo queen Marie Laveau, to a runaway slave village in the swamps.
Hambly's obvious attention to detail and research is impressive and lends a gritty, believable reality to the New Orleans of 1834. The story is gripping, the setting is fascinating, and the characters are compelling. Hambly doesn't pull any punches in depicting the darker side of human nature and it is present in full force, not the least in the everyday injustices experienced by slaves and the free colored. But the good side of human nature makes enough of an appearance to mitigate the bleak outlook. January's budding relationship with Rose Vitrac is touching as is his friendship with fellow musician Hannibal.
The action in the book is interspersed with a lot of soul searching by January as he tries to reconcile his Christianity with his sister's belief in voodoo. It's an interesting debate and it doesn't bog down the flow of the book. Some will find the descriptions of slavery and racism difficult to take, but Hambly in no way romanticizes the customs of the times.
Rating:
Summary: Historical New Orleans and a Voodoo Mystery
Review: Benjamin January, musician, doctor and free man of color, navigates the dangerous world of 19th century New Orleans. When his sister Olympe, a voodooienne, is accused of murder he knows that he will have to find the truth, because justice for the colored is hard to find. The risk to Olympe increases as yellow fever breaks out in the jail. And when January's life is targeted as well, by knife and by voodoo curse, he knows that time is running out. January's frantic search for the truth wanders through all levels of New Orleans society, from high class French Creoles, to the voodoo queen Marie Laveau, to a runaway slave village in the swamps. Hambly's obvious attention to detail and research is impressive and lends a gritty, believable reality to the New Orleans of 1834. The story is gripping, the setting is fascinating, and the characters are compelling. Hambly doesn't pull any punches in depicting the darker side of human nature and it is present in full force, not the least in the everyday injustices experienced by slaves and the free colored. But the good side of human nature makes enough of an appearance to mitigate the bleak outlook. January's budding relationship with Rose Vitrac is touching as is his friendship with fellow musician Hannibal. The action in the book is interspersed with a lot of soul searching by January as he tries to reconcile his Christianity with his sister's belief in voodoo. It's an interesting debate and it doesn't bog down the flow of the book. Some will find the descriptions of slavery and racism difficult to take, but Hambly in no way romanticizes the customs of the times.
Rating:
Summary: dangerous fog shrouded place
Review: Graveyard Dust by Barbara Hambly is the third in a series about Benjamin January a freeman of 19th century New Orleans who is both a physician and a musician. At the start of the book we find that January's sister Olympe, a voodooienne has been accused of murder of Isaak Jumon. January will have to unravel the mystery of Isaak's death to free his sister. Hambly's New Orleans is a dangerous fog shrouded place. It is fever season again and various voodoo factions are involved in the plot. Some are leaving graveyard dust at January's doorway. Tennessee trappers are trying to murder him as he desperately seeks clues to exonerate his sister. This book does not move as quickly as others in this series. It sometimes bogs down at various twists and turns. It does however add depth and interest in the characters involved. The authors insights and research about the history of New Orleans brings the time and place to life.
Rating:
Summary: dangerous fog shrouded place
Review: Graveyard Dust by Barbara Hambly is the third in a series about Benjamin January a freeman of 19th century New Orleans who is both a physician and a musician. At the start of the book we find that January's sister Olympe, a voodooienne has been accused of murder of Isaak Jumon. January will have to unravel the mystery of Isaak's death to free his sister. Hambly's New Orleans is a dangerous fog shrouded place. It is fever season again and various voodoo factions are involved in the plot. Some are leaving graveyard dust at January's doorway. Tennessee trappers are trying to murder him as he desperately seeks clues to exonerate his sister. This book does not move as quickly as others in this series. It sometimes bogs down at various twists and turns. It does however add depth and interest in the characters involved. The authors insights and research about the history of New Orleans brings the time and place to life.
Rating:
Summary: Barbara Hambly Delights Again
Review: Graveyard Dust is the third of a series which this accomplished author has written about New Orleans in the 1830's. She is a fine writer who deserves much wider recognition and publicity. Her research is obviously thorough and her ability to capture character, place, time and story are outstanding. I have been reading her science and historical fiction since the eighties and I must say that I have never been disappointed. Even though this book is the third in the series, the way Ms. Hambly develops the characters and the exposition is complete, fresh and never boring. You could certainly start with this book and then go back to read the others. If I had to find one flaw (the reason for the 4 stars instead of 5), I would say that the pace of the book is slower than my NY tastes. However, it is a perfect mirror of the South as far as I can tell -- and it held my interest the entire way. Since I am white, I would like to add that I was encouraged to read reviews here by African Americans who liked this book. I felt it was sensitive and accurate and their endorsement confirmed that for me. The best thing I can say is that I am always looking out for new work by Barbara Hambly -- she is a reader's delight.
Rating: 
Summary: A Book to Read and Read Again
Review: I have read and re-read Graveyard Dust and found it as entralling the second time as it was on the first reading. I was especially happy to see that Barbara Hambly has included all the characters that have become important in Benjamin Janvier's life and that they do not "disappear" with the completion of the previous novel. With each book, Barbara Hambly enriches the fabric of the life of Benjamin Janvier. She maintains the family relationships and a circle of friends that make you want to know more about this fascinating man of her creation. I was happy to see the relationship between Benjamin and Hannibal grow with the ease of witty remarks passed back and forth and to see the inclusion of Herr and Madame Mayerling, Rose Vitrac and Abishag Shaw. What makes Barbara Hambly's books so much better is her attention to details of the real world. One may look at a map of New Orleans and identify the streets named in the book. One may study history and see the names of real people woven into her story with consummate skill. You may scent the air, hear the clip-clop of horses hooves in the street, feel the humidity and see the afternoon light. You are immersed in the setting and have a sense that you could walk the streets where they once walked. Here, in Graveyard Dust, Barbara Hambly gives us a detailed view of the practice of voodoo without Hollywood glamourizing. It was, (and still is), much a part of the daily lives of the people of New Orleans. While Benjamin Janvier may not agree with his sister Olympe`'s praticing of voodoo, he will still risk all to clear the charges of conspiracy to murder and to bring his somewhat fragmented family back to a whole. He will look beyond the surface of what things appear to be and fight the contraints of "custom". While it may not be the focus of the book, I enjoyed the under underlying theme of bringing a family closer together, of getting to know each other again after many years of separation and indifference and of honor and loyalty to the diverse group of friends she has stitched together. Benjamin's patient, budding relationship with Rose makes a reader hopeful for them. Barbara Hambly's goal may be to entertain, but with this series of stories about Benjamin Janvier, I have found my self returned to a slower pace and educated about a landmark time in American history, a place where good manners and grammar were observed in public and the world didn't move at the speed of a telephone cable. Time to move over and retire Anne Rice, Barbara Hambly is the new reigning Queen of New Orleans.
Rating:
Summary: Yet another winner from Hambly
Review: I've been taking a break from the Benjamin January series after reading Fever Season a few years ago. It wasn't necessarily intentional, but I just never got around to picking up the next books. I finally rectified that by taking the next three out of the library recently. Graveyard Dust, the first of those, is another great book in the series. The plot is very intriguing, taking many twists and turns before coming to a resolution that is logical, even if you didn't see it coming. The writing is very dense. Hambly is not one for those light novels that you can breeze through, skipping whole passages because they don't have anything to do with anything. To get full value out of this book, you have to read everything. There were times I had to re-read passages to figure out where January came to one of his conclusions. It was there, I had just missed it. Hambly also handles atmosphere beautifully. So many passages of description set the mood of New Orleans. Some say that she does too much of it, but I love atmosphere in a novel. It can be overdone when written badly, but Hambly does it well here, never making it boring. She really sets the tone of the city, making it beautiful and horrible all at the same time. She doesn't shy away from anything. The society is so well-drawn, with all the relationships between various factions within the society. I haven't really talked about the mystery much. It is very intriguing, taking off in a couple directions that I didn't predict. The front cover is definitely true when it says "a novel of suspense." Who is trying to prevent Ben from finding out what really happened and clearing his sister from murder charges? Who really did it? And, ever-present in a novel about the south before the Civil War, will Ben be able to find anything out in a society where blacks are treated like chattel? I'm glad I decided to come back to this series. I love Hambly's fantasy stories, and I'm glad that she's got another two ready for publication next year, but I also treasure this series as well.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent entry in the series
Review: In 1834 New Orleans, just prior to his death, Isaak Jumon apparently accuses his spouse Celie of poisoning him. At least that is the conclusion of the local law enforcement officials. Besides arresting Celie, the police apprehend Benjamin January's sister Olympe as an accomplice for selling the poison. Benjamin, a free man of color, knows his sibling would never do such an act, though she practices good voodoo. He also realizes that his sister has no chance of a fair trial by her peers because New Orleans is a city deeply divided along racial lines. Benjamin begins his own inquiries into the murder of Isaak even after someone tries to warn him off by sprinkling GRAVEYARD DUST in his bed. When it comes to Olympe, nothing will stand in Benjamin's way of trying to free her. GRAVEYARD DUST, the third novel in Barbara Hambly's superb historical mystery series, is an excellent who-done-it that will bring further accolades to this talented writer. The excellent story line is extremely complex as it meanders to its conclusion. The characters are warm and represent various aspects of early nineteenth century New Orleans. This facet of the novel alone makes GRAVEYARD DUST a winner. The atmosphere of 1834 New Orleans makes this one of the top historical who-done-its of the year. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Voodoo on trial
Review: It's the summer of 1834 and New Orleaneans are basking in the festivities of the season. All seems well for Benjamin January this summer. He has steady employment as a musician and as a music teacher for some of the city's wealthiest residents. Although racially oppressed January has begun to resettle into the traditions and culture of New Orleans since returning from France.
Yet things do not remain calm for January for long this steamy summer. Olympe, January's rebellious sister, is arrested for the murder of a prominent citizen. Not only is Olympe's life in jeopardy because in 1834 there is absolutely no justice for a Black woman in a court of law, but Olympe is also a known voodoo practitioner. Association with voodoo automatically makes her guilty in the eyes of New Orleans' residents, especially to the all white jury of men who will be presiding over her trial.
Confident of his sister's innocence and fearful for her life, January sets out to expose the truth. As he delves deeper into the mystery, his own life becomes endangered. He becomes the target of a voodoo curse. Armed with wit, along with the help of a few friends and the famed voodoo queen Madame Marie Laveau, January sets out to save his sister and catch a killer.
GRAVEYARD DUST has all the chills and thrills of Barbara Hambly's first two novels involving Benjamin January. Hambly tackles the controversial topic of voodoo in New Orleans with intelligence. She leaves behind all the stereotypes and misconceptions regarding the religion. Once again, Hambly has crafted another stand-alone mystery for the Benjamin January series. Her descriptions of New Orleans, its people and places will leave you breathless, and the night scenes in graveyards and at voodoo rituals will cause you to look over your shoulder as you stroll along with January.
Reviewed by L. Raven James
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Slow and deadly
Review: okay, so i just picked something out of the library shelf..anything that had a good name. So i came upon this book. It is written very complicated, the way the words are arranged and the french. It is very slow, slow and boring. Yet i do not stop reading it, before i know it, im on page 50 and askin myself what just happened. You are grasped into a world of boring yet very interesting characters. The voodoo charm gives it the snakeskin that it needs to keep you hooked. The world is mysterious and frightining. a recommend
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