A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly

Benjamin January is a freed black man in 1830s New Orleans.  Though trained as a pianist and doctor in Paris, he can only find work as a musician.  When he is accused of murdering a beautiful but universally hated young woman, he must find the real killer or hang.  I loved learning all about the culture of freed people of color, creoles, and those pesky Americans in pre-Civil War New Orleans.  Great read! 412 pages.