Ran Away by Barbara Hambly

A Turk living in 1830s New Orleans is accused of murdering two of his concubines. Someone saw him throw the women to their deaths from an upper story window. Enter Benjamin January- musician, doctor, and unofficial detective. It turns out that Benjamin knows the Turk, Huseyin Pasha, from his medical school days in Paris.  Hambly takes us back to Benjamin's earlier life in Paris. We get to know his first wife Ayasha and the role she played in the first encounter between Benjamin and Huseyin Pasha.  Once again, Benjamin uses his connections among the servants and working class of New Orleans to solve the murders.  An engrossing story with lots of historical detail.  256 pages.

The shirt on his back by Barbara Hambly

Benjamin January is a free man of color in 1830s New Orleans.  When the book opens, Benjamin's family is down to their last two dollars and fifty cents.  The local banks have failed and Benjamin is unable to earn money as a musician because no-one can afford to host a ball or pay for piano lessons.  Enter Benjamin's friend, Lieutenant Abishag Shaw of the New Orleans police.  Shaw's just learned that his younger brother was murdered out west and wants Benjamin to go with him to find his brother's killer.  Once again, Benjamin risks losing his freedom to help out a friend. They travel up the river to join the annual fur trappers rendezvous.  Hambly manages to mix historical detail with a very engrossing adventure story. I couldn't put it down! 250 pages