Die Upon a Kiss (Benjamin January, Book 5)

So far, I've liked all the Benjamin January books. The one that follows this is perhaps my least favorite. I read my first BJ book while on a business trip to New Orleans years ago -- it may be that my fondness of these books is tied to the memories of New Orleans and the fact that I "discovered" them while actually in NO. A very good blend of mystery, history, and medicine. I highly recommend these to my family & friends.

Die Upon a Kiss starts out as a mystery at the opera. It didn't sound very interesting compared to the previous books in the Benjamin January series. It actually took this book awhile to get going.However, when it does, it really cooks. What sounds like a boring opera story develops into international intrigue, more slavery issues and crimes that happened in the past. You'd think that this would make the book be a little disjointed, but Hambly brings it all together marvelously. There are so many twists and turns in this one, it almost gives you whiplash (but in a good way). Hambly, as always, is great with the New Orleans atmosphere. She has increased it from what was in the fourth book, though she's still not up to the third book's standards where this is concerned. However, I didn't notice it as much, because the book itself was so intriguing.Not only that, but there is actual movement in a lot of the relationships between the characters. There are changes in Ben & Rose's relationship, Dominique, even Hannibal a little bit. You get to know a little bit more about the past, both January's and Hannibal's. January's time spent in Paris actually is relevant for once, rather than just background information.This one took me a bit longer to read because of the slow start. However, it is definitely worth every moment spent on it. The payoff is great, and you will soon find yourself praising Hambly again. I can't wait for Wet Grave to come out.

I've enjoyed this series from the beginning -- it has a dark, rich texture like a wonderful chocolate cake with occasional nuts, yet an astringent aftertaste as well.Hambly brings an age that's at once alien and familiar to life; it's our recent past -- only two long human lifetimes ago -- but in some ways as different as the Rome of Nero.And while the action is fast, and the tension serious -- you really care about these characters -- there's a dry, subtle humor that's quite marvelous. The fight over including "Sweet Betsy from Pike" in an Italian opera is a delight.Buy this book and read it. Buy the whole series.

Barbara Hambly has written another brilliant Benjamin January mystery in "Die Upon A Kiss" -- Hambly ably mixes political intrigue with the over the top shenanigans of the opera stars, adding a dollop of two of assault, battery and murder. Add to that her very astute and bitingly sharp observations of the class, race and gender practices of New Orleans in the 1830s, and you have a very entertaining, finely detailed and informative novel.It's Carnival time in New Orleans, and the American Theatre (sponsored by the 'American' community in New Orleans in direct competition to the Creole sponsored opera company) is about to open with it's first opera season under the aegis's of an Italian impresario, Lorenzo Belaggio. And Benjamin January has been able to successfully acquire a job with the orchestra of this new theatre. One night, as he is leaving the theatre after a late rehearsal, Benjamin walks into an attempt on Belaggio's life. Benjamin successfully defends Belaggio from his attackers, and in the chaos that follows, the hysterical opera director accuses first two of his tenors (Belaggio is an Italian who supports the Austrian occupation of the northern cities of Italy, while the two tenors, Cavallo & Ponte, are firm supporters of the New Italy movement); and then the manager of the rival opera company (and Benjamin's friend, John Davis) of the attempted murder. As the hours and days pass, Belaggio's accusations against Davis mount, much to Davis's consternation. Things between the Creole and 'American' communities are tense as it is, without Belaggio's inflammatory claims against Davis. And so Davis asks Benjamin to look into things, and hopefully discover who was really behind the attempt on Belaggio's life, before the next, and perhaps fatal, attempt takes place.The suspects and motives are many. Definitely Cavallo and Ponte despise Bellagio for his political stance. But would the two men actually kill Bellagio simply for supporting the Austrians? Benjamin senses something deeply personal about this attack. And when it turns out that Belaggio's current mistress, the prima donna of the company, the beautiful Drusilla, is also being courted by one of the sponsors of the theatre, Benjamin wonders if it may be a case of one rival getting rid of another. And then another tantalizing thought comes to mind: the company will be performing "Othello" and Benjamin wonders if someone may be going all out to prevent the play that tells of a black man's love for a white woman from being performed. So many possibilities; where is Benjamin to start? Fortunately, Benjamin has his trusted friend and fellow orchestra player, Hannibal Sefton, as an ally in this quest. But even before Benjamin and Hannibal have even started their investigation, their good friend Madame Scie, the ballet mistress is attacked and severely injured. It looks as if someone is hunting the members of this new company, and for Benjamin, the hunt for this assassin has suddenly become ve

Intrige! Evil Villians! Raging Divas! Starcrossed Lovers! Treachery! Poison! Nemesis! Loyal Friends! Peasants! Dancing and Singing! Early 19th Century opera in all it's glory spills onto almost every page, and better yet ...even caught up in the midst of several rather tangled (and admittedly somewhat melodramatic) mysteries, Ben and his friends get to have some fun during Carnival ... and we get to see a little more of Ben's Paris life as the past and politics catch up with him. And, as the title indicates, this story has many Shakesperian allusions sprinkled in.This is a wonderful (and fun) charactor study for Benjamin January fans, the interactions between almost all the charactors, including some of the minor ones who could have easily become throw-away - are sympathetically drawn and realistic as Hambly can make it.For those who want a good historical mystery read with the authentic feel of period and attitudes, I would highly recommend this book.