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A review by alesia_charles
Days of the Dead by Barbara Hambly
5.0
Benjamin and Rose January travel to Mexico to (try to) rescue their friend Hannibal Sefton, who's gotten into a jam. First, he was made an unwilling semi-permanent guest at the hacienda of his paramour's father; then, he's accused of murdering his host's son. The evidence appears damning, but it's also absurd to think that Hannibal would kill anyone.
As always, Hambly richly evokes the historical period and landscape. Mexico in the 1830s was, to put it bluntly, an economic and political mess, and Hambly doesn't mince words about it. In the story, medical issues - and the poor state of medical knowledge in the 1830s - again play a role in the solution of the mystery (e.g., what poison killed the man and how was it administered?). And so do the economic and political problems. Can't say more without giving away to much of the plot, but it's convoluted (so what else is new?) and ranges from Mexico City to the hacienda to nearby Aztec ruins.
As always, Hambly richly evokes the historical period and landscape. Mexico in the 1830s was, to put it bluntly, an economic and political mess, and Hambly doesn't mince words about it. In the story, medical issues - and the poor state of medical knowledge in the 1830s - again play a role in the solution of the mystery (e.g., what poison killed the man and how was it administered?). And so do the economic and political problems. Can't say more without giving away to much of the plot, but it's convoluted (so what else is new?) and ranges from Mexico City to the hacienda to nearby Aztec ruins.