Oh, yes, my goodness, definitely recommended for you. Ongoing mystery novel series set mostly in nineteenth-century New Orleans starring Benjamin January, a former slave, who now teaches music and occasionally solves crime while also dealing with his complicated family of extremely interesting women who inhabit various positions in the free black community of New Orleans. Hannibal Sefton is January's Leslie Howard-esque witty alcoholic tuberculitic musician sidekick, and was quite possibly written 100% for you.