Desperate Measures

A Barbara Holloway Novel

By: Kate Wilhelm

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Barbara Holloway has a reputation for taking on the toughest cases - and winning them. But this time she's up against an unbeatable opponent - her father, the lawyer who taught her all she knows.

Gus Marchand, a hardworking, God-fearing farmer, is found dead on his kitchen floor, and suspicion soon falls on Alex Feldman, Marchand's hideously deformed neighbor. At the request of another attorney, Barbara agrees to defend the young man, whom most of the town has already condemned.

But there is another suspect, as well: Hilde Franz, a woman Gus had a very public altercation with just before he was murdered. Hilde also happens to be an old friend of Barbara's father, Frank, who, unaware of his daughter's involvement in the case, agrees to represent Hilde.

For the first time in her career, Barbara cannot turn to her father for advice. Quite the contrary: she has to stay one step ahead of him if she's to have any hope of saving her client. Because she knows only too well what kind of legal mind she's up against.

It's legal: download more of Barbara Holloway's cases.

©2001 Kate Wilhelm (P)2002 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"...fast-paced, plausible, and entertaining." (Kirkus Reviews)

Excellent Concept

Good story. Sections where the profanity and G-damns were over bearing and added nothing to the story. Enjoyed the developing romances and look forward to seeing more of the couples.

Help Us From Zealots

Catalogue Plus. I like this author when the narrator is of the late Ms Anna Fields or Ms Gavin caliber . These are light mysteries with legal strategies that make it both entertaining and enlightening. You enjoy the discovery and the introduction of new characters. Ms Gavin has a full range of voices which I am a newly minted fan, Eg Happiness For Beginners.
This story can enrage you if you have absolutely no tolerance for ignorant zealots!!! You have or get extreme emotional empathy for our galant suspect. You admire the valiant effort from all the insiders who are trying to protect our young defendant from just plain old fashion ignorance. This story is timeless and is worth a second listen.
I do use the 1.2 speed to match the adventure.
Were my comments of help?

excellent acting / performance

this was a great book I'm glad that audible offers some books included with membership. I enjoyed this story

well

I don't know if this is a great author or a great book. I'm starting another one so I guess I'll know. excellent writing

Very well written

I liked the visuals. The law parts were very intelligent and interesting. It’s a law story with drama.

First title was a great read

First book by this author. It was a little long, but I finished. The writer had the ability to describe the setting which allowed you to mentally visualize what was happening. She also has an excellent legal mind.

I’m on to the next book.
Happy reading

Unique story line.

We were engrossed in this book from beginning to end. Characters were well described. We appreciate books with little to no nasty language.

Excellent Novel 10x better than Grisham

This was my fir Kate Wilhelm novel and it won't be my last. It was an excellent legal thriller. So much better than 90% of all Grisham novels. Narrator was good, the story and plot development was good, and the pace of the novel was really good. The book was fairly clean but there were a few side characters that had excessive swearing and too many F___ bombs were dropped for it to be a 5 start book for me, but those characters were short lived so the swearing was concentrated to small sections of the book and not throughout.

Great story and good narrator

I thought I would not be able to listen to this from the opening scene, because I don't like violent sick books. But this is not that -- it has a shocking opening and then goes into what I love best -- a good lawyer detective story. I have been unhappy with the many voices of Wilhelm, but this narrator is pretty good. Not my favorite but does the book justice.

Best one I’ve read in a while!

This one kept my attention and had lots of interesting characters. Highly recommend!
You won’t regret it!