No Defense

A Barbara Holloway Novel

By: Kate Wilhelm

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Barbara Holloway is a trial lawyer who tends to take on difficult cases. One involved a woman accused of killing her own child, another involved a mentally disabled man, and her last one found her entangled in such a mess that it's a wonder she lived through it at all. But in every previous case she has had some fragment with which she could build an argument. This time out, it seems there's no defense at all.

Lara and Vinny Jessup had a lovely May-December marriage. It renewed his lease on life after a battle with cancer, and it rescued her from a bad first marriage.

Initially, the sheriff out in Loomis County thinks that Vinny died when his car rolled over on a bad curve on Lookout Mountain. Then he finds the gunshot wound. Was it suicide or was it murder? With a large insurance policy as her motive, Lara could have staged the death - or so it appears to the sheriff.

Barbara Holloway finds herself drawn to the Oregon desert to take on this case, accompanied by her associates: her colleague Shelley with her Barbie-doll looks, the inimitable detective Bailey Novell, and her father Frank (who's soon to be a published writer).

But the case itself is as dead as the desert. Is there any defense at all?

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

©2000 Kate Wilhelm (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Best for its regional details, fast-paced dialogue, and solid character delineation." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Those who prefer both style and substance in their courtroom dramas will find this a satisfying read." (Publishers Weekly)

Great Author

Couldn't stop listening. author kept me guessing. The only problem is several times the reader would repeat sentences on several chapters.

Okay but could have been great

Complicated but interesting story but recording problems throughout. Repeated several times. Needed editing. More than a little annoying. Narrator was not the best. Perfect for day home sick, though.

bad narrator

couldn'''t finish, bad narrator =. I've enjoyed all the previous books, in the series, but I regret I can't contine with this one.

Great!

I've come to expect great things from Kate Wilhelm. This book was great.
The story is set in Eugene and Bend Oregon. Unfortunately, the narrator goofed up on some pronunciations (Williamette and Spokane WA). Other than that, the narrator did a great job.

No Defense

Kate Wilhelm is a new author for me and I really enjoyed the story. I have now ordered several of her books and will "read" them as time permits. I was raised in Oregon, and my only complaint is that the reader mispronounced several words that are unique to the Pacific Northwest. She really needs to check into the proper pronunciation of Spokane and Willamette as well as a few other words. I found it distracting at those points in the story. I am surprised that the author as well as Blackstone Publishing has not taken steps to make sure this does not happen. Otherwise, I found the story compelling and I was quite absorbed from beginning to end.

Great Author

This is a great story with a complicated, shrewd plot. Wilhelm’s prose is indicative of a high-calibre mind. She passed away at age 89. Her Barbara Holloway series is a great way to start the new year. I’ve discovered a new author, a good friend.

No Defense

I loved this book. Could not stop listening to it. Great storyline.

Another great story!

Barbara Holliday and her father Frank never disappoints.
The performance was great as was the story.

A good story

I enjoyed this story and the colorful descriptions of Eastern Oregon. I cannot understand why a narritor would not bother to check on pronuncion when tackling local Native American words. It would only require watching one local weather report.

good book but multiple loop backs by narrator

I've recently started listening to the Barbara Holloway series and find them enjoyable. I think the narrator changed on this book and is a bit monotonous. There were at least 5 sections where the narrator read the same passage twice.