By Stone, by Blade, by Fire

By: Kate Wilhelm

Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie

Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Travis Morgan’s case seems open and shut: A plot to kill his estranged father, fundamentalist preacher Arlie Morgan, goes awry and his bullet slays an innocent bookkeeper. Two eyewitnesses seal Travis’ fate. But despite damning evidence and an admitted hatred of his father, Travis staunchly maintains his innocence.

Beseeched by his anguished mother, veteran defense attorney Barbara Holloway agrees to represent Travis. With the support of her father, attorney Frank Holloway, and crack private investigator Bailey, Barbara reveals a zealot, his ultrarich backers, and unimaginable atrocities. Travis’ case proceeds to trial, and Barbara finds herself pitted against a complacent legal system and a judge eager to simply close the case and retire. Knowing she must intervene decisively to avoid a conviction, Barbara steps squarely into the path of danger. Risking her own life, Barbara confronts the killer in order to save Travis’.

Kate Wilhelm is the best-selling author of dozens of novels and short-story collections. Among her novels are the popular courtroom thrillers featuring attorney Barbara Holloway. Her other works include the science fiction classic Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang. Born in Ohio, she now lives in Eugene, Oregon.

©2012 Kate Wilhelm (P)2012 Blackstone

Plot holes big enough to drive a large truck thru

This is basically an ok book, although there are a couple of enormous plot holes. It is typical Kate Wilhelm and enjoyable. Barbara Holloway and her dad are there and are well drawn. It was enjoyable, except there were a couple of major things that made me wonder if Kate Wilhelm has watched any modern crime drama television at all. I listened to the book on a long trip with my daughter and she had the same reaction.

Kath Wilhelm at her best

Barbara Holloway and her team are challenged again. Carrington MacDuffie does an outstanding job narrating this book. Don't miss it. Get ready to listen and stay listening because it is hard to stop till you get to the end.

So Disappointing

I am a huge Kate Wilhelm fan and have listened to every Barbara Holloway novel. That's why this one was such a huge disappointment. Both the author and the narrator seem to have run out of gas. The plot was boring and the characters were so underderdeveloped that it was difficult to care about the outcome. I really struggled to get to the end. If you have not experienced this author before, skip this one and go for the earlier books.

What a disappointment!

If I haven't listened to books by an author recently and download a new one, I typically go back and re-listen to all of them in order adding the latest one at the end. Having done that, I was SO very disappointed with this book. If you took all of her liberal rants out of the book, I'm quite sure you'd have a short story. Perhaps if I shared her beliefs, I wouldn't find them so objectionable, but I don't and I really don't care what she thinks about global warming or any of the other half a dozen views she sprinkles liberally throughout the book. I listen to books to be entertained, intriqued, and even amused NOT to listen to the writers political views. And she does so as if it were facts that we all know and believe. Anyway, should there be another Wilhelm novel, I for one will avoid it. I think Ms. Wilhelm ran out of anything to write about 2 or 3 novels ago.

An interesting story poorly performed

My major disappointment is that Carrington MacDuffie uses a terribly dull voice for the central character. The central character ends up sounding like a peevish, irritating helpless old woman.

Although I was intrigued by the plot line, I decided to stop listening and borrow the book from the library.

Typical Wilhelm

Would you listen to By Stone, by Blade, by Fire again? Why?

No. Not that interesting.

Would you be willing to try another book from Kate Wilhelm? Why or why not?

Yes. Her leading characters are interesting and grow over the series. The plots vary, but she always provides good material for long car trips.

Which character – as performed by Carrington MacDuffie – was your favorite?

Bobbie, the lead character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. Not that challenging.

Any additional comments?

This plot was a little less credible than some of hers -- the Secretary of Defense manipulating a state cop in Maryland was weird, and the prosecutors' motives did not make much sense -- they should have dropped the case much earlier.

Why we do we need to hear how black Martin is???

We get it Martin is black. He is a football player that's black clearly terrifying to Barbara!!!!!!!!

Review contains some spoilers

I've read all these books in order so far. This one contained all the typical stuff: all characters constantly drinking coffee, wine, etc., me being irritated by the treatment of Thing 1 + Thing 2, the grumpy judge wants to rush the trial despite someone's life being at stake, Barbara sets someone up again with the cop listening in, the defendant once again has some sort of character flaw which might make them unlikable to the jury, etc. It's the same stuff in each book, just a different case.

I thought the book was good. Not the best in the series, but definitely not the worst. I'll never reread it, but it was enjoyable.

I was REALLY mad that Barbara found out the truth about a certain victim, but she didn't tell the family what happened. Author made it seem like she was sparing them from heartache, but I don't think that's a lawyer's call to make. The family deserved to know the truth!
Also, it made me mad that the "bad guy" will never pay for what terrible things he did and the public and his followers might never know what a monster he was.

It’s ok

It was an ok story but it was difficult to finish.
And as strange as it sounds the story seems extremely wordy eg. over explaining or describing simple things becoming more of a distraction to the story. And the narrator tried but she just didn’t seem like the proper voice for this book

Yet another awesome hit. Trial had me on the edge.

Pastor Morgan deserved a painful long death maybe he needed to be neutered all's fair.