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)

glitchy

the book was good the reader was amazing however there were multiple areas where the audio repeats itself.

Narrator change?

Hard to get used to new narrator after being a few books in.
She does a great job - but it’s hard.

Engaging, storyline keeps you guessing

A great “read” performed very well. Plenty of mystery with twists and turns that make this book hard to may down.

I appreciate word emotional pictures painted in the mind without the need to use profanity.

Terrific Plot

This audiobook kept me enthralled - I hated to stop the tape because it was so interesting. I love legal novels and thought by now I "knew it all" but I learned a great deal about our legal system. Well developed characters, interesting twists and turns, and a location that is new to most of us. One of my favorites!

Note to the audio editor

Many, many repeated sections or Audible doesn’t work well but great story as usual! Thank you

Another great story

Another great story that follows Barbara Hollaway, can't wait to start the next one! Such a great series of books.

Good read

Loved it! Excellent real world characters with real feelings and problems! Well conceived story line.

Complicated but worth it

I found this to be a complicated and interesting story. The start up is a little slow, but needs to be in order to understand what’s happening in the storyline. Found it to be an interesting read. I highly recommend it!

Like a bad penny

John shows up again around chapter 13. I was glad he was phased out in the last book. I don't buy for one moment the love for Barbara. It is more like lust and that has got old. Also evidently all native Americans speak like robots. C'mon, narrator can do better. Not sure if I will stick with this book. Will update review if I do.

Change of Narrator

Loved the first three books and narrator. This narrator for book 4 ruined the series for me. I could hardly distinguish between characters and grew bored with listening.