The Best Defense

A Barbara Holloway Novel

By: Kate Wilhelm

Narrated by: Anna Fields

A gripping, poignant, and masterful courtroom novel, The Best Defense is a major work from one of America's most popular writers.

After her recent harrowing experiences, attorney Barbara Holloway isn't looking to take on any new courtroom cases; instead she's happy working from a booth in a cafe in the local working-class neighborhood.

But when the sister of "Baby Killer" Kennerman asks for help, Barbara reluctantly looks into matters and finds that incompetent lawyers and a smear campaign from the local right-wing press are going to allow a killer to go free. The deeper Barbara delves into the case, the more atrocities she finds and the more she believes that the best defense may not be enough.

With this extraordinary novel, Kate Wilhelm returns to the marvelous milieu of Death Qualified, bringing us a legal thriller of the finest caliber.

It's legal: download more of Barbara Holloway's cases.©1994 Kate Wilhelm (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Wilhelm books do not disappoint

Because it was a recent release, I got it thinking it was next in the series. It is actually an earlier novel, and that is the only thing I regretted. The book kept my interest and the narration brings the characters alive. I recommend.

A most satisfying series.

Kate Wilhelm continues to amaze and satisfy my love for courtroom drama. Her character Barbara Holloway proves to be an amazing protagonist and force. Even reading her series out of order, they are almost independent. The varied narrators that I've listened to in the series have all done a great job, though I do have my favorite, sorry, no spoiler.

Awesome Story

Kept restarting; Needing to make sure that l had Every word right. Captivating non-stop

Great read

Smart thoughtful witty storyline. Narration raises the bar. I love how this narrator captures so much with her tone and emphasis. So many narrators fall into a routine of using the same tone and pitch in the beginning or at the end of their sentences. Or is monotonous. It drives me crazy and does an injustice to what might have been a great audible book. Not this one though. Very engaging.

Good reading

Grabs your attention and keeps you wanting to get to know more about the story.

Love the author, love the reader

I first downloaded this book in 2006. I really like Barbara Holloway and her dad and Bailey - Just relistening for the 3rd time.

Excellent -- and a great narrator!

The first Wilhelm novel heard, and excellent story. She took a tough topic and wrote it brilliantly. Loved this narrator, and was disappointed by some of the others. WHY does an author use many different readers?

Hard to "put down"

This story was so gripping and intriguing I listened to it driving, walking, shopping and cleaning. The narrator does an outstanding job. I am looking forward to the next one.

Enjoyed

The characters - father and daughter. Wanted to have a bit more suspense and the many characters were a bit hard to follow. Overall good story.

Triple Winner

This book is a winner three times over for its characters, plot and narration. Once again, Kate Wilhelm has written a compelling, creative, and challenging story that is very hard to put down until the very end. Barbara Holloway is a complex character and despite the brilliance of her legal acumen, her humanity is what comes through most clearly on every page. The plot takes a remarkable number of disparate facts and weaves them together slowly until the very end when the entire picture becomes suddenly clear -- the result of Wilhelm's masterful writing. The continually developing relationship between Barbara and her father is another intriquing element of the plot that captures the most human elements of Barbara's character, necessary to counter the brilliance of her skills as a trial lawyer. Anna Fields narration is another fine example of her skilled mastery of an artform.

I highly recommend this book, but also recommend it best for a long drive or flight, as it is very difficult to put down once you begin.