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Whippoorwill Hollow #1
The Closing
2014 Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards Finalist
2015 IPPY Award: 2015 Bronze Medalist: Best Regional E-book: East of the Mississippi
May 2015 Amazon Best-Seller: Legal Thrillers
When two men meet in the Virginia state penitentiary in a maximum security visitation room on May 5, 1968, they have only one thing in common: they both want their lives back.
On one side of a glass divider sits Kenneth Deatherage, who was sentenced to death for the brutal rape and murder of a young woman. The jury agreed with the prosecutor’s closing argument: that all evidence points to Deatherage as the killer. But Deatherage says the evidence was fabricated. He claims that the judge and his own lawyer rigged the trial against him.
On the other side of the divider sits Nate Abbitt, who was a successful prosecutor until he tried to drink his way through a midlife crisis. When he finally sobered up, he had lost his career, his marriage of thirty years, and his self-respect. He turned to criminal defense because it was the only work he could get.
When the court appoints Nate to represent Deatherage on appeal, Nate doesn’t believe there’s a grand conspiracy to send Deatherage to the electric chair. But when his investigation uncovers hints of corruption in the county justice system, he finds himself accused of murder by the same forces that convicted his client. To save himself, Nate risks his life and the lives of others, and in the process, discovers that he and Deatherage have much more in common than he wants to admit.
2015 IPPY Award: 2015 Bronze Medalist: Best Regional E-book: East of the Mississippi
May 2015 Amazon Best-Seller: Legal Thrillers
When two men meet in the Virginia state penitentiary in a maximum security visitation room on May 5, 1968, they have only one thing in common: they both want their lives back.
On one side of a glass divider sits Kenneth Deatherage, who was sentenced to death for the brutal rape and murder of a young woman. The jury agreed with the prosecutor’s closing argument: that all evidence points to Deatherage as the killer. But Deatherage says the evidence was fabricated. He claims that the judge and his own lawyer rigged the trial against him.
On the other side of the divider sits Nate Abbitt, who was a successful prosecutor until he tried to drink his way through a midlife crisis. When he finally sobered up, he had lost his career, his marriage of thirty years, and his self-respect. He turned to criminal defense because it was the only work he could get.
When the court appoints Nate to represent Deatherage on appeal, Nate doesn’t believe there’s a grand conspiracy to send Deatherage to the electric chair. But when his investigation uncovers hints of corruption in the county justice system, he finds himself accused of murder by the same forces that convicted his client. To save himself, Nate risks his life and the lives of others, and in the process, discovers that he and Deatherage have much more in common than he wants to admit.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2014
1202 people are currently reading
2166 people want to read
About the author
Ken Oder
11 books135 followersKen Oder grew up in White Hall, Virginia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He received undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia and moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1975 to join the law firm of Latham & Watkins. He practiced law there until 1993, when he left the firm to become an executive at Safeway, Inc. He retired from Safeway in 2003. He and his wife, Cindy, have three children and two grandchildren, and live in California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
July 13, 2017
Highly recommend this book.
Story takes place in Virginia, late 1960's. Started little slow, author took his time to let his characters really develop in our minds. Ante was prosecutor, drinking, adulterous and abused his powers. Protected and counseled by his college friend and family friend judge. Now picked to defend a convicted murderer. His wife divorcing him and he's fighting the divorce. Same time finding many evidence that is proving that his client was wrongly convicted. Police, lawyer that defended him, even the he is questioning judge's actions. Really liked this book, especially the ending.
Story takes place in Virginia, late 1960's. Started little slow, author took his time to let his characters really develop in our minds. Ante was prosecutor, drinking, adulterous and abused his powers. Protected and counseled by his college friend and family friend judge. Now picked to defend a convicted murderer. His wife divorcing him and he's fighting the divorce. Same time finding many evidence that is proving that his client was wrongly convicted. Police, lawyer that defended him, even the he is questioning judge's actions. Really liked this book, especially the ending.
February 4, 2017
This was a runaway train; I was so pleased to have been a passenger. A superb legal mystery.
July 3, 2017
This book is a good example of free books in Amazon that can easily get a 4-5 stars. I enjoyed reading it. There were some reasons I didn’t rate it as a 5 star book and gave it only 4. I didn’t like the main hero.
There were too many descriptions about the main hero’s alcoholism.
The mystery solving cases in the book were too childish and unreliable.
The description regarding the relationship between the main hero and his "to become his ex-wife", were too long and too exhausting.
Most of the last chapter was a lecture instead of a story.
There were too many descriptions about the main hero’s alcoholism.
The mystery solving cases in the book were too childish and unreliable.
The description regarding the relationship between the main hero and his "to become his ex-wife", were too long and too exhausting.
Most of the last chapter was a lecture instead of a story.
August 8, 2014
Great legal thriller.
Loved the wisdom in the quote, "Don't take aim at the king unless you're certain you'll kill him," and the way the author weaved that in.
Loved the wisdom in the quote, "Don't take aim at the king unless you're certain you'll kill him," and the way the author weaved that in.
May 15, 2014
Fantastic read. The temptation to finish this book in a single sitting was very hard to resist. If you dare to dig in just before bed, plan on calling in sick the next morning. It’s one of those rare gems that reads too fluidly to put down without a fight, and before you know it the hours are ticking by like seconds. The characters were genuine—layered and wonderfully flawed—and the story came together seamlessly without a lot of unnecessary fluff. An added bonus: there was little or no foul language, which I found to be very refreshing. If you have a sweet tooth for legal thrillers, The Closing is calling your name. Looking forward to more from Ken Oder!
January 9, 2017
A beautifully written novel. I literally could not stop reading this book until I had finished it. It's not a thriller page turner, but a moving story about one man's fall from goodness and a long and very troubled road back to a place where goodness might be redeemed. Story characters have depth, their stories cleverly intewoven into the plot keeps the story moving along nicely without taking anything away from the main storyline. A truly good read.
July 16, 2014
Really, really good! I don't usually read legal mystery/thrillers and to be truthful, the only reason I had this one is that it was a free Kindle download from Amazon. But I'm glad I did. It engaged me and kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning.
The author, Ken Oder, made Nate, the main character, so real that I could almost feel his pain as a recovering (most of the time) alcoholic. With his law career and his marriage having taken a downward slide, due not only to his drinking but also some underhanded 'lawyering'. You can feel his misery and shame and even the tiny spark of hope that he has. A great mystery with a surprise ending.
The author, Ken Oder, made Nate, the main character, so real that I could almost feel his pain as a recovering (most of the time) alcoholic. With his law career and his marriage having taken a downward slide, due not only to his drinking but also some underhanded 'lawyering'. You can feel his misery and shame and even the tiny spark of hope that he has. A great mystery with a surprise ending.
September 15, 2017
Period legal thriller set in the '60's.
The first half of this book was interesting, setting up the characters & the era they lived in. The second half felt less plausible, turning too many of the characters on end in order to keep the 'whodunit' question hanging from chapter to chapter. Overall well written with a good pace, but the twists and turns were not consistent enough to be realistic.
The first half of this book was interesting, setting up the characters & the era they lived in. The second half felt less plausible, turning too many of the characters on end in order to keep the 'whodunit' question hanging from chapter to chapter. Overall well written with a good pace, but the twists and turns were not consistent enough to be realistic.
July 23, 2019
This is book one in this series and even though I did like it the narrator wasn't the best and I found I had to really listen ( concentrate) to follow along, the plot was good and a lot happened.
Nate is an alcoholic lawyer who is given a client on death row, who claim his last lawyer, the judge and even the police framed for the murder. Nate's wife has filed for divorce and in a bid to win her back her throws himself into the case and starts to wonder if his client is telling the truth. As he dig deeper more bodies are discovered and secrets start to bubble up. Not all of them good for Nate's client or himself.
The narrator didn't have enough range for all the voices and I found it sometimes hard to work out who was meant to be talking but if you can get past that it is a good story with lots of twists. It was advertised as a legal thriller but there wasn't that much court room drama, it was more investigating, deals and manipulations.
Nate is an alcoholic lawyer who is given a client on death row, who claim his last lawyer, the judge and even the police framed for the murder. Nate's wife has filed for divorce and in a bid to win her back her throws himself into the case and starts to wonder if his client is telling the truth. As he dig deeper more bodies are discovered and secrets start to bubble up. Not all of them good for Nate's client or himself.
The narrator didn't have enough range for all the voices and I found it sometimes hard to work out who was meant to be talking but if you can get past that it is a good story with lots of twists. It was advertised as a legal thriller but there wasn't that much court room drama, it was more investigating, deals and manipulations.
June 27, 2020
I must admit that I didn't like The Closing much, at first.
But it is a really good read. How can I tell you about this book without any spoiler?
In short, The Closing is a story of a disgrace prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney, Nate.
His story is an origami of temptation, lies, infidelity...mostly bad choices and worst decisions. It is well written and well plotted that every fold reveals human flaw; every thin line between moral and legal. It's a heartbreaking lesson a realistic portray of life dilemma.
But it is a really good read. How can I tell you about this book without any spoiler?
In short, The Closing is a story of a disgrace prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney, Nate.
His story is an origami of temptation, lies, infidelity...mostly bad choices and worst decisions. It is well written and well plotted that every fold reveals human flaw; every thin line between moral and legal. It's a heartbreaking lesson a realistic portray of life dilemma.
July 22, 2017
A satisfying and complex mystery dealing with corruption, responsibility, redemption, guilt, innocence, love and the ravages of addiction. I can not describe the characters as endearing but they are realistic, full of faults and evoke a complexity of emotions in the reader. Definitely recommended.
July 27, 2017
The story held me enough to continue reading, but the writing and plot were disappointing. It is a first novel and it was pretty good considering, but I don't understand the awards and high average rating. I suppose part of my dislike was the tragic story of people making bad choices and suffering along with some terrible people doing terrible things. Even so, I would have rated it higher if the story had been told better. It seemed fragmented and the pieces didn't fit together realistically for me.
May 18, 2017
EXCELLENT!!!!
This book had a tone that immediately reminded me of that wonderful classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird." It's an era several years later and Nate Abbitt is no Atticus Finch, to be clear. The storyline is very different yet still raises similar questions that Harper Lee explored in her exquisite tome. The similarities end there although justice and law in the post-Depression South were similar in many states and mindsets that exceeded boundary lines on maps and both of these stories explore those topics in varying ways. Additionally I believe the characters in this novel are as clearly and deftly created as those in my all-time favorite book mentioned above. The story, questions to be answered and secrets uncovered throughout this book roll along as consistently as clouds of dust fly on an old dirt road starving for rain. This book will hook you before you know it as it also shares that laid back easy way that exemplifies Southern life...but don't be mistaken...there's plenty of excitement and unexpected adventure that unfolds as you delve deeper into this story and you'll love every page of it!!!
This book had a tone that immediately reminded me of that wonderful classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird." It's an era several years later and Nate Abbitt is no Atticus Finch, to be clear. The storyline is very different yet still raises similar questions that Harper Lee explored in her exquisite tome. The similarities end there although justice and law in the post-Depression South were similar in many states and mindsets that exceeded boundary lines on maps and both of these stories explore those topics in varying ways. Additionally I believe the characters in this novel are as clearly and deftly created as those in my all-time favorite book mentioned above. The story, questions to be answered and secrets uncovered throughout this book roll along as consistently as clouds of dust fly on an old dirt road starving for rain. This book will hook you before you know it as it also shares that laid back easy way that exemplifies Southern life...but don't be mistaken...there's plenty of excitement and unexpected adventure that unfolds as you delve deeper into this story and you'll love every page of it!!!
October 1, 2021
I'm a fan of John Grisham-like legal thrillers, and this one is every bit as good as Grisham's recent work. The story takes place in the small towns and hollers of SW Virginia, an area with which I am somewhat familiar. Ken Oder's depiction of the people and places is right on the money, and his knowledge of the culture places the reader right there in the run-down buildings and nearby mansions where the story takes place. The twists and turns of the investigation are clear, and the suspense is well-sustained, as a desperate man with nothing left to lose peels back the layers of corruption and secrets that have poisoned the system. The personal side of the story, though less exciting to me than the intricacies of the legal case, offers the possibility of redemption. I found The Closing to be the best sort of thriller, hard to put down until I'd finished it.
July 16, 2017
I liked this book.
Set in some backwoods couties in West Virginia, this book stories a mostly good lawyer with his ascending career,, downfall, and ressurection. He loved his wife, then had a mid-life crisis and managed to lose everything. Think cheating, whiskey, unlawfulness, divorce, and jail. Without going into much detail, his ex is raped and almost killed, but she kills the attacker, an escaped killer. Although their divorce was terrible, the lawyer convinces her in his self loathing that confess to her killing, and concocts a story which she adheres to but most people don't believe.
He serves his time, and then comes the surprise.
I don't pretend to convey everything in this book.
There is a lot in this book for everyone, and I think you'll enjoy it too.
Set in some backwoods couties in West Virginia, this book stories a mostly good lawyer with his ascending career,, downfall, and ressurection. He loved his wife, then had a mid-life crisis and managed to lose everything. Think cheating, whiskey, unlawfulness, divorce, and jail. Without going into much detail, his ex is raped and almost killed, but she kills the attacker, an escaped killer. Although their divorce was terrible, the lawyer convinces her in his self loathing that confess to her killing, and concocts a story which she adheres to but most people don't believe.
He serves his time, and then comes the surprise.
I don't pretend to convey everything in this book.
There is a lot in this book for everyone, and I think you'll enjoy it too.
May 27, 2021
A brilliant and engrossing book that makes one think!!!
The mind boggling story of Nate Abbott a prosecution attorney for the Welk county in Virginia who falls from the grace to accept becoming a defense attorney is one that holds the reader spellbound through all its pages . The travails of Nate as he works hard to do justice to his client while facing all the unexpected and shocking twists and turns that he discovers are too traumatic, staggering and appalling! How Nate overcomes his overwhelming circumstances forms the substance of this exceptional and magnificent legal thriller!!
A huge thank you to the author for this exhilarating reading experience!!
The mind boggling story of Nate Abbott a prosecution attorney for the Welk county in Virginia who falls from the grace to accept becoming a defense attorney is one that holds the reader spellbound through all its pages . The travails of Nate as he works hard to do justice to his client while facing all the unexpected and shocking twists and turns that he discovers are too traumatic, staggering and appalling! How Nate overcomes his overwhelming circumstances forms the substance of this exceptional and magnificent legal thriller!!
A huge thank you to the author for this exhilarating reading experience!!
April 16, 2019
Good Mystery
This is the story of a lawyer who has it all, then for reasons even he doesn't fully understand, starrts drinking to excess, cheating on his wife and cutting corners on the cases he is prosecuting. His world comes tumbling down when his indescretions are exposed, and he would be expelled from the law if not for the help of a judge who is more than a friend. He then becomes a defense attorney and is caught up in a web of corruption that leads him on a trail of murder and lies. Good mystery.
This is the story of a lawyer who has it all, then for reasons even he doesn't fully understand, starrts drinking to excess, cheating on his wife and cutting corners on the cases he is prosecuting. His world comes tumbling down when his indescretions are exposed, and he would be expelled from the law if not for the help of a judge who is more than a friend. He then becomes a defense attorney and is caught up in a web of corruption that leads him on a trail of murder and lies. Good mystery.
July 30, 2019
Well done! The Closing centers around our main character, Nate Abbitt, who has made many mistakes in his lifetime, both in his personal life and as a gifted attorney. Mr. Oder has created an exceptional person with Nate Abbitt, and he has written this story to keep the reader on edge and turning pages from page one to the end. A surprising and excellent ending, I might add. The book takes place in the 1960's, an era totally different from now, and we read how much things have changed in fifty years. This book is captivating, and I would highly recommend to a fan of criminal thrillers.
November 8, 2022
I enjoyed this book. It had quite a few twists and turns and I wasn't sure the author could pull it off. He did though and he did a good job. It was interesting from the very beginning and I was able to stick to a regiment of reading a little each day. Then things started changing and I found myself sitting for longer periods to read just a little more. Then I finally just gave in and read until I finished it.
I have actually started the next book in this series. I only hope it is as good as this one.
I have actually started the next book in this series. I only hope it is as good as this one.
August 3, 2017
Rivetting
A tumultuous tempest of agonist ng drama from page 1 to the finale. A lovesick lawyer who disgraces himself and ruins his life, his career and his one and only love, his wife. A maelstrom of emotional events which twist and turn leaving the reader bemused and perplexed in their feelings about and towards the man who despite his actions still is in devoted love with his spouse.
A tumultuous tempest of agonist ng drama from page 1 to the finale. A lovesick lawyer who disgraces himself and ruins his life, his career and his one and only love, his wife. A maelstrom of emotional events which twist and turn leaving the reader bemused and perplexed in their feelings about and towards the man who despite his actions still is in devoted love with his spouse.
January 22, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, it was a bit slow in the beginning but I stuck with it and realized the slowness was to allow the reader to really get to know the characters. It worked I really got to know them and could understand where they were coming from and where they would eventually end up. I was wrong the ending was a pleasant surprise, I loved it. Hope to read another book from this author very soon.
February 10, 2019
Intricate and compelling
This is a book that has all that I like in a book. A down and out lawyer is given a second chance. He methodically works an appeal finding the layers of evidence. He shows integrity in his work and walks away from the case unaware of possible consequences. A lot happens, without revealing the story, but his work results in redemption in more ways than one.
This is a book that has all that I like in a book. A down and out lawyer is given a second chance. He methodically works an appeal finding the layers of evidence. He shows integrity in his work and walks away from the case unaware of possible consequences. A lot happens, without revealing the story, but his work results in redemption in more ways than one.
March 16, 2025
Laws have little meaning
Nate was a lawyer. 1st a prosecutor, then after some misdeeds, he became a defense lawyer. Defending a man, Deatherage, accused of murder, he became entangled in defending a guilty man and corruption in the legal system. His drinking caused the end of his marriage and the tragic events that nearly cost the life of a loved one. Befriended by a judge, for what reasons he never knew, saved him from truly severe consequences.
Nate was a lawyer. 1st a prosecutor, then after some misdeeds, he became a defense lawyer. Defending a man, Deatherage, accused of murder, he became entangled in defending a guilty man and corruption in the legal system. His drinking caused the end of his marriage and the tragic events that nearly cost the life of a loved one. Befriended by a judge, for what reasons he never knew, saved him from truly severe consequences.
June 10, 2017
GREAT
This well-written thriller was a winner. It drags you into the life of a lawyer. It shows how difficult it can be to be a lawyer. The author makes each character seem real. If I was a nail-biter, I would have chewed each nail down to the quick. A great story that you should definitely read.
This well-written thriller was a winner. It drags you into the life of a lawyer. It shows how difficult it can be to be a lawyer. The author makes each character seem real. If I was a nail-biter, I would have chewed each nail down to the quick. A great story that you should definitely read.
July 9, 2017
Enlightening
The closing by Ken Oder is very well written. It has some twists and turns. It takes you down the beaten path between right and wrong. It makes you examine yourself for something you did wrong in the past.
A lawyer who has made terrible mistakes throughout his career, suddenly finds himself facing what he doesn't want to do. I recommend that you read this book.
The closing by Ken Oder is very well written. It has some twists and turns. It takes you down the beaten path between right and wrong. It makes you examine yourself for something you did wrong in the past.
A lawyer who has made terrible mistakes throughout his career, suddenly finds himself facing what he doesn't want to do. I recommend that you read this book.
August 15, 2018
This is a good one
At first, I didn't like this book. Knowing very little about the practice of law puts me at a distinct disadvantage. But, I wanted something to read. I learned some law things, terms, how some people abuse and misuse it. I enjoyed the main character, flaws and all. Surprise ending.....But perfect.
At first, I didn't like this book. Knowing very little about the practice of law puts me at a distinct disadvantage. But, I wanted something to read. I learned some law things, terms, how some people abuse and misuse it. I enjoyed the main character, flaws and all. Surprise ending.....But perfect.
March 9, 2019
Tragic protagonist, tragic waste of time
How bad does a "hero" have to be before you lose all sympathy for him? And when his weaknesses and misdeeds result in endless misery and self-condemnation for him, does that make it any better?
If you like dwelling in a tragic hero's gloom, you're going to love this book. I, however, did not.
How bad does a "hero" have to be before you lose all sympathy for him? And when his weaknesses and misdeeds result in endless misery and self-condemnation for him, does that make it any better?
If you like dwelling in a tragic hero's gloom, you're going to love this book. I, however, did not.
September 11, 2019
Very entertaining story of deceit and manipulation
The author has written a very interesting story of a lawyer’s struggle with upholding the law and just how far he will go to get the outcome he wants. The plot has many interesting twists and turns that the story will keep you entertained and guessing.
The author has written a very interesting story of a lawyer’s struggle with upholding the law and just how far he will go to get the outcome he wants. The plot has many interesting twists and turns that the story will keep you entertained and guessing.
March 15, 2020
Virginia late 1960’s. A small town corruption, secrets and murders in this reverting police/court procedural. Can you imagine? Without DNA technology analysis? A former prosecutor turned criminal defense lawyer, representing a death row inmates appeal. What really happened on the night a young woman was raped and murdered? A great legal thriller. Excellent read.
June 10, 2017
Great book!
Wow! This story took one turn after another! The pacing was good and everything fell into place. I didn't know if this would be a good story (even though it's one of my preferred genres), but it was really up there with some of my favorites!
Wow! This story took one turn after another! The pacing was good and everything fell into place. I didn't know if this would be a good story (even though it's one of my preferred genres), but it was really up there with some of my favorites!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews