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Barbara Holloway #1
Death Qualified
Barbara had given up the law five years before, but she's still "death qualified," still able to defend clients in Oregon who face the death penalty if convicted. And now her lawyer father needs her back in the arena to defend Nell Kendricks, who's been indicted for the murder of her estranged husband, Lucas Kendricks.
But did she do it? After not seeing him for seven years? And where was Lucas all that time? Ultimately, the small-town courtroom is where the truth can be found——if one can spot it through the blinding maelstrom of injustice, confusion, chaos, reality, and love....
But did she do it? After not seeing him for seven years? And where was Lucas all that time? Ultimately, the small-town courtroom is where the truth can be found——if one can spot it through the blinding maelstrom of injustice, confusion, chaos, reality, and love....
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
118 people are currently reading
1356 people want to read
About the author
Kate Wilhelm
275 books442 followersKate Wilhelm’s first short story, “The Pint-Sized Genie” was published in Fantastic Stories in 1956. Her first novel, MORE BITTER THAN DEATH, a mystery, was published in 1963. Over the span of her career, her writing has crossed over the genres of science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy and magical realism, psychological suspense, mimetic, comic, and family sagas, a multimedia stage production, and radio plays. She returned to writing mysteries in 1990 with the acclaimed Charlie Meiklejohn and Constance Leidl Mysteries and the Barbara Holloway series of legal thrillers.
Wilhelm’s works have been adapted for television and movies in numerous countries; her novels and stories have been translated to more than a dozen languages. She has contributed to Quark, Orbit, Magazine of Fantasy and ScienceFiction, Locus, Amazing Stories, Asimov’s Science Fiction, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Fantastic, Omni, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Redbook, and Cosmopolitan.
Kate Wilhelm is the widow of acclaimed science fiction author and editor, Damon Knight (1922-2002), with whom she founded the Clarion Writers’ Workshop and the Milford Writers’ Conference, described in her 2005 non-fiction work, STORYTELLER. They lectured together at universities across three continents; Kate has continued to offer interviews, talks, and monthly workshops.
Kate Wilhelm has received two Hugo awards, three Nebulas, as well as Jupiter, Locus, Spotted Owl, Prix Apollo, Kristen Lohman awards, among others. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2009, Kate was the recipient of one of the first Solstice Awards presented by the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) in recognition of her contributions to the field of science fiction.
Kate’s highly popular Barbara Holloway mysteries, set in Eugene, Oregon, opened with Death Qualified in 1990. Mirror, Mirror, released in 2017, is the series’ 14th novel.
Wilhelm’s works have been adapted for television and movies in numerous countries; her novels and stories have been translated to more than a dozen languages. She has contributed to Quark, Orbit, Magazine of Fantasy and ScienceFiction, Locus, Amazing Stories, Asimov’s Science Fiction, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Fantastic, Omni, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Redbook, and Cosmopolitan.
Kate Wilhelm is the widow of acclaimed science fiction author and editor, Damon Knight (1922-2002), with whom she founded the Clarion Writers’ Workshop and the Milford Writers’ Conference, described in her 2005 non-fiction work, STORYTELLER. They lectured together at universities across three continents; Kate has continued to offer interviews, talks, and monthly workshops.
Kate Wilhelm has received two Hugo awards, three Nebulas, as well as Jupiter, Locus, Spotted Owl, Prix Apollo, Kristen Lohman awards, among others. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2009, Kate was the recipient of one of the first Solstice Awards presented by the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) in recognition of her contributions to the field of science fiction.
Kate’s highly popular Barbara Holloway mysteries, set in Eugene, Oregon, opened with Death Qualified in 1990. Mirror, Mirror, released in 2017, is the series’ 14th novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
July 24, 2023
Attorney Barbara Holloway receives a call from her father asking her to come home. Frank Holloway has accepted a case defending Nell Kendricks on the charge of murder. Nell's husband, Lucas Kendricks, disappeared nearly seven years ago, leaving her and their son behind. The day Lucas returned home, he is fatally shot. Nell was arrested for his murder. Franks needs Barbara's help on this capital murder case. Barbara needs to start digging into Lucas' whereabouts for the last seven years. Why did he never contact his wife and young son? And who actually killed Lucas?
This is the first book in the Barbara Holloway series. I picked up the audiobook on Audible and thought I'd give it a try. I found the story annoying and tedious. Even though the narrator, Anna Fields, is a favorite of mine, she couldn't rescue this story. The plot seemed muddled and included mathematics and chaos theory. Barbara meets a mathematician and begins a relationship with him. I wouldn't call it a romance since there was nothing romantic about it. The courtroom drama portion of the book was OK, but once it was over, the story just continued...on and on. Honestly, this was 15+ hours of my life that I'll never get back. My rating: 2
This is the first book in the Barbara Holloway series. I picked up the audiobook on Audible and thought I'd give it a try. I found the story annoying and tedious. Even though the narrator, Anna Fields, is a favorite of mine, she couldn't rescue this story. The plot seemed muddled and included mathematics and chaos theory. Barbara meets a mathematician and begins a relationship with him. I wouldn't call it a romance since there was nothing romantic about it. The courtroom drama portion of the book was OK, but once it was over, the story just continued...on and on. Honestly, this was 15+ hours of my life that I'll never get back. My rating: 2
January 11, 2018
I was really looking forward to reading a mystery by Ms. Wilhelm, as I've always been a fan of her science fiction, however...
The book was complex and filled with an obvious love for the Northwest. The descriptions of woods and rivers, canyons and lava-formations - perfection. However, I felt let down and disappointed by the story itself. Sort of slow-moving, with an unlikable MC (IMO).
Barbara Hollway, a non-working lawyer, returns to her roots to help her father, a still-active lawyer, with a difficult case. He's defending a woman accused of killing her husband, a man who has been 'away' for some time. There's a lot of science here, with implications into CHAOS theory, and a conspiracy/cover-up which I found tedious. (Former science teacher here, so I usually don't find anything involving science tedious.)
There's a lot of side elements, too, and sub-plots involving Barbara's past, former love interests, and the same. I just couldn't buy into Barbara as much as I wanted. (Ever try to LIKE a book too much? I did that here and failed.)
The courtrooms scenes were well-done; the handling of dialogue and narration were good, too. It's just the overall effect I felt lacking. It's the kind of book I'd put down, then forget about on my way to get coffee. I kept saying, 60 more pages and it's gonna get really, really good. But for me, sadly so, it didn't.
Don't get me wrong - it's not a bad read at all, simply not what I was expecting.
The book was complex and filled with an obvious love for the Northwest. The descriptions of woods and rivers, canyons and lava-formations - perfection. However, I felt let down and disappointed by the story itself. Sort of slow-moving, with an unlikable MC (IMO).
Barbara Hollway, a non-working lawyer, returns to her roots to help her father, a still-active lawyer, with a difficult case. He's defending a woman accused of killing her husband, a man who has been 'away' for some time. There's a lot of science here, with implications into CHAOS theory, and a conspiracy/cover-up which I found tedious. (Former science teacher here, so I usually don't find anything involving science tedious.)
There's a lot of side elements, too, and sub-plots involving Barbara's past, former love interests, and the same. I just couldn't buy into Barbara as much as I wanted. (Ever try to LIKE a book too much? I did that here and failed.)
The courtrooms scenes were well-done; the handling of dialogue and narration were good, too. It's just the overall effect I felt lacking. It's the kind of book I'd put down, then forget about on my way to get coffee. I kept saying, 60 more pages and it's gonna get really, really good. But for me, sadly so, it didn't.
Don't get me wrong - it's not a bad read at all, simply not what I was expecting.
March 17, 2016
A new series for me.
I was glued to the edge of my chair as the story and the unfolding events take place in a small town in the cascades in Oregon. Barbara Holloway, estranged from her father for 5 years, comes home to help him and take over the defense of a young woman in a murder case. A small cast of quirky characters and a strange group of scientists and a mental health professional are involved too. The writing is haunting and beautiful but the story regarding the "Chaos" may have been over my head.
I am looking forward to the next book.
I loved the story, but the audio editing left something to be desired. The narrator, Anna Fields was exceptional, but there were 10 to 12 times where the dialogue repeats a couple of sentences.
I was glued to the edge of my chair as the story and the unfolding events take place in a small town in the cascades in Oregon. Barbara Holloway, estranged from her father for 5 years, comes home to help him and take over the defense of a young woman in a murder case. A small cast of quirky characters and a strange group of scientists and a mental health professional are involved too. The writing is haunting and beautiful but the story regarding the "Chaos" may have been over my head.
I am looking forward to the next book.
I loved the story, but the audio editing left something to be desired. The narrator, Anna Fields was exceptional, but there were 10 to 12 times where the dialogue repeats a couple of sentences.
December 15, 2020
Lucas Kendrick appears at his estranged wife’s home after a mysterious seven-year disappearance, and is instantly shot. Nell Kendrick, charged with his murder, calls Attorney Frank Holloway to defend her. But Frank cannot prepare her defense alone. He needs a lawyer who is “death qualified”—able to defend capital cases. He appeals to his daughter Barbara, who, out of disillusionment with a profession prizing politics over justice, abandoned her practice five years before. Reluctantly, Barbara is plunged into a case involving chaos theory, the mysterious death of a researcher, and a politically motivated and hostile prosecutor. To complicate matters, Barbara falls in love with a mathematician whose help she seeks in unraveling the case.
I recently started buddy reading this book with a couple of friends here on GR and I've been enjoying it quite a bit. I'm now on the third book in the series. What I like about these is the father daughter dynamic between Barbara and Frank. They are both attorneys and they collaborate on the cases. They both have their flaws and they don't always get along, but there is a mutual respect there and I like the dialog between them.
Another thing I really like about this series are the courtroom scenes. There are always interesting things learned in these chapters about how trials are conducted and how things can be perceived and manipulated during trials. Certain aspects of the series—the courtroom drama and the investigations—remind me a great deal of Perry Mason.
I've been listening to these since the audio for the whole series is on Hoopla and I really like the narrator. I can totally picture that voice being Barbara's. The narrator also does a pretty good job with the other character voices, especially Frank.
This is a long series with 14 books, so I will probably not review every book in the series, but just the ones that make the most impression on me. The others will just get a rating. As for this book in particular, I liked the overall plot, even though the whole psychological experimentation thing was a little hard to believe at times, and I had issues with some things about the ending. I liked the characters and everything else enough to want to keep reading.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader.
I recently started buddy reading this book with a couple of friends here on GR and I've been enjoying it quite a bit. I'm now on the third book in the series. What I like about these is the father daughter dynamic between Barbara and Frank. They are both attorneys and they collaborate on the cases. They both have their flaws and they don't always get along, but there is a mutual respect there and I like the dialog between them.
Another thing I really like about this series are the courtroom scenes. There are always interesting things learned in these chapters about how trials are conducted and how things can be perceived and manipulated during trials. Certain aspects of the series—the courtroom drama and the investigations—remind me a great deal of Perry Mason.
I've been listening to these since the audio for the whole series is on Hoopla and I really like the narrator. I can totally picture that voice being Barbara's. The narrator also does a pretty good job with the other character voices, especially Frank.
This is a long series with 14 books, so I will probably not review every book in the series, but just the ones that make the most impression on me. The others will just get a rating. As for this book in particular, I liked the overall plot, even though the whole psychological experimentation thing was a little hard to believe at times, and I had issues with some things about the ending. I liked the characters and everything else enough to want to keep reading.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader.
October 6, 2014
meh.
It has a really slow and whiny start where this lawyer is so sick of the system that she gets a job in retail. that didn't have much to do with anything. She goes to visit her lawyer dad, who likes to cook constantly. He cooks so much, or else is taking her out to eat so often, that this should be about all the weight they're gaining. They also ride around in cars not talking a lot.
yeah, meh
Later, this is about how the lady lawyer who discovers the true killer while defending a women charged with murdering her husband.
That's fine in and of itself, but really lawyers don't investigate anything. They hire investigators. But instead of the guy who had all the pieces figuring it out, he brings her all the pieces and it all clicks in her uber-brain just as she pretty much walks into the killer.
hmmmmmm. a meh with a sigh.
there is some halfway interesting courtroom stuff which shows she was right in the first place about the system being stacked, both against lady lawyers and women accused of shooting their husbands.
hmmmmm, probably accurate
It ends up the murder is all about mathematics and chaos theory. This idea could be pretty cool, but the lady lawyer knows squat about mathematics, or chaos theories, so it sort of just hangs there.
hmmmm.
There is also a romance-at-first-sight for the lady lawyer with a math guy who she meets on the stairs who asks her back to his place, where she goes.
seriously? tsk meh
Then there is a ridiculous resolution...
meh grrrrrrrrrrrrr
then a blank page.
Can I have back this five hours of my life please?
the consensus seems to be meh, but I did finish it, and wanted to hear more about the chaos theory, so 2 stars.
It has a really slow and whiny start where this lawyer is so sick of the system that she gets a job in retail. that didn't have much to do with anything. She goes to visit her lawyer dad, who likes to cook constantly. He cooks so much, or else is taking her out to eat so often, that this should be about all the weight they're gaining. They also ride around in cars not talking a lot.
yeah, meh
Later, this is about how the lady lawyer who discovers the true killer while defending a women charged with murdering her husband.
That's fine in and of itself, but really lawyers don't investigate anything. They hire investigators. But instead of the guy who had all the pieces figuring it out, he brings her all the pieces and it all clicks in her uber-brain just as she pretty much walks into the killer.
hmmmmmm. a meh with a sigh.
there is some halfway interesting courtroom stuff which shows she was right in the first place about the system being stacked, both against lady lawyers and women accused of shooting their husbands.
hmmmmm, probably accurate
It ends up the murder is all about mathematics and chaos theory. This idea could be pretty cool, but the lady lawyer knows squat about mathematics, or chaos theories, so it sort of just hangs there.
hmmmm.
There is also a romance-at-first-sight for the lady lawyer with a math guy who she meets on the stairs who asks her back to his place, where she goes.
seriously? tsk meh
Then there is a ridiculous resolution...
meh grrrrrrrrrrrrr
then a blank page.
Can I have back this five hours of my life please?
the consensus seems to be meh, but I did finish it, and wanted to hear more about the chaos theory, so 2 stars.
November 26, 2020
Notes:
- I'm glad that I started this series with The Best Defense #2. It was easy to follow without having read the first book and the characters felt more established than here.
- The flaw for this story was that the author tried to make it too interesting. There's a lot of moving elements and some of that came across as 'exotic', 'far-fetched' and stuffed to the gills with things the reader may want to know a whole lot more about.
- In comparison, I enjoyed the Best Defense more because it felt more rooted in everyday life and showed aspects of a court case that made the story/plot more interesting.
- While Death Qualified comes across as a story trying hard to catch attention and shine as the latest trend to be followed.
- Setting: Reading the descriptions of Oregon, Eugene, etc are great because it reminds me of when I visited the area.
- Added Anna Fields to my "listen list". She's a great narrator! I'm not sure if she's narrated a lot of books but I will keep my eye out for her name.
The title? I love the title. It fits the series well.
- I'm glad that I started this series with The Best Defense #2. It was easy to follow without having read the first book and the characters felt more established than here.
- The flaw for this story was that the author tried to make it too interesting. There's a lot of moving elements and some of that came across as 'exotic', 'far-fetched' and stuffed to the gills with things the reader may want to know a whole lot more about.
- In comparison, I enjoyed the Best Defense more because it felt more rooted in everyday life and showed aspects of a court case that made the story/plot more interesting.
- While Death Qualified comes across as a story trying hard to catch attention and shine as the latest trend to be followed.
- Setting: Reading the descriptions of Oregon, Eugene, etc are great because it reminds me of when I visited the area.
- Added Anna Fields to my "listen list". She's a great narrator! I'm not sure if she's narrated a lot of books but I will keep my eye out for her name.
The title? I love the title. It fits the series well.
November 10, 2010
This probably would have gotten 4 stars were it not for the incredibly stupid "I'm suddenly perfectly fine after that bout of insanity! And I love you! And now we're going to get married!" scene tacked on right near the end.
In fact, I should probably drop it down to two stars, but I really did enjoy the book until then.
Oh wait, there was also the scene where Barbara essentially says, "There's a killer who is extremely angry with me, and now he's on the loose after picking up his rifle. I think I'm going to go for a walk alone in the woods now." That one wasn't so good either.
In fact, I should probably drop it down to two stars, but I really did enjoy the book until then.
Oh wait, there was also the scene where Barbara essentially says, "There's a killer who is extremely angry with me, and now he's on the loose after picking up his rifle. I think I'm going to go for a walk alone in the woods now." That one wasn't so good either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2013
This was my third book in the Barbara Holloway lawyer and courtroom drama series by Kate Wilhelm.
I loved the first two books I read and they filled the hole left by having no more Grisham books to read.
But this book (her first in the series) was a huge disappointment. Had it been my first read, I would not have bothered with any more.
So what was wrong with it? The plot was good but way overly expanded and unneedfully complicated by side trips. She went in so many directions that the actual story barely inched forward.
But the worst of all, for me, was that after approximately 20 hours of hanging on to see what happened and how it would all turn out – it didn’t. There was no resolution and I was left feeling angry and cheated.
But I will certainly continue the series.
I loved the first two books I read and they filled the hole left by having no more Grisham books to read.
But this book (her first in the series) was a huge disappointment. Had it been my first read, I would not have bothered with any more.
So what was wrong with it? The plot was good but way overly expanded and unneedfully complicated by side trips. She went in so many directions that the actual story barely inched forward.
But the worst of all, for me, was that after approximately 20 hours of hanging on to see what happened and how it would all turn out – it didn’t. There was no resolution and I was left feeling angry and cheated.
But I will certainly continue the series.
September 20, 2015
I've been reading the Barbara Holloway series for a few years now. I don't remember which I read first. I started in the middle somewhere. I probably started with one that audible had on sale. I really liked it. While I didn't have the big introduction to the characters, it was enough to go on and I really liked the series.
"Death Qualified" is the first of the series. I finally put myself on the list at Overdrive to read it. As I read it, I asked myself if I would have kept up with the series if I had started with number one. Maybe. But it's not guarantee.
This summer I read the novella by Wilhelm "The Fullness of Time." It was not what I had expected from her. I've read a bunch of Barbara Holloway books as well as a few stand alone novels and really like her style. But Fullness of Time dealt with time travel--something I usually eat up hook, line and sinker. But this was odd. Weird science odd.
That's what I felt from this book. There's a lot of talk about chaos theory, madelbrots, and such. And people exposed to this "program" of learning to see the world in a new way, the next step on the evolutionary chain, having psychotic breaks. And insert and normal, non-science related, traditional shot with a shotgun type murder trial. Then at the end throw in closeted homosexuals and fear of AIDS. It was like I was reading a couple different books. Later volumes don't have this influence. But if I had started with this one, I would have finished it. But I would have only read the other books from the library if I didn't have any other options. Instead, I started in the middle and actively seek out Wilhelm books.
Overdrive also delivered a later installment in the Barbara Holloway series. I think I need to get back on the horse, cleanse my palette, do any other trite sayings that would imply reading a "normal" Holloway book and forgetting about this one.
"Death Qualified" is the first of the series. I finally put myself on the list at Overdrive to read it. As I read it, I asked myself if I would have kept up with the series if I had started with number one. Maybe. But it's not guarantee.
This summer I read the novella by Wilhelm "The Fullness of Time." It was not what I had expected from her. I've read a bunch of Barbara Holloway books as well as a few stand alone novels and really like her style. But Fullness of Time dealt with time travel--something I usually eat up hook, line and sinker. But this was odd. Weird science odd.
That's what I felt from this book. There's a lot of talk about chaos theory, madelbrots, and such. And people exposed to this "program" of learning to see the world in a new way, the next step on the evolutionary chain, having psychotic breaks. And insert and normal, non-science related, traditional shot with a shotgun type murder trial. Then at the end throw in closeted homosexuals and fear of AIDS. It was like I was reading a couple different books. Later volumes don't have this influence. But if I had started with this one, I would have finished it. But I would have only read the other books from the library if I didn't have any other options. Instead, I started in the middle and actively seek out Wilhelm books.
Overdrive also delivered a later installment in the Barbara Holloway series. I think I need to get back on the horse, cleanse my palette, do any other trite sayings that would imply reading a "normal" Holloway book and forgetting about this one.
November 15, 2011
This is the first book in the Barbara Holloway series and it had a little bit of everything. The mystery itself was very good and the culprit nobody I guessed. The court room drama was very good, I liked the interaction and the fact you already know the accused is innocent but looks guilty as hell, so you have no clue who will win. Then there's the whole sci-fi thing with chaos and math and weird psychology that kinda went over my head, and finally the whole part about Barbara hating the legal system while trying her best to get justice for her client, if that even exists. There was a little too much soap box about the legal system and I mostly skipped those parts. The ending was disappointing, it had no finality, it was like the end of the movie Fellowship of the Ring. I gave it the 4 stars because in spite of this I was hooked during the book and keeping my fingers crossed that I never get caught in the middle of the legal system like that.
July 4, 2018
Audiobook review. What a dreadfully written novel. First, the positives. Grammar - fine. Sentence structure - fine. Narrator- fine. That’s all. Some of the trial is mildly interesting, but to get there the reader must survive the first 40%+ of the story, slogging through plots, subplots, tangents, and a ridiculous romance. The writing gets cheesiest when love (or lust) is in the air.
There is profanity, especially religious curses. Sex scenes are not really graphic, but they are a bit corny. What’s most offensive is that the book keeps promising to get better, but it never does. Instead, it just keeps going on and on and on...and when it’s finally over, you never can get those hours back.
My advice: read something else.
There is profanity, especially religious curses. Sex scenes are not really graphic, but they are a bit corny. What’s most offensive is that the book keeps promising to get better, but it never does. Instead, it just keeps going on and on and on...and when it’s finally over, you never can get those hours back.
My advice: read something else.
January 22, 2010
I enjoy Kate Wilhelm's writing. Over 20 years ago I read "Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang," a sci-fi book and it became one of my favorites. "Death Qualified" is a legal/courtroom drama, but Wilhelm still grapples with many of the same ideas - though perhaps more subtly - as those in Sweet Birds. The characters have depth, the story is well thought out, and she gives you things to think about - individuality/chaos vs. conformity/order, etc. My one complaint would be that she banged the nail a few too many times in regards to some of the main character's issues.
August 8, 2020
I had higher expectations of this book. The ending was a particularly bad let-down for me. I don’t think I’ll continue with the series.
Also a point about the audiobook production: there are repeated lines in every few chapters, so the lady who reads the book reads the same few lines twice.
Also a point about the audiobook production: there are repeated lines in every few chapters, so the lady who reads the book reads the same few lines twice.
October 6, 2008
I am listening to this book on CD and it's not setting my hair on fire so far. I'm giving it a little while longer, but if something doesn't HAPPEN pretty soon, I'm going to abandon it. What a slow start, and what an unlikable character to start out with.... slooooowly.
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Man, I am really struggling with this audiobook. If it doesn't get to the legal stuff pretty soon, I'm finished with it.
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This turned out to be one of those books I simply couldn't finish. I had to force myself to listen to it, and it wasn't like I disliked the characters; I loathed the characters. Not a good omen for this series. I think there are enough other good series out there that I'll let the Barbara Holloway series go. It's too bad,m because I had really high hopes. Books about women lawyers in Oregon aren't easy to come by.
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Man, I am really struggling with this audiobook. If it doesn't get to the legal stuff pretty soon, I'm finished with it.
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This turned out to be one of those books I simply couldn't finish. I had to force myself to listen to it, and it wasn't like I disliked the characters; I loathed the characters. Not a good omen for this series. I think there are enough other good series out there that I'll let the Barbara Holloway series go. It's too bad,m because I had really high hopes. Books about women lawyers in Oregon aren't easy to come by.
September 12, 2014
Well, until I got to the end of the book I thought it was great. I liked (or at least they were real) the characters. And Wilhelm writes very well and weaves a good mystery. The courtroom scenes were good, and I thought the love/hate relationship between Barbara Holloway and her father adds another dimension to the book. What I didn't know before I read it is that Wilhelm writes both sci-fi and mystery. She combines the genres in this book with the mathematics and chaos theory. I didn't care for that part and certainly was bummed by the ending. However, as I've thought back on the book, it was a really good read, and I want to read more of Wilhelm's books.
May 24, 2017
I do *not* recommend this book. I didn't finish it because there is quite a bit of bad language-- not just "mild"-- and some non-explicit sex scenes. And there may be more than that past where I stopped reading.
August 13, 2016
Mystery, thriller, courtroom drama, and a suggestion of sci-fi make up a story that's a little slow to get going, has red herrings galore right to the last chapter when it finishes with a twist.
December 1, 2024
‘Death Qualified’ by Kate Wilhelm is a mixed bag of plot choices. I think Wilhelm was settling into a ‘voice’ for her new character lawyer Barbara Holloway (at the time - this book, number one in the series, was published in 1991) as well as a narration style. However, the novel is still clearly a legal thriller/mystery series, with a procedural tone. It is a very busy plot with multiple points of view, and it did take the story awhile to bring Barbara eventually into the story, and longer for her to take charge of the case.
I have copied the book blurb:
”First in the Barbara Holloway mystery series, Death Qualified masterfully combines mystery, science fiction, and a keen examination of legal ethics.
Lucas Kendrick appears at his estranged wife’s home after a mysterious seven-year disappearance, and is instantly shot. Nell Kendrick, charged with his murder, calls Attorney Frank Holloway to defend her. But Frank cannot prepare her defense alone. He needs a lawyer who is “death qualified”—able to defend capital cases. He appeals to his daughter Barbara, who, out of disillusionment with a profession prizing politics over justice, abandoned her practice five years before.
Reluctantly, Barbara is plunged into a case involving chaos theory, the mysterious death of a researcher, and a politically motivated and hostile prosecutor. To complicate matters, Barbara falls in love with a mathematician whose help she seeks in unraveling the case.”
The above description is very accurate! However, I did feel a touch unattached emotionally in caring about the main characters, except for Frank, Barbara’s father.
I was drawn to this series primarily because it takes place in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Oregon. I was born and raised in Washington State, and I often drove to Portland, as well as other tourist stops in Oregon. Its a beautiful state with a geological diversity that is unbelievable, much like Washington State.
I have copied the book blurb:
”First in the Barbara Holloway mystery series, Death Qualified masterfully combines mystery, science fiction, and a keen examination of legal ethics.
Lucas Kendrick appears at his estranged wife’s home after a mysterious seven-year disappearance, and is instantly shot. Nell Kendrick, charged with his murder, calls Attorney Frank Holloway to defend her. But Frank cannot prepare her defense alone. He needs a lawyer who is “death qualified”—able to defend capital cases. He appeals to his daughter Barbara, who, out of disillusionment with a profession prizing politics over justice, abandoned her practice five years before.
Reluctantly, Barbara is plunged into a case involving chaos theory, the mysterious death of a researcher, and a politically motivated and hostile prosecutor. To complicate matters, Barbara falls in love with a mathematician whose help she seeks in unraveling the case.”
The above description is very accurate! However, I did feel a touch unattached emotionally in caring about the main characters, except for Frank, Barbara’s father.
I was drawn to this series primarily because it takes place in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Oregon. I was born and raised in Washington State, and I often drove to Portland, as well as other tourist stops in Oregon. Its a beautiful state with a geological diversity that is unbelievable, much like Washington State.
February 21, 2021
I want my 14 hours back.
First of all, this story meanders all over the place. We jump from character to character to character. There is *so* much narration - even before the story starts. I think I was 3 hours into the audiobook before the murder even took place.
The plot is so convoluted and random and all over the place, I frequently found myself shaking my head trying to clear the cobwebs and determine what I may have missed. (The answer? Nothing. It is just that confusing.) There are many unnecessary red herring thrown into the path along the way that make no sense other than to be red herrings. There are characters and relationships thrown in just to have a path to get lost on.
There are no likeable characters here. Not one. No one I just wanted to spend more time with or get to know better or wondered why it went this way. Except maybe the murder victim. But, truly didn't know *him* well enough to know that. The victims parents absolute support of their daughter in law is never really explained or supported and is just there. Nell *verges* on likeable but we also do not spend enough time with her to decide this. We are just granted snippets. We never really get to know anyone but Barbara. Which makes some sense because it is Barbara Holloway novel. But, then, why do we spend so darn much time following other characters?
I did NOT like the title. I felt as though it was one little snippet in a conversation that was forced to create the title. Stupid. Again, meandering.
The narration. At first listen, I thought I really enjoyed the narration. But, as I came to the end of the story, I came to realize that the narrator herself caused some of the "unlikeableness" of the main character. She made her sound bored with the world, as if she thought herself better than those around her. Even as she declared her love, there was no passion in her voice. She made the defendant (only once she BECAME the defendant) sound pathetic and small and unable to take care of herself even while our introduction to this character showed a strong and capable woman. I don't know if these flaws are due to the narration or the writing, but, to ME, they were glaring.
As if all that isn't enough to justify my 2 star rating, there is the ending. The BIGGEST flaw in the whole darn story. When I heard that message "I hope you enjoyed your story", I thought to myself - what? it's over? What just happened? It truly felt as though it just ended. No true conclusion. Just STOPPED. I was left with so many questions. So many scary things were introduced in the last bit and it just STOPPED. NO ONE had a happy ending. Every single character ends up miserable. Except the dead guy. The motivations for all of the actions herein make no sense to me. It was *all* for naught. And, the journey was so fraught with wrong turns, it wasn't even enjoyable.
This is terrible. I don't know if it improves moving forward as I have reason to suspect it might, but I have no desire to spend any more time with these people. They are all nuts. and unlikeable.
First of all, this story meanders all over the place. We jump from character to character to character. There is *so* much narration - even before the story starts. I think I was 3 hours into the audiobook before the murder even took place.
The plot is so convoluted and random and all over the place, I frequently found myself shaking my head trying to clear the cobwebs and determine what I may have missed. (The answer? Nothing. It is just that confusing.) There are many unnecessary red herring thrown into the path along the way that make no sense other than to be red herrings. There are characters and relationships thrown in just to have a path to get lost on.
There are no likeable characters here. Not one. No one I just wanted to spend more time with or get to know better or wondered why it went this way. Except maybe the murder victim. But, truly didn't know *him* well enough to know that. The victims parents absolute support of their daughter in law is never really explained or supported and is just there. Nell *verges* on likeable but we also do not spend enough time with her to decide this. We are just granted snippets. We never really get to know anyone but Barbara. Which makes some sense because it is Barbara Holloway novel. But, then, why do we spend so darn much time following other characters?
I did NOT like the title. I felt as though it was one little snippet in a conversation that was forced to create the title. Stupid. Again, meandering.
The narration. At first listen, I thought I really enjoyed the narration. But, as I came to the end of the story, I came to realize that the narrator herself caused some of the "unlikeableness" of the main character. She made her sound bored with the world, as if she thought herself better than those around her. Even as she declared her love, there was no passion in her voice. She made the defendant (only once she BECAME the defendant) sound pathetic and small and unable to take care of herself even while our introduction to this character showed a strong and capable woman. I don't know if these flaws are due to the narration or the writing, but, to ME, they were glaring.
As if all that isn't enough to justify my 2 star rating, there is the ending. The BIGGEST flaw in the whole darn story. When I heard that message "I hope you enjoyed your story", I thought to myself - what? it's over? What just happened? It truly felt as though it just ended. No true conclusion. Just STOPPED. I was left with so many questions. So many scary things were introduced in the last bit and it just STOPPED. NO ONE had a happy ending. Every single character ends up miserable. Except the dead guy. The motivations for all of the actions herein make no sense to me. It was *all* for naught. And, the journey was so fraught with wrong turns, it wasn't even enjoyable.
This is terrible. I don't know if it improves moving forward as I have reason to suspect it might, but I have no desire to spend any more time with these people. They are all nuts. and unlikeable.
June 27, 2012
My favorite line is when Barbara's father tells her you solved a murder, but not the one you're working on! This was an all-around fantastic read. I love the down-to-earth characters and the intensity of the legal battles. Barbara's father also tells her slow down, you're working 5 jobs - not to mention defense attorney. With the help of her new boyfriend, Mike and her father, Barbara solves the mystery of two murders - the supposed victim of Lucas Kendriks and the murder of Lucas Kendricks. The scenery is lush forests. The court room battle takes place between Barbara and her ex-boyfriend who works for the District Attorney's office, Tony. The internal struggle is by far the best part of the book - Barbara's can't bear the violence, mindless procedures and dirty deals that happen on a day to day basis in the legal system. She doesn't want to be in that life, but she's drawn back and she's really good at her job. Wonderful read!
November 25, 2010
The court stuff is great.
Barbara really annoyed me with the snap judgments she made in her interactions with Mike.
And when then plot went all woo-woo--with Mike getting caught up in some vision dreamed up by a mathematician so that he didn't care about living in this world, where he had told Barbara he loved her, and the two kids seeing the discs that could lead them to the same place--that soured me on the whole book. In her Constance and Charlie books, I knew I was getting into some paranormal plots, but I was expecting a straightforward mystery here. Hmph.
I can't tell from brief descriptions of her subsequent "Barbara Holloway" books if that whole utopia thread comes up again. It certainly felt like loose ends at the book's finale. I might read the next one, just to see. And the writing is good.
Good writing, though.
Barbara really annoyed me with the snap judgments she made in her interactions with Mike.
And when then plot went all woo-woo--with Mike getting caught up in some vision dreamed up by a mathematician so that he didn't care about living in this world, where he had told Barbara he loved her, and the two kids seeing the discs that could lead them to the same place--that soured me on the whole book. In her Constance and Charlie books, I knew I was getting into some paranormal plots, but I was expecting a straightforward mystery here. Hmph.
I can't tell from brief descriptions of her subsequent "Barbara Holloway" books if that whole utopia thread comes up again. It certainly felt like loose ends at the book's finale. I might read the next one, just to see. And the writing is good.
Good writing, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2010
I'm not a big "who dun it" fan, but this book was well written, had a great plot, and a terrific twist at the end. The biggest treat was that the book took place between Sisters, Oregon, and Eugene, Oregon, and I could visualize the exact places the author discribed. I would have given more stars to the rating, but I felt a couple of the characters were weak would have benefited from another editing.
Merged review:
This is a great "who done it". One of the best parts is the setting; our very own McKenzie River area. The story revolves around a disenchanted lawyer whose father lures her back into the profession via a case that takes you from love to sci-fi and back again. The ending will knock your socks off!
Merged review:
This is a great "who done it". One of the best parts is the setting; our very own McKenzie River area. The story revolves around a disenchanted lawyer whose father lures her back into the profession via a case that takes you from love to sci-fi and back again. The ending will knock your socks off!
January 12, 2010
Barbara is an attorney who doesn't want to practice anymore. She finds herself representing a young mother who is charged with murdering her husband. Barbara is "death qualified" because she is qualified to represent someone who might get the death penalty.
Where has the husband been for 7 years before suddenly showing up in the woods near home? This is a complicated plot featuring small-town life, university research, and the legal process. It describes in detail the thoughts and feelings of those involved in a murder trial. I found it overly long for the amount of plot and I disliked the ending. And the person I liked the most was killed off early in the book.
Where has the husband been for 7 years before suddenly showing up in the woods near home? This is a complicated plot featuring small-town life, university research, and the legal process. It describes in detail the thoughts and feelings of those involved in a murder trial. I found it overly long for the amount of plot and I disliked the ending. And the person I liked the most was killed off early in the book.
June 18, 2014
This book starts out as a decently entertaining murder mystery. Then it kind of morphs into a mystery/sci-fi blend, and I wasn't really buying the sci fi parts. Also, I got bored with the excessive introspection. Wilhelm is supposed to be an excellent sci-fi author and I'm willing to give some of her other stuff a shot. But this particular book didn't really do it for me.
June 30, 2014
I like the Barbara Holloway books, but this first story is kind of disjointed and hard to follow, and not all of the threads that were brought up were resolved
March 28, 2018
I didn't like the ending, as it didn't seem to make much sense for me. But it kept me entertained, so if I find another book I will probably give it a go
June 6, 2021
This book bills itself as a "Mystery of Chaos" and it is, but it is also a compelling mystery in which a former attorney who has given up law practice must find help for a woman charged with killing her husband. There is, of course, a mysterious background to the husband and chaos theory plays its part, with confusion, injustice and dark plots.
This is a compelling book with love, family and secrets.
This is a compelling book with love, family and secrets.
June 26, 2025
Briliant, current, insightful: think female Perry Mason with a keen sense of justice. Also, witty.
August 17, 2021
Excellent mystery writing! Anna Fields is the narrator of this audio book. Her voice is pleasant and relaxed.
January 6, 2016
When I was younger, I enjoyed Kate Wilhelm's science fiction writing - indeed, I've been collecting ebooks of those classics that are still available with an eye toward rereading them. But I had never explored her other genre writing.
That has now changed. I have read Death Qualified, the first of her mystery/courtroom drama series of novels featuring lawyer Barbara Holloway, and found it to be quite an enjoyable read.
At the outset of the novel, Holloway has been away from her home town of Eugene, Oregon, for some years, and has ceased practicing law. Her father Frank, a lawyer himself, asks her to return to Eugene and to the law to help him with a case he's not sure he can win. Reluctant at first, she eventually agrees, despite (or because?) of the fact that the prosecutor is a former lover who she feels betrayed their personal relationship to win a case.
The case seems straightforward at first. Nell Kendricks stands accused of killing her husband, Lucas, who deserted her and her children years ago and has now suddenly returned. But as the reader knows, and Holloway begins to realise, Lucas' absence is part of a mysterious research project gone terribly wrong, and this may be the real reason behind his murder - if she can only find the evidence.
Part of the fun of reading this is watching everything unfolding - the nature of the research and the reason for Lucas' long absence, the detective work that slowly uncovers what really happened the day Lucas Kendricks died, and the courtroom strategies Holloway employs in an attempt to raise reasonable doubt about her client's guilt.
I especially enjoyed the sciencefictional aspect of the novel that came long with the revelation of the mysterious research that Lucas had been a party to, but the mystery and courtroom elements were equally well done. I'll be checking out more of Wilhelm's mystery writing.
That has now changed. I have read Death Qualified, the first of her mystery/courtroom drama series of novels featuring lawyer Barbara Holloway, and found it to be quite an enjoyable read.
At the outset of the novel, Holloway has been away from her home town of Eugene, Oregon, for some years, and has ceased practicing law. Her father Frank, a lawyer himself, asks her to return to Eugene and to the law to help him with a case he's not sure he can win. Reluctant at first, she eventually agrees, despite (or because?) of the fact that the prosecutor is a former lover who she feels betrayed their personal relationship to win a case.
The case seems straightforward at first. Nell Kendricks stands accused of killing her husband, Lucas, who deserted her and her children years ago and has now suddenly returned. But as the reader knows, and Holloway begins to realise, Lucas' absence is part of a mysterious research project gone terribly wrong, and this may be the real reason behind his murder - if she can only find the evidence.
Part of the fun of reading this is watching everything unfolding - the nature of the research and the reason for Lucas' long absence, the detective work that slowly uncovers what really happened the day Lucas Kendricks died, and the courtroom strategies Holloway employs in an attempt to raise reasonable doubt about her client's guilt.
I especially enjoyed the sciencefictional aspect of the novel that came long with the revelation of the mysterious research that Lucas had been a party to, but the mystery and courtroom elements were equally well done. I'll be checking out more of Wilhelm's mystery writing.
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