Defense for the Devil

Barbara Holloway #4

by Kate Wilhelm

Mitch Arno always meant bad news for Folsum, Oregon. When they ran him out of town seventeen years ago, he left behind a wife with two daughters and a family that never wanted to see him again. When he returns, he brings trouble in the form of a lot of suspicious money. As Barbara attempts to counsel Mitch's wife about the money, a second form of trouble arrives, Mitch's corpse.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Legal Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Legal

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 15, 1999

About the author

Kate 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.

Reviews

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a four star book at the beginning and the plot is worth it but unfortunately the main character dropped it by a whole star. She was an annoying uncompromising woman who when she didn't get her way acted like she was a teenager and had hissy fits before doing stuff her way which often came back to bit her in the ass or got her in more trouble later. Also she has no regard for anyone's life but her own and her father's. Her lust at first sight marriage was over as soon as they got back from the honeymoon and she just didn't care at all. If I were in trouble she would be a great lawyer I'd hire but any other time I wouldn't touch her with a ten foot pole. She's toxic to almost everyone around her. Last I am now certain from the last book and this one that she has an eating disorder.

The plot was long and involved but good and I could see something like it happening. It's a classic mafia crime story. Not that much mystery to this one but lots of twists and turns that were good. Most of the book was court dialogue and that was getting tedious by the end of the book. All in all a fair book to waist a day or two on.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many of the books in this series, it was a little slow at the start, but near the end, I couldn't put it down. One of the unusual things about this series- and it's both a plus and a minus - the author doesn't give you a lot of reminders of who's who. On the one hand, I appreciate that she treats me like I have a brain I my head and doesn't talk down to me or treat me like I need my hand held. On the other hand, although I'm reading the series in order, I do read other books in between, and I'll be darned if I can remember how the main character and her boyfriend? husband? I can't even remember - got into their current living situation. And there's not a clue about that in the current story - just a hint near the very end of the book about a previous case of hers that he was involved in. Sounds vaguely familiar, but a little more back story at some point would've helped

[Soo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:

Currently on Audible Plus
(I've been able to read the series between my library & Audible Plus.)

Wilhelm has a tendency of wanting to pack too many 'cool ideas' into the story, but this one worked out well enough. I like the way the author draws out various aspects of a person and makes it seem totally normal. Which works for me because I'm a firm believer that normal is defined by the individual & influenced by the masses. So, it's cool to see how characters may feel & think beyond the surface look of things.

[Karen Rettig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Kate Wilhelm. She takes a common storyline— a defense attorney defending an innocent client on a murder charge— and makes it new with complex plot and detailed trial tactics. Wilhelm seems to have a thorough knowledge of how the legal system works, and her plots often revolve around the difference between law— what can be achieved in a trial setting—and justice, which may be rather different. Although she lets the reader in on the entire plot, her defense attorney, Barbara, must convince a trial jury only that there is reasonable doubt of the defendant’s innocence.

In this book,I particularly enjoyed Wilhelm’s portrayal of the devil as a charming, handsome, soft-spoken and pleasant man, who is nonetheless entirely chilling.

[Tex · Rating 3 out of 5]

No great shakes. Adequate story. A little too long in the court scenes.
Man arrested for his brothers murder but there is a backstory of computer espionage and organized crime. Some good dialogue, but not enough to swing another star. Eh.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was our first Barbara Holloway, but not our first Kate Wilhelm. Barbara is asked to get money out of an ex husband. But then the ex turns up dead and it turns out he has left a big chunk of cash behind. But whose cash is it and what has been involved getting the cash? Holloway ends up defending the ex's brother on the charge of his brother's murder and things get decidedly tricky. Good legal and investigative work, as well as side plots of family issues.

[Carol Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot was good but the relationship between Barbara and her new husband John was just too annoying.

See my whole review at Carol's Notebook.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the best Barbara Holloway book to date. It left me with a number of driveway moments as I was waiting to find out what was going to happen in the book.

[Hazel Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very satisfying and complex story. I thought the next-door apartment thing was really weird and not credible.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Formulaic -- but fun!

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mitch Arno has always meant trouble. Although he came from a well-respected family, as a young man he left his wife, Margaret Fulsome, alone with two babies and no support. Luckily, his family stepped in and Margaret has built a life with a bed and bath she bought with their help. It's not much but it's enough to support her and her children.

Now Mitch is back in town and bad things are happening again. He has shown up with a briefcase full of money and a fancy car. When he is killed, Margaret goes to attorney Barbara Holloway for help. Barbara is hesitant to take the case because it will interfere with her personal life and the man she loves who wants her to travel with him. But she agrees.

Mitch's brother is charged with his death and Barbara is drawn deeper into danger. Once she has secured the money for Margaret through a series of legal maneuvers, she is free to represent Ray Arno in his murder trial. But as she does, she and her father, Frank, are drawn further and further into a world of deceit and murder and are in personal danger. Will she risk her life to serve the law she loves?

This was my first Kate Wilhelm novel. She has gained awards in both the mystery and science fiction genres and is a prolific author. In this one, she lays out an intricate case that highlights both the difficulties of attorney work and the personal danger that can come to defense attorneys. Her legal maneuvers will give the reader insights into legal work and her personal difficulties will make the reader be firmly on her side. This book is recommended for mystery readers.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I watched the Lincoln Lawyer TV series in the last couple of years and watched the Perry Mason show way back when, this was my first try at a defense lawyer novel. So, I'm not comparing this to other books in the genre. Over 40% at the beginning of the book is background. It may be less than 40% into the book that the defendent is charged with murder, but the protagonist / lawyer Barbara Holloway has a client which would be a conflict of interests until almost halfway into the book. To be clear, with this earlier matter, Holloway does plan things cleverly both for the first client and to be ready to taken on the murder defendant when she can.

Once she's working for the murder defendant, she does present a good case. Her work is made somewhat easier by the fact the prosecution hasn't bothered to put much effort into looking into investigating and disproving alternative scenarios to what they have assumed. Holloway is also good in that she's able to identify some members of a criminal company as probably being the killers - and trying to stay alive herself.

But my personal reaction was that while she might be a lawyer I'd like to have if I was on trial, I wasn't inspired to read other books in the series.

Some other readers will like the amount in the book about Halloway's personal life.

[Wendy Hearder-moan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, as I have all the books I’ve read in the series, but for a few quibbles. I didn’t think the scam involving the Palmer company was explained explicitly enough. I was always a little unsure how that was supposed to work. I also got confused from time to time because of the many characters related to the various sub-plots. The biggest quibble was not the author’s fault so much as a technological glitch. I was reading a digital version that must have used some type of “intelligent” scanner that frequently read Arnos as Amos. For a while I wondered if there were two families with similar names. Very confusing!

[Jenny Byers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got about a third of the way through this book and decided to stop. I feel that the author goes out of her way to add extraneous complications to the plot. The crime itself was strangely complex, and then she made the plan to bring justice also too complex. It was beyond reasonable. I don't mind having to write out an outline or a tree of characters as I read a good book, but this was too much. Which is very disappointing because I truly respect this author. I kept reading past my frustration level due to her easy to read style of writing. I will try the next book in the series and hope it is less frustrating.

[Deb Outland · Rating 5 out of 5]

On this second read of Defense For the Devil, I’m struck by just how much I appreciate Kate Wilhelm’s writing ability. In fact, I’ve decided to go back and read the entire series, several of which I have yet to read at all. But I have decided that instead of plunging on with the books I have yet to read. I want to go back and start again at the beginning so I can savor the entire series as it unfolds. . Wilhelm’s characters are beautifully developed, her plotting is outstanding, and as a story it is marvelously engrossing. Legal fiction just doesn’t get much better than this!

[Ada Iaboni · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of these books of this series have very intricate stories that confuse and boggle the reader a bit.
I know it does that for me. In this case, it was even more than usual. But I have to give it 3 stars just for the author's imagination and her ability to keep track of who, what, where, and when.
So far, although I think I gave most of them 3 stars, this is the one I liked the least, because it confused me the most.

[Sheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first book of the series ( I have no idea why or how that happened) but I did not enjoy this book. I tried so many times. This last time I was getting our house ready for a move. No time to look for another book so kept this on. It's rambling nonsense, and so non sensicle, that you just can't follow what's happening no matter how many times you start the book over; or how many times you listen to each chapter.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending of one of the subplots completely ruins this book for me.
Lately, it seems like every book I read has the characters choosing their careers over love. I can't relate to this at all. There's not a job in the world that I wouldn't give up in a second for a love like the kind described in this book. Having said that, I'm amazed that characters meet, fall passionately in love with a person, and then, instantly set about trying to change that person. Blah. Not fun to read.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable. I liked the puzzle of and the relationships. Barbara opening her own firm. The way everything came together -- or fell apart. I mean her relationship was destined to fail. How can a relationship work when both parties hate what the other does for a living? But at least the mystery was good and had some entertaining twists and turns.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series but didn't think this was one of the better books. I found it hard to follow, and had to flip back several times to figure out who the different characters were. It wasn't up to the expectations I had after reading the first 3 books.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I was disappointed that the reader changed. And given that I usually multi-task as I listen, I found some of the convolutions of this plot a little hard to follow. But, aside from all that, I am continuing to enjoy this series. Very much so.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little long and boring in some parts but still good.

[Turi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just not my favorite style of writing - I couldn't get into the characters at all.

[Donn Lorber · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Kate Wilhelm book, and not the last. A bit confusing,several times I lost track of newer characters, but the storyline held up and was really surprising.. well done

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring. I could not get into this story. I did not like the main character.

[Debbi Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

On to the next in the series!

[Karla Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good - this is a wonderful series - great characters and engaging plots.

[Kathleen Hagen]

Defense for the Devil, by Kate Wilhelm. I borrowed it from NLS for the Blind, but it can be purchased from Blackstone Audio and downloaded from Audible.

This is the third in the Barbara Holloway series. Barbara meets a woman in the restaurant she often uses to meet new clients in the off hours when the restaurant isn’t busy. Maggie is very nervous. She married Mitch Arno 17 years previously when she became pregnant at the age of 16. He abused her and left her, only to return a few months after the baby was born, and forcibly rape her causing a second pregnancy. His family disowned him and never wanted to see him again. Now, 17 years later, he came back. He burst into Maggie’s home. She managed to disarm him, bound him up and put him out of the house. Then when she returned later he was gone. He had come into the house bringing a suitcase and a briefcase. Maggie hid these things. Mitch was found by his brother, Ray, who took him to his own house and left him there. The next time Mitch was seen it was as a corpse. The suitcase was full of money, and the briefcase held a computer program which might be valuable. Barbara was trying to get Maggie out of the mess, while getting the money turned over to her as recompense for the 17 years of child support she never got from Mitch. But, in the midst of all of this, Mitch’s brother, Ray, is accused of the murder. The family wants her to represent Ray, but she can’t while she’s still involved with Maggie due to conflict of interest. In the end, she works out the conflict and defends him, and subjects herself and her father to even more danger. This book was too full of court dialogue. I love to read court scenes, but there was too much even for me here. But it was very good dialogue. Wilhelm’s later books got even better.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY

This is the third or forth in the Barbara Holloway series. Barbara meets a woman in the restaurant she often uses to meet new clients in the off hours when the restaurant isn’t busy. Maggie is very nervous. She married Mitch Arno 17 years previously when she became pregnant at the age of 16. He abused her and left her, only to return a few months after the baby was born, and forcibly rape her causing a second pregnancy. His family disowned him and never wanted to see him again. Now, 17 years later, he came back. He burst into Maggie’s home. She managed to disarm him, bound him up and put him out of the house. Then when she returned later he was gone. He had come into the house bringing a suitcase and a briefcase. Maggie hid these things. Mitch was found by his brother, Ray, who took him to his own house and left him there. The next time Mitch was seen it was as a corpse. The suitcase was full of money, and the briefcase held a computer program which might be valuable. Barbara was trying to get Maggie out of the mess, while getting the money turned over to her as recompense for the 17 years of child support she never got from Mitch. But, in the midst of all of this, Mitch’s brother, Ray, is accused of the murder. The family wants her to represent Ray, but she can’t while she’s still involved with Maggie due to conflict of interest. In the end, she works out the conflict and defends him, and subjects herself and her father to even more danger. This book was too full of court dialogue. I love to read court scenes, but there was too much even for me here. But it was very good dialogue. Wilhelm’s later books got even better.