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Barbara Holloway is a defense attorney with a small office and a partner who happens to be her father. She is married to a doctor who is in charge of an addiction center.

She is engaged to represent a man who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of Robert, a former classmate and current state senator. Not only that, but he is also suspected of killing another person over 20 years earlier. David Etheridge is the author of a few books, and is on a lecture tour based on his latest. Apparently the book is causing some ripples wherever he speaks, in part because of his atheism. After giving a lecture attended by Barbara Holloway and her father Frank, David is attacked and lands in the hospital, close to death.

Is the attack related to the two murders? Or to his book? Either way, many in the police department are convinced that if he dies the case will be closed.

Etheridge's odd personality can rub people the wrong way. He can be abrupt and rude. So working with him is not always a dream. Nevertheless, Barbara believes in his innocence and is not willing to let the case die if he does.

The plot is a bit twisted and odd, but I suspect in real life such cases exist. However, the procedural aspects of this case bothered me. For one: when Robert is murdered the police don't search his house or his room. Especially considering he died in his house this seems strange indeed. For another: there are suggestions that Robert had influence on zoning decisions . While a senator can advocate for a zone change, he has no power to make any. Such decisions are made at the local level by city councils and boards of supervisors.

The police proceed on their case against David solely on statements made by a few people. No physical evidence, especially because they didn't even look beyond the body. Seems really weak to me, and likely not to win any hearts in the District Attorney's office. I also had some difficulty liking the characters and believing the riots at the lectures. At times Barbara mentioned the prejudices some people have against atheists and how they believe that atheists have no morals. I got the sense that she might have believed that, too. As an atheist myself I can attest that we are like anyone else in that regard. Some have morals and others do not. Further, riots at lectures? Anyone who reads books and follows lecturers is not generally inclined to break out in physical violence. Who would those people have been?

It's readable, kept me interested, but I like to see greater care taken in procedures and more interesting and fuller development of characters. ( )

Another good Barbara Holloway book. Although still focusing on her role as a defense lawyer, there is no trial here. All of the action occurs before the case is tried. ( )

A fun addition to this very readable series. Not as good as the best Holloway stories. ( )

The Barbara Holloway series by Kate Wilhelm is just a absolutely excellent batch of detective, legal, personal, and other interesting sidelights. Like Linda Fairstein's stories, I'm always learning something new feel so disappointed when the story ends. I'm glad the cases are adjudicated (no one wants to sit on a jury any longer than they have to) but I always want to know more, to see into the future. And so far, I've not been disappointed. ( )

Great Book. The writing on this one had me on pins and needles until the very end. The ending was a surprise but I was totally hooked. ( )