Review: Death Qualified by Kate Wilhelm

"Tom" can't remember much about the last seven years of his life, but he has figured out his name is really Lucas and recalls that he has a family in Oregon. Two things happen on the day Lucas finally returns to his wife, Nell: A young woman's body is seen floating down the river and Lucas is shot dead at the very moment he first sees his wife. After examination of the available evidence, local police decide that Lucas killed the woman and Nell killed her husband.

Barbara Holloway is staying with a friend in Arizona, trying to figure out what to do with her life. She left the law five years earlier in disgust over some of the behind-the-scenes deals and compromises made between defenders and prosecutors. But when her father, Frank, a semi-retired defense lawyer, talks her into returning home, she reluctantly takes on the Nell Kendricks case.

Death Qualified is a complex, multilayered courtroom drama and is the first in the Barbara Holloway series. The novel is told from several points of view and takes the reader from university campuses to a close-knit community in the coastal mountains about thirty minutes from Eugene.

Wilhelm's characterizations and descriptions of the landscape are detailed, making it easy to care about Nell, Barbara, and the other principal players. Unfortunately, the plot is a bit too all-encompassing: There are many more details about chaos theory and perception research than seem necessary. The red herring aspect of the Kendricks case takes up a good percentage of the novel and doesn't prevent the reader from figuring out who done it. Furthermore, the two surprises that occur at the end of the book are fairly predictable and expected.

The audiobook was read by Anna Fields, one of my favorite narrators. The Blackstone audio production was slightly flawed in that several times a paragraph would be repeated for no apparent reason. However, Fields is always a pleasure to listen to, and her performance added greatly to my experience with the book.

Although Death Qualified was not for me, the Barbara Holloway series is very popular, and the eleventh novel was published in 2008. Kate Wilhelm has a website, where you can learn more about her and the wide range of works she has published.

Death Qualified at an Indie

Death Qualified at Powell's
Death Qualified at Amazon

Published by Mira, 2002 (first published 1991)
ISBN-13: 9781551668727
Challenges: Pick Your Theme, 999, 100+
YTD: 57
Rating: C-

Spotlight on . . . Pennsylvania Authors

Welcome to a new feature at Beth Fish Reads. From time to time I will be spotlighting authors from Pennsylvania. The posts will take many forms: interviews, book reviews, link posts, wish list posts, and more. I'll be focusing on authors of all genres and writers from colonial times up to the present.

This feature is part of the Literary Road Trip project sponsored by Michelle from GalleySmith. To learn more about the project and to claim a state, visit the Literary Road Trip page. EDIT: The Literary Road Trip spans the globe: Participants are not restricted to picking a U.S. state.

Publicists and Readers: Please feel free to suggest a Pennsylvania author you would like me feature.

Authors: If you are a Pennsylvania author, please do not be shy: Leave a comment or email me, and I will add you to my list.

Thanks to Michelle for starting this great journey.

Awards!

I got this great award from the wonderful J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog. I can hardly believe that there is anyone who doesn't know J. Kaye! She is a prolific book reviewer, a great host of book challenges, and generous with giveaways. And her entire family reads and reviews! Don't miss her blog.

The Humane Award is to honor bloggers who are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it weren't for them, my site would just be an ordinary book review blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. This award is to thank them for their growing friendships through the blog world.

I am blessed to know many bloggers who deserve this award. I'm going to pass it along to three readers who are not from the United States.

Gautami from India, who blogs at Everything Distills into Reading
Belle from Canada, who blogs at Ms. Bookish
Jackie from the UK, who blogs at Farm Lane Books


Jill from Rhapsodyinbooks's Weblog passed this super award along to her fellow Game On dieters. If you haven't been to Jill's blog, you're missing out on some great reviews, articles, giveaways, and more. Seriously, go and read. Shanyn from Chick Loves Lit Also gave me this award! Visit her blog for terrific reviews and giveaways. Another blog to add to your daily visits.

The Kreativ Blogger award meme works like this: If you accept it, you are supposed to list seven of your favorite things and nominate seven blogs that deserve this award. I recently listed seven favorite things, but I'll name seven favorite foods or flavors in honor of the Game On diet:

1. Anything lemon (lemonade, lemon meringue pie, lemon custard ice cream)
2. Anything spice (spice cake, molasses cookies, gingerbread)
3. Pesto
4. Risotto (any kind)
5. Green chili
6. Grilled homemade pizza
7. Fresh homemade fruit salad on a hot summer's day

What are some of your favorite foods or flavors?

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

The second annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week has been set for September 14 t0 18. It's a way give recognition to all who are involved with books in the blogosphere. That means you, whether you are an author, book reviewer, or reader.

The first step is to go the BBAW blog and register. Then pick up a button to place on your blog and follow @BBAW on Twitter. Encourage others to participate.

Next, click on the link for Awards & Nominations. There you can nominate your favorite blogs for the categories given. (It is absolutely within the rules to nominate yourself!) There is also space to write in nominations for additional categories. Nominations will be taken until August 15. Final voting begins in September.

BBAW is open to everyone: You don't have to be a blogging superstar, you don't have to have been blogging for eons. Join in the event and use it as an opportunity to connect with the book blogging community.

Don't forget to subscribe to the three feeds at the BBAW blog.

Book Review Carnival

The 33rd Bookworms Review Carnival is up today. The theme is Whatcha Reading. Don't miss visiting this great round-up of reviews.

Volunteer to host a carnival and be sure to submit your reviews to future carnivals. Information is available at the carnival blog.

Take a Walk with Me at Just One More Page

Rebecca at Just One Page invited me to take a walk with her this week. Head on over if you'd like to listen to our conversation. Rebecca is also visiting with Sally from Books and Musings from Downunder!