Books like The Best Defense by Kate Wilhelm
Barb Dowles‑Holloway has stepped away from high‑stakes courtroom battles, choosing instead to work from a quiet café booth in Eugene’s working‑class neighborhoods. When the sister of the notorious “Baby Killer” Kennerman seeks her aid, Barb finds herself drawn back into the legal fray.
She discovers that a series of incompetent legal practices and a hostile local press may allow a dangerous murderer to slip through the system. The investigation reveals a web of brutality and institutional failure, forcing Barb to confront the limits of her own beliefs about defense and justice.
The novel blends courtroom intrigue with a nuanced portrait of a woman navigating both the law and the communities she once served, challenging readers to consider what true justice truly means in a complex society.
First publish date: 1994
Genre: Mystery & Detective/Private Investigator
Authors: Kate Wilhelm
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