COLD CASE - Kate Wilhelm
A Barbara Holloway Legal Thriller
MIRA Books
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2528-4
August 2008
Suspense

Present Day Eugene, Oregon

A lovely young woman was found strangled the morning after a University of Oregon graduation party at the home of Dr. and Mrs. McCrutchen. An incident took place during the party involving the victim, Jill Storey, and two other graduates, Robert McCrutchen (son of the house) and David Etheridge. At least two eyes and two ears witnessed the argument, those belonging to Robert's sister Amy, fourteen, who had a secret crush on David. The murder was never truly solved, though Jill's death was blamed on a passing vagrant.

Now, twenty-two years later, the principal actors come together again. David Etheridge is returning to Eugene on a book signing tour and circumstances lead to his staying in a small, private apartment on the McCrutchen property. Robert McCrutchen is a former prosecutor and present Oregon state senator with higher ambitions (and wolfish propensities). He splits his time between Salem and the family house he shares with his wife Chloe. Amy is an architect in Portland, and their mother, Lucy, presently stays with her sister; their father died several years ago. Amy is quite excited to meet David again, though Robert is less than pleased that David is on the grounds, not just because of the old animosity, however. David's books are controversial, to say the least. They take a cynical look at religion, politics, and even the United States itself. That's not something a rising politician needs to be associated with. David's presence is also raking up that old murder case.

Another person present at the party still lives next door. Dr. Henry Elders was a history professor who taught most of the guests and had no trouble infiltrating the party that night. He still makes free with their adjoining gardens. He says something to Robert after David had moved in that gives Robert an idea. It does Robert no good, however, as, next morning, one of the gardening crew finds him shot dead.

Meanwhile, David's lectures are well attended, but radical groups stage protests. After Robert is killed, people recall the old strangling case and David becomes a person of interest in both cases.

Thanks to Frank, her semi-retired father who helps her on some of her cases, and her partner, Shelley, defense attorney Barbara Holloway has an elegant office, but once a week, she or Shelley holds pro bono office hours at Martin's restaurant where their indigent clients are more comfortable. She's just finished with her last client there when David enters with questions about a court order enjoining him not to leave the area. Thus David becomes a client, one she's sure is innocent. Her father agrees with her and greatly admires the young man's intelligence and original thinking as shown through his writings. Then one night after a lecture, David is brutally beaten...his survival is doubtful. Is his attack connected to the protesters? Or does the motive hark back to the old tragedy?

These are the bones of Barbara's legal case, but, as with all Kate Wilhelm's books, meat covers the bones, and hearts are paramount. As meticulously as the legal and mysterious aspects are done, I enjoy the people involved and their relationships just as much. Though Barbara's only real family is Frank, her extended family includes her live-in lover, Darren, a physical therapist, and his son, who splits his time between his parents. Barbara's partner, Shelley, and office manager, Maria, are also continuing characters who are like family. The cantankerous investigator, Bailey Novell, is around again in COLD CASE, too. Robert's mother and sister (the Amy who had a crush on David); his wife, Chloe; and Nick, his chief advisor, are more of the supporting cast we get to know well.

COLD CASE is a well-written novel as rich in characterization as in plot. I recommend it highly.

Jane Bowers