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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Heaven Is High by Kate Wilhelm

Heaven Is High is the latest in the Barbara Holloway series that I've been reading for years.  There are 12 in the series, and I haven't read them all, just the ones the library has, but I enjoy these legal mysteries.   This novel isn't a courtroom drama, really, so the cover is misleading, but Barbara Holloway is a lawyer, and her cases all involve mystery and suspense.

Barbara  is a courageous and compassionate advocate for her clients.  In Heaven Is High, Barbara is attempting to block the deportation of  Binnie, a young woman and a mute to Haiti.   The more she discovers about the case, the more suspicious she becomes about the reasons and individuals behind the tips that brought Binnie to the attention of the Immigration Service.

Time is short, and Barbara decides to go to Belize to attempt to persuade Binnie's grandfather to establish that Binnie is not a native of Haiti.  Once there, however, she discovers that the grandfather has recently been murdered .  Her next step is to locate Binnie's aunt, but Barbara discovers that she herself is in danger.

These are not cozy novels, but neither are the hard-edged, darker type of authors like Jo Nesbo.

I was not aware that Wilhelm also wrote SF and has won a Hugo and 3 Nebula awards.  Will have to look into this side of the author.

Other reviews/opinions:  Genre Go Round,

Fiction.  Mystery/Legal thriller.  2011.  304 pages.

5 comments:

  1. I've read several of Kate Wilhelm's Barbara Holloway books. Enjoyed them all. I've also read at least of her standalones - called SKELETONS, I think. Can't remember much about it except that I enjoyed it. Have not read any of her SF. I'll have to check this one out. I didn't know she had a new one.

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  2. I enjoy her books. They are great escapism with some suspense, but no graphic detail. I think I've read one of her stand-alones, but can't remember which one.

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  3. I am not sure her writing under this would interest me, but I would be curious to read her SF.

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  4. Kate Wilhelm is super, no matter what field she takes on. I read one of her mainstream novels a few years ago and enjoyed it.

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  5. Kailana - I'm very curious about her SF, too. I'm reading Watch by Sawyer, now. I really enjoy SF.

    Bybee - Wilhelm's Barbara Holloway novels are good. Not cozy, but not gritty. :)

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