Book Review: Desperate Measures

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Desperate Measures     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Kate Wilhelm
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Legal Setting
Series: Frank and Barbara Holloway # 7
St. Martin's, Jul 2001, $24.95, 400 pp.

Alexander Feldman was born with the face of a monster. To make matters worse, his beautiful-looking vain parents wanted him out of their sight. At fourteen unable to accept further rejection or the stunned stares, Alex tried suicide. He failed and Dr. Graham Mirick accepts responsibility for the distressed teen. The duo moves to Oregon where Alex learns to channel his anger and soon grows into an outstanding citizen though he stays by himself. However, a young girl tells a series of lies that leads to a chain of events culminating with the police charging Alex with murder. Barbara Holloway agrees to defend Alex on a case that she knows she will lose if she can't find some holes in the prosecution's case. Kate Wilhelm is one of the Supreme Court members when it comes to legal procedures that grab the interest of the audience. Her latest tale includes a female Perry Mason(ette) for the new century. Using the theme of not judging a book by its cover, the man with the monster's visage is the most beautiful character in DESPERATE MEASURES (think of The Man Without a Face).

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner