My Review:
Chance has one purpose in his life at this point…stay out of jail. A Harvard law student who graduated at the top of his class eight years ago, his life took a turn that he never expected. He’s done things that he’s not proud of, but he had his reasons for doing them. He’s extremely smart and methodical, but when it comes to Sarah, he loses all perspective.

This is a suspense novel, but for me the suspense came from Chance rather than the stolen art story line. The reasoning behind all his actions are never fully laid out, so for me, I kept reading to figure out exactly what he had done and why. When it all came to light, I think I loved him even more. This is a man who, when he cares, he cares deeply.

Sarah is simply trying to find her father. Her best friend has just gotten married and she’s come to realize what all she’s missed without having her father in her life. She follows Chance up to Canada to do just that, but she doesn’t realize that he actually tricked her. He wanted her to come so that she would draw her father out. I liked Sarah. She’s recently discovered what’s missing from her life and isn’t afraid to go after it. Even when Chance is pushing her away, she sticks to him and her plan for helping her father. She isn’t going to be forced into abandoning either one of them.

Carrying the story completely is the romance and chemistry between Chance and Sarah. They need each other although they definitely don’t realize it at first. They both have these little vulnerabilities that just made me love them. I liked them together and I liked the setting of this little Canadian town. This is a small town with the quirks and characters that you expect to find. The snowy wintry weather and setting makes for great romantic ambiance.

There were a few holes within the story line that I didn’t feel were sufficiently answered, but overall I enjoyed the story enough to make up for that fact. One of the interesting side characters in this story is the FBI agent, Gage, who is tracking Chance in the hopes of catching him when he screws up. I was excited when I realize he is the hero in book #2 in this series.

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Kate Wilhelm (born 1928) is a versatile and skilled writer who has produced stunningly compelling fiction. Wilhelm’s first novel was published in 1963, and her works, which include award-winning short stories and novellas, range from science fiction to fantasy to mysteries to legal thrillers.

‘Sleight Of Hand’ is the ninth novel to feature defense attorney Barbara Holloway. In each of these courtroom thrillers, Ms. Holloway uncovers the truth and fights, sometimes against great odds, for justice. In the earlier novels, Ms. Holloway provides community legal services, meeting clients in a small neighborhood café in Eugene, Oregon. These early novels reveal Barbara Holloway to be an independent and crusading lawyer who will accept murder defense cases that no one else wants.

In this book Wally Lederer, a former pickpocket, is accused by a childhood friend of the theft of a valuable antique. Since the statue is later found in the owner’s house, a ‘theft’ cannot ever be proven. Even thought there is never any evidence that Lederer had further contact after leaving his friend’s house days before the murder, Wally is still arrested for the murder of statue’s owner.

Readers wanting the best introduction to this author’s work should look elsewhere. Several elements are weak in this volume:
- Not much is at risk, nor is the risk very believable. Holloway’s client does not face the death penalty. Based on the evidence, it is simply not credible that Lederer would ever have been arrested for murder. Statements by the defendant’s wife and others about the danger of conviction do not ring true.
- Any chance for real courtroom drama is subverted by the prosecution’s extremely weak case. Barbara’s closing argument only reinforces the obvious conclusion that her client should never have been charged.
- The moral quandary Barbara faces is sketchy and not compelling. Barbara knows who killed the victim, and is so confident she will gain acquittal that she never seriously considers using the identity of the real killer (who has diminished capabilities) as part of her defense.
- Barbara’s difficulties in having a meaningful and continuing relationship with her boyfriend are not explained. Readers of previous books may remember some of her issues, but there is little in this book to explain her flight from intimacy.

As always, there are significant pluses to the author’s work:
- Readability and continuity are good. You are never left scratching your head wondering where some plot element or statement came from.
- Frank Holloway’s relationship with his daughter Barbara is insightfully portrayed, although their interactions are a minor focus of the work.

I am a huge fan of Ms. Wilhelm. If you enjoy courtroom dramas, I recommend that you start with one of her early Holloway novels. (‘For the Defense,’ aka ‘Malice Prepense,’ from 1996 is a good choice). Kate Wilhelm’s earlier works are more masterfully plotted and much more suspenseful and compelling. Both you and the author deserve a better introduction than this particular book offers.

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By 

John Fasciana (Depew, NY) –

  

Without getting into every detail, I enjoyed reading this book. It was easy reading without a million characters to remember and a good story line. Out of all the Kate Wilhelm books I have read this is one of the better.

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