May 5, 1968Virginia State PenitentiaryWhen two men meet in a maximum security visitation room on May 5, 1968, they have only one thing in common: they both want their lives back. On one side of the window sits Kenneth Deatherage, sentenced to death for the brutal rape and murder of a young woman. On the other side is Nate Abbitt, a successful prosecutor until he drank his way through a midlife … through a midlife crisis.
Nate’s only path to redemption is to represent Deatherage on appeal, but his investigation soon uncovers hints of corruption in the county justice system, and Nate finds himself accused of murder by the same forces that convicted his client. As Nate risks his life – and several others – in the fight to clear his name, he makes the nasty discovery that he and his client have much more in common than he’d like to admit.
2014 Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards Finalist
The first Whippoorwill Hollow novel
˃˃˃ Intelligent, atmospheric, achingly romantic legal thriller
“Ken Oder debuts with an intelligent, atmospheric, and achingly romantic legal thriller. I loved this book, and I can’t wait for the next one.”
”” Pamela Fagan Hutchins, USA Best Book Award-winning author of Heaven to Betsy and the Katie and Annalise mysteries
˃˃˃ Intriguing legal thriller, strong historical fiction
“. . . an intriguing legal thriller that looks deeply at corruption in the jurisprudence system. The recovering alcoholic protagonist is a fascinating lead as he begins to regain his lost life when he accepts the harm he committed to innocent people, his wife, his mother, his mentor and himself. . . . the enjoyable storyline spins from a superb capital case to a more conventional David vs. Goliath thriller, fans will appreciate Ken Oder’s strong historical fiction. ”
– THE MYSTERY GAZETTE
˃˃˃ Timely and compelling
“Moments after meeting his client, death-row inmate Kenneth Deatherage, attorney Nate Abbitt explains: Cases are pending before the United States Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the death penalty. There’s a nationwide moratorium on executions until the court rules. Ironically, just days after The Closing became available on Amazon, Oklahoma botched the execution of Clayton Lockett, who according to eye-witness accounts, tried to get up and speak after being given the supposedly lethal injection. Although this book is set in 1968 Virginia, the subject matter could hardly be more topical. . . . This is a great summer read. You won’t be able to put it down. And whatever side of the issue you are on, The Closing should inform your view about capital punishment.”
– Marlene Munoz, Amazon reviewer
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Ken’s a super author, and The Closing is an engaging romantic legal thriller. How many of those do you find??? The star of the show, though, is the atmospheric West Virginia setting in the 60s. I want to visit!
I am generally more of a Science Fiction reader, but once in a while I enjoy a change of pace. “The Closing” provided an excellent break from my usual fare!
Nate Abbitt is a lawyer fallen from grace. He is a believable, very human character with moral flaws and a deep, driving desire to reform himself. Inevitably, though trying to reform, he …
This is a perfect book. I’m retired and read one or two books a week. I absolutely loved this book.
Well done! The Closing centers around our main character, Nate Abbitt, who has made many mistakes in his lifetime, both in his personal life and as a gifted attorney. Mr. Oder has created an exceptional person with Nate Abbitt, and he has written this story to keep the reader on edge and turning pages from page one to the end. A very surprising …
This review is for the audio book.
This is book one in this series and even though I did like it the narrator wasn’t the best and I found I had to really listen ( concentrate) to follow along, the plot was good and a lot happened.
Nate is an alcoholic lawyer who is given a client on death row, who claim his last lawyer, the judge and even the …
Terrific story. I’m a lawyer and could empathize with main character, even though his experiences were way different than my 45 year career. Well done.
Very good mystery
Engrossing, slowly developed mystery with quite a few surprises. Anyone interested in old- fashioned southern justice or lack thereof will love this book. The sub-plot of the main character’s divorce proceedings was way too whiny and repetitious for me. It would make a great soap opera as Nate drinks his way into one problem after another proving …
DNF While this book was well-written, I chose not to continue at the halfway point. I simply didn’t care for the characters. You need a sense of identification or empathy to spend time with one volume when there are thousands of others other there to choose from.
I like the characters and the plot.
The closing takes you into a real world of the pain one can cause for themself and loved ones when life’s burdens become too much to carry. It is especially interesting when the life is that of an Assistant Attorney General responsible for convicting murderers. This novel is realistic throughout and a roller coaster ride to death and tragedy, hold …
I thought it had a weak plot, very predictable!
Good read.
I believe the protaganist in this novel is too much of a victim. Other than that a good read.
Normally a podcast to catch me within the first two chapters this one didn’t do it so I stopped reading it
Decent story line but it was slow and I skipped over some of it.
Good plot. Kept you guessing. Flawed hero made it interesting.
Well done. Good story and far more complex than originally evident. The resolution is well prepared by the story. I am surprised I have not heard of this author before. I will be reading others of his books.
A good read. Ending was good. Would recommend.
This was an enjoyable read from the 60’s. Enough real life scenarios for you to shake your head in understanding and enough “I wonder if that really happens” to make you wonder along with a healthy mix up unfortunate situations and little twists.