Customer Reviews

Missing Persons

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In the 13th installment of the series, Alan Gregory gets involved in searching for the missing Mallory Miller. Psychologist Gregory treated her parents for one session years earlier. Also missing is his colleague Diane Estevez who disappeared in Las Vegas when she went to for Mallory's schizophrenic mother.

There are several plotlines working in this novel starting with the death of Hannah Grant, a friend and colleague of Diane and Alan. It keeps things interesting, but at the some time you really have to pay attention because the story can get confusing. Alan is a fascinating character dealing with the fine line of doctor /patient confidentiality when Diane goes missing. I have loved several of Stephen White's books. This one is not my favorite, but it is still very good.

This is the second book I have read in Stephen white's Dr. Alan Gregory series and I was disappointed. The convoluted plot revolves around the mysterious death of another psychologist, Hannah Grant, the disappearance of Mallory Miller, a 14-year-old girl, and the disappearance Gregory's partner, of Diane Estevez. There is a great deal of fuss about all of these things, yet at the end when everything is wrapped up, every mystery just seemed to fade away to nothing, leaving me to wonder what all the hoopla was about.

White goes out of his way to hit the reader over the head with the similarities between the disappearance of Mallory Miller and the murder of Jon Benet Ramsay, although he is careful to avoid mentioning Ramsay by name. He also repeatedly hits us with Gregory's ethical dilemmas regarding how much he should divulge to the police regarding his patients. Where White is at his strongest is when he is talking about Gregory's family situation- his small daughter Grace and his wife. Yet, Gregory is such a clinical, measured character that it is hard to see that he has any emotions or feelings at all.

All in all, the book left me with a sense of dissatisfaction, as though someone had promised me chocolate cake and then given me a piece of bread. It just didn't quite gel enough to be interesting, and, if anything, it was a relief when it was over.

Mr. White has brought his fans another installment in his Allen Gregory series. A missing teenager, with ties to the infamous kidnapping of the "Little Beauty Queen" of Boulder history. As the threads unravel in this mystery, you are brought up to date on old friends and what is happening with them. It has enough tension to keep you turning the pages of this well written mystery. You are introduced to people with many and veried problems, both mental and physical. You are skillfully drawn into the lives of these people and you hold your breath with Allen as he turns another corner in this mystery. You can shake your head at his professional conundrum of ethics and the moral thing to do.

For Stephen White fans this is a must read, for everyone else it's a good way to meet the people that live in Stephen Whites Boulder Colorado. Find a comfy chair, good lighting and settle down for an enjoyable read.

I loved this book! If you are interested in Psychology you will love this book too. I don't discuss plot but you never know where this story is going. It's got many angles to keep your interest and the characters are fun and thought provoking. You never even know if a crime has actually been committed until things start to move between Las Vegas and Boulder, Co. Stephen White gets better with every book and the dilemnas that face therapists are intricately described. Worth your time.

I'm rating the book rather than the audiocassette. I've enjoyed White's novels, and he continues to grow as an author. With "Missing Persons" I'd finally put him on a close par with Jonathan Kellerman.

On the positive side, in this novel he's finally refrained from his usual political polemicizing - a big plus to me as I don't agree with much of his political philosophy and found it an irritant in his previous novels.

His story this time is also much more complex; I hadn't figured it all out by the end, and was surprised by some of the final twists.

I also find it interesting that while he's taken the time to craft some truly memorable secondary characters (Canada, Bob and the Cheeto Lady come immediately to mind), I still find a couple of his regulars (Diane and Hannah) somewhat interchangeable.

Anyway, it's an enjoyable read, and I think we can look forward to White's continued growth as an author.

I have a bit of a problem with novels that have psychologists as their protagonists. Sure a psychologist probably hears stories on a daily basis that would be the basis for a terrific novel, but how do you make them the center of a true mystery. Cops, coroners, detectives and crime lab specialists are all integral parts of most crimes but not a psychologist. That is why I have a bit of a problem with the Alan Gregorys and the Alex Delawares of the ficitonal world but I've got to admit I enjoy their stories. It's just how do those guys get caught up in so many fascinating mysteries? This is only my second Stephen White novel. I truly enjoyed the "Best Revenge", but the writing in this work comes off quite a bit more solid. As is often the case with this genre, when it comes to wrap everything up it feels a bit rushed but there are enough twists fascinating enough characters and a couple of red herrings thrown in to make this a strong beach novel

Dr. Alan Gregory Novels. This is a comforting phrase. It offers reassurance that the patterns of life remain the same, even if the nuances inflect and meld. This phrase guarantees a satisfying "read." I was once very opposed to "seriel protagonist" series novels. I shunned them. Along came James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux. He broke through all my barriers and led the way for Kellerman's Alex Delaware books, and Dr. Alan Gregory. More *serial protagonists* have followed and entertained, but Dr. Gregory remains part of my evolutional foundation. I met Gregory before Emily; before his house was remodeled. I met Lauren when he met her. I'd read a Stephen White novel regardless of reviews; I do, as a matter of fact. I'm terribly proud, however, to read stellar critiques of his work.

Missing Persons was an enjoyable story. It advocates White's novels' human quality, rather than thrills/chills "what's gonna happen next!" I was quite worried about Diane (more than once during the story). White does that. He makes you care about his pallette of characters. With each new installment, our investment grows. The story is icing, of course. And White knows how to tell a good story. But the joy is in the "visits"!

See you next time, Alan. Thank God for authors who can tell a good story with a "GREAT" writing style!

This was an interesting story if one could struggle through the tangled and overly complex plot lines. While the ethical dilemma aspect was key, tighter writing and/or editing would have eliminated much of the tedium. Some authors do a credible job of connecting fact with fiction, but in this case, the veiled references to the Ramsey case were merely irritating and (should Stephen White be looking towards ongoing interest in this book) over time will be meaningless to future readers.

Dr. Gregory stops by to visit with fellow psychologist Hannah Grant, who he finds dead under suspicious circumstances. Meanwhile, the city of Boulder is frantic over the disappearance of teenager Mallory Miller. Mallory was Grant's patient... is there a connection between the death of Grant and the disappearance of her patient? One of Gregory's patients might be a suspect... this is a book for those (like me) who enjoy psychological action and suspense. Well worth reading.

Mr. White is an exemplary author in the manner of Dickens. Mr. White writes an very engaging mystery, but not light reading. As a clinical psychologist, he knows his profession; as an author, he carries that professional understanding into this book. He doesn't write to impress you with his capabilities, but to communicate! For the readers who are looking for a light book to skim through, this isn't it. I look forward to reading his earlier novels.

Also, the plot is very believable. The protagonist, Alan Gregory, is a clinical psychologist (surprise), and is beset by similar fears as his patients. (Or you, or I.)