Customer Reviews

Warning Signs (Alan Gregory Series)

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Author cum psychologist Stephen White well knows how to plumb the depths of the human mind, excising the malevolence of which mankind is capable. As evidenced in "The Program," White's prose is swift, dextrous, and his plotting expertly paced.

The tenth novel to spotlight clinical psychologist Alan Gregory, "Warning Signs" is a shocking yet fascinating thriller. The brutalized body of Boulder County District Attorney, Royal Peterson, is found, and a homicide detective is soon thought to be the murderer. Violent as the crime was, what strikes even closer to Gregory's heart is the fact that his wife used to work for Peterson and is considering defending the accused detective.

In the midst of this turmoil Gregory sees a new patient, Naomi Bigg, an obviously frightened mother. What is she afraid to confront? And, what is Gregory's responsibility regarding doctor/patient confidentiality if he believes other lives are at stake? He is torn as he attempts to help his patient, and watches a series of violent episodes tear the city apart. Perhaps only he can unlock the secrets buried in the dark corners of a criminal mind.

"Warning Signs" is compelling and frightening - a first-rate psychological thriller.

It would be easy to mistake Stephen White's Alan Gregory series for Jonathan Kellerman's older and more established Alex Delaware books. Both involve pyschologists, both are told primarily in the first person, both have murder mysteries and both main characters have gruff police "sidekicks." The differences, however, are more important: while the Delaware books are declining in quality (for reasons best discussed in a review of Kellerman's books), the Gregory books remain consistently good.

In this story, the district attorney of Boulder is murdered and the prime suspect is Gregory's cop-friend's partner, Lucy. Gregory's wife Lauren, usually a prosecutor, extends her maternity leave to help defend Lucy. Meanwhile, Gregory gets a new patient whose son may or may not be involved with the murder, and also may or may not be planning additional killings.

There are suitable twists and turns in the story, but what makes this book (and the series) exciting is that no character outside the narrator is truly safe. White has no qualms about killing previously established characters. With a job that puts her often in danger and with an erratic but debilitating disease, even Gregory's wife is not safe from danger.

If you are a fan of the Kellerman books (which tend to be better sellers), than you should enjoy these books as well. But these books are also good enough for any mystery fan to enjoy.

that Stephen White began over ten years ago. In bringing his hero, Alan Gregory, to life, White also gets to pursue, in words, his love affair with the western Rocky Mountains, particularly in Colorado. He has the ability to weave the beauty of the region, and its downfalls, into his story line in a natural and compelling way. Show me a reader who does not want to see Colorado after finishing a White novel!

There is no question that White has done what most authors of thrillers cannot do, and that is to maintain the quality of his story lines and characterization based on the same group of characters, time after time. I don't believe he has stumbled in this effort, and in pursuing the Gregory storyline, he has won over many fans of other writers who have fallen prey to commercialism. In past years, White has become my author of choice, the author whose works I immediately buy regardless of price. Writing this, unfortunately, may help too many others to discover him, and hopefully he won't come blazing into the public eye, with too much pressure to write "hits" or "blockbusters" to take away the thoughtful manner in which he sets his plotlines before he begins his story.

Warning Signs weaves the continuing struggle of Gregory's wife, Lauren's, MS, throughout the novel, contrasting her coping ability with that of Susan Peterson, the wife of the local DA, who is mysteriously murdered in the early part of the novel. As the story unfolds, White is able to interweave three plotlines, including a crisis of practice for Gregory in terms of when danger and potential harm to others outweigh the need for doctor patient privilege. Gregory doesn't handle the situation appropriately, but his own feelings and the reactions of the public and his circle of close friends help to make this situation even more real for the reader.

A story of the abandoned offspring of a central character plays a key role in the mystery, and again leaves us questioning the psychological motivation of characters who seem ordinary on the surface; this daughter is struggling with the meaning of intimacy, and she promises to be a new continuing character in future Gregory novels.

Lastly, in the wake of Columbine and Jon Benet, Gregory is able to explore the feeling of confusion and despair that must invade the Colorado population, when confronted with the media spotlight on how parents and law enforcement personnel react to sudden and unexpected crimes of violence in the seemingly serene Colorado setting. Although the "Columbine-like" plotline is a little farfetched, it is ultimately the vehicle that builds into the climax of the novel, and White does a credible job of building the tension and relief when the violence finally ends.

Lastly, White is able to showcase Gregory and Lauren in still another setting; as new parents of baby daughter Grace. This is a book that is chockful of great storylines and suspense, and difficult to put down when you want to finish it in one sitting.

Another terrific novel by Stephen White!

The brutal murder of legendary Boulder County District Attorney, Royal Peterson, while his invalid wife slept in her room upstairs, was shocking and horrifying. But when the prime suspect turns out to be one of their own, homicide detective, Lucy Tanner, it becomes crystal clear that nothing in Stephen White's latest thriller, Warning Signs, is exactly what it seems. Psychologist, Alan Gregory, soon finds himself smack in the middle of the case, brought in by his close friend and Lucy's partner, Detective Sam Purdy. Sam can't believe that Lucy committed the crime, even though the evidence against her seems to be growing exponentially with each passing day, and he wants Alan's insight to help him prove it. Alan knows all the players well. In fact, his wife is a prosecutor in the District Attorney's office, and worked for Royal. Enter new patient, Naomi Bigg. She's come to Dr Gregory seeking help with her son, cagily talking about bombs, Columbine, vengence, and parental responsibilities. When a bomb is found in Royal Peterson's house, and it becomes apparent that Naomi Bigg and the Peterson crime may be connected, Gregory has to wrestle with the ultimate psychologist's dilema. Which is more important, his ethical duty to his patient, or his moral obligations to the community..... Warning Signs is a tight, suspenseful, very compelling psychological thriller that grabs you from page one, sets you on the edge of your seat, and never lets go. Mr White weaves a seamless, intricate, well paced plot full of twists, turns, riveting scenes, and more than a few surprises. His writing is crisp and tense, and his intriguing characters, well drawn, with strong voices. This is an intelligent thriller that will keep you thinking, long after you've finished the book. Author, Stephen White has really honed his craft, and Warning Signs is the latest installment in a superb series that just gets better with each book. So turn off the phone and lock the door...Alan Gregory and company are about to keep you up all night.

I couldn't lay the book out of my hands until I finished if to the very end.

This is a typical White's book with the brilliant psychological insights and the fast pace rhythm of the plot.

Dr. Alan stand in front of an ethical dilemma - whether to break the client-patient contract or to ignore the "warning signs" and keep his patients secrets with him even though his wife could be in danger for her life...

I enjoyed it a lot and can't wait for the next White's one.

I always buy Stephen White's books--a habit that this book has not changed. Nevertheless, this particular novel is not quite of the quality I expected. My critique centers not so much on the foundation of the plot (scary!) or on White's writing (still great), but on the fact that he raises questions about patient confidentiality as an integral part of his plot, but never resolves the moral issue. I don't object to moral grey areas in my reading--in fact, I like them--but the fact that the protagonist struggles intensely with this issue, ultimately goes against what the law would probably say, and escapes the consequences of his actions through nothing more than plot-line acrobatics leaves me feeling cheated. White makes a lot of Dr. Gregory's inner turmoil, and yet his ethical conflicts seem to end as soon as the final action sequence begins, despite the fact that he had not predicted these occurances and his actions push the line, regardless of subsequent events. For perhaps the first time, I detect a bit of intellectual dishonesty in Dr. Gregory, which seems out of keeping with the carefully constructed, highly ethical character developed over so many novels. His choice isn't inconsistent with his character; his quick recovery from that choice is.

On the positive side, White's description of Gregory's interactions and responses to his daughter, Grace, ring 100% true. When I was reading this, my daughter was about the same age, and I found myself nodding in agreement whenever Grace made an appearance.

This is, indeed, a page-turner. Fans of White will not be disappointed.

Being a Steven White aficionado,I think this is his best book ever! I am sure his next book will probably top this,but it will be difficult. This has such a tight,fast-moving story line with several sub-plots that never interfere with the whole,just add to it. In spite of the many characters, you never seem to lose track of exactly who each one of them is. In so many books they all seem to become muddled,so you forget what part each plays. Not so with this book. The plot is very complicated and twisted. It leaves you wondering if there will ever be a way out of the horrendously exciting turn of events that arises. As always, Alan Gregory works closely with the police to a successful conclusion,albeit a tragic one. The addition of baby Grace to his family is a welcome one. I had initially thought it might be a distraction,but it works for the better. This is a must read book!

-{?
?another in White's Alan Gregory series. In this book he (Gregory) struggles with the dilema of patient confidentiality in psychology practice. Basically, what should a therapist do if he thinks he knows about a "Columbine" before it happens. It is a thrilling page turner. I've enjoyed the two books in this series that I have read. However, I always wish that he would just stay with the psychological aspects of the case instead of turning it into an "action-packed thrill ride". Overall, a good read.

See storyline above.

Stephen White's latest is a psychological drama well worth your time. The characters seem real and the two subplots come together real well. There is suspense along with quite a few ethical dilemmas. A well-written and solid novel.

Inside the covers: "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That is his." A quote by Oscar Wilde

Recommended

Annotation: Warning Signs is about the killing of Boulder's very prominent and popular D.A. The clinical psychologist, Dr. Alan Gregory, immediatley worries. His wife did work for the D.A. Alan's new patient seems to represent more than just another hour of pay. She has a secret that will literally, rock, Colorado. Things become especially dangerous when Alan realizes the link between the dead D.A. and his new patient. A definate page turner, never a dull moment.

Author Bio: Stephen White was born on Long Island and raised in New York, New Jersey, and Southern California. He attended the University of California at Irvine and Los Angeles. He graduated Berkley in 1972. He has had many jobs including flying small planes, waiting tables, bar tending, and q Universal Studios (L.A.) tour guide. In 1979 he recieved his Ph.D as as a clinical psychologist from the University of Colorado. All 12 of his Alan Gregory novels have been published making it as a best sellers. His 13th novel in the series, Missing Persons is due out in March 2005.

Evaluation:Warning Signs is about a clinical psychologist, Alan Gregory, living in the picture-esque Boulder, Colorado. First his wife's boss, Royal Peterson, the D.A. of Boulder is killed. From then on a troubling chain of events ensue. Dr.Gregory gets a new patient, Naomi Biggs, who seems desperate to talk to someone. When Naomi's confessions of her son, who turns out to be dead, and his friend Ramp are revealed Dr.Gregory's life is changed. He now has to wonder if he should go to the police, or anyone without being unethical. Life or death of many he knows hangs on whether or not to betray Naomi's confidence. Almost instantly, after Naomi leaves a troubling message and after Dr.Gregory tells his suspicions, they are proven true. Bombs go off everywhere and secrets are no more. Everythings changed from a normal days work to life or death.

I really enjoyed this book because of all the twist and turns. It was hard to know who to trust and who not to. It seemed as if every person had a secret to tell buy only when the time was right. I like how the author added depth to the characters. I felt myself really identifying with different aspects of everyone's personalitys. The book was never annoying or boring and it kept me in suspense until the last page.