The Best Revenge (Hardcover)

by Stephen White (Author) "I can just walk out that door?..." (more)
Key Phrases: chasing pictures, fear lessons, canvas suit, Tom Clone, Park County, Kelda James (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Tom Clone's stay on death row is over, thanks to new evidence uncovered by Kelda James, a young FBI agent whose efforts on Clone's behalf have not exactly endeared her to her colleagues. Referred by that same agent to psychologist Alan Gregory, Clone is struggling to adapt to life outside prison. But others who believe he got off on a technicality don't agree that the former medical student deserves his freedom, and they will go to any lengths to make sure he's punished accordingly for the crime of which he was once accused. There are some surprising plot twists here, but more interesting is Gregory's midlife crisis and his declining interest in his work: as his partner responds when he voices doubts about his efficacy as a therapist, "Those are the bricks we lay. If you've started hating the bricks, maybe it's time to reconsider being a brick layer." Certainly Gregory gets himself into more sinister and frightening scrapes than most shrinks, and this is one of his strangest cases. The Best Revenge is a solid, well-reasoned thriller, set in the marvelously drawn Colorado landscape the author has made his own, with guest appearances by minor figures familiar to readers of this increasingly popular psychological suspense series. --Jane Adams

From Library Journal
New evidence proves that Tom Clone did not commit murder, but after 13 years in prison, he has developed dark tendencies that psychologist Alan Gregory may not be able to conquer.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press; First Edition edition (February 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385336195
• ISBN-13: 978-0385336192
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #814,329 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just terrific...one more time!!!, February 4, 2003

By	L. Quido "quidrock" (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Stephen White brings us the 11th novel based on the cases of Colorado psychologist Alan Gregory, and the book continues to prove that White is one of the strongest and most consistent authors we have today. White keeps the series alive by introducing FBI agent Kelda James and interspersing her past and present in third person while weaving Dr. Gregory into the novel with a first person voice.

Featured once again is the majestic Colorado scenery around Boulder, along with some of its more eclectic citizens. You want to believe in Kelda and you really feel her physical pain while the light of what constitutes her emotional pain surfaces through her therapy. If there is a single criticism of the book, it is that Kelda chose her path of emotional pain and unwisely pursued the wrong end to it.

Lauren & the other members of Gregorys family are bit-part players here, but we are treated to a lot more of Diane Estevez, Gregorys office partner, and Sam Purdy, the policeman who is Gregorys best friend. Sams from Hibbing, Minnesota, one of my old stomping grounds, and White keeps the colorful Iron Range alive in his character.

Characterization, style changes, scenic passages, crisp dialogue and intricate plot are Whites hallmarks and he doesnt disappoint in the latest offering!

Highly recommended!!! If youve not read Stephen White, by all means take the time to go back to Privileged Information where it all started.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DNA, Death Row, A Midlife Crisis and Multiple Sclerosis, February 24, 2003

By	D.J. Maloney "James J. Maloney" (Saint Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews

Stephen White continues to do a great job of offering his readers a well developed series of mysteries featuring continuing character, psychologist Alan Gregory.

In Best Revenge, a young FBI agent reviewing DNA studies discovers that a death row inmate's DNA is not a match to the weapon used at the crime scene. She sets about a chain of events with her discovery that ultimately frees the inmate from prison.

The FBI agent, Kelda James and the former inmate become friends with each other as the story proceeds. They are also each -- unknown to each other -- patients of Dr. Alan Gregory.

Kelda suffers from some psychosomatic disorder that places her in tremendous pain and she seeks Alan's assistance to understand what is nearly paralyzing her legs. Tom seeks Gregory's assistance in returning to life outside prison walls.

Without giving away the rest of the plot, White has set the stage for an interesting psychological mystery that continues to escalate as someone starts to try to hurt Tom Glone after his release. Kelda, Alan and detective Sam Purdy, another continuing character in White's stories, work on putting all the pieces together to bring about a somewhat surprising conclusion.

Fine character development. Excellent use of ethical dilemnas that are not covered by the APA Code of Ethics are presented by White throughout the story.

In addition, Alan struggles to balance the challenges of helping out his wife when her Multiple Sclerosis is at critical points. Further, with a new baby in the house, Alan has his hands and his life full adapting to fatherhood. Finally, Gregory himself struggles with a midlife crisis and where his psychology practice fits into his personal fulfilment at this point. A good set of real life and pretty unglamorous issues add a nice sense of realism to the story..

Kudos for White's latest addition to the Dr, Alan Gregory series. This one is a keeper!

James J. Maloney
Saint Paul, Minnesota USA

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen White keeps Gregory tops, February 12, 2003

By A Customer

The Best Revenge is Stephen White's latest Alan Gregory book. Gregory is a psychologist in Boulder Co. with a wife who is an Asst. DA who also has MS with a new baby, and best friend, Sam Purdy, who is an honest cop, as well as good coworker and good neighbors who put their two cents in when needed.
This is the best White novel to date that keeps you guessing until the last word. Very timely - dealing with implications of right and wrong and who determines justice and who dispenses that justice. Gregory deals with burn out of his practice, and what is the level of confidentiality when lives are at stake and his patient/dr. confidentiality tears him up on many levels.
White makes Gregory more human and it is a step in the right direction -
Yiassou Stephen White! Hope your Mother is doubly proud of this one - she is his #1 fan and he keeps earning - that means great taut writing type of earning his fans with each effort.