Eight stars
Returning to re-read Stephen White's great thriller collection after a number of years, this summer binge should be a great adventure. White explores another great therapist issue through the filter of a strong thriller novel. When Dr. Alan Gregory has a former patient return, he is confused. However, the story she tells sends him into a panic for a potential killer. All the while, Detective Sam Purdy finds himself with a great deal of free time and begins piecing the slew of murders together, while realising his life is not quite as calm as he thought. White probes the depths of his two key characters in this piece and keeps the reader hooked.
The older he gets, the more psychologist Alan Gregory has on his plate. Now a father and loving husband must be shared with his clinical therapy practice, as well as being best friends with a Boulder PD detective, Sam Purdy. The day Gibbs Storey walks into his office, the past comes flooding back to him. Having worked with Gibbs in joint couples therapy, Alan remembers the struggle she and her husband had at the time. Now, there is a new revelation that will force Dr. Gregory to sift through his memory bank to see if he had any therapeutic clues.
Gibbs is blunt in admitting that she feels her husband is a killer. The nonchalant delivery shocks Alan, but the evidence builds up and he can no longer sit idly by. He cannot share with the authorities what he knows, but Alan wants desperately to make sure the truth gets out. Trouble is, Alan cannot trouble Sam; who's just suffered a heart attack and is recuperating.
Following Gibbs' news and connecting the dots, it appears Mr. Storey has been having illicit affairs across the United States and killing the women, or leaving them traumatised. Alan cannot believe it, but it all adds up. With much time on his hands and a marriage on the rocks, Detective Purdy takes a road trip to tie up some loose ends of his own to follow the killing spree, in hopes of making sense of it all. Alan cannot share too much, but his glee that someone is tracking down a killer is inspiring. Will there be more bodies to find or might the killing soon stop? White paints a dark picture with this one and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
I remember discovering this series years ago, devouring many of the books in short order. When I chose to return, I decided that I would try a complete series binge, getting the full Alan Gregory experience. Stephen White uses many of his personal experiences as a clinical psychologist to pull on ideas and character aspects, which becomes apparent in this mid-series novel.
White's writing explores his own personal situations as a clinical therapist, peppering in some strong themes and thriller ideas. The narrative forks between Dr. Alan Gregory and Detective Sam Purdy, two of the core characters from the series with different views on life. The narrative builds through both their perspectives, particularly when it comes to their respective personal and professional struggles. The narrative guides the reader as they try to make sense of it all, forced to understand everything up to the strong climax and a great deal of series flavouring. This is one of the stronger novels in the collection.
Plot points drive the story home through a number of key events. The surprises are never ending and there is something that keeps the reader hooked until the truth comes to pass. Using the two protagonist perspective, White creates a great story that never wanes in its delivery. I continue to push through the series, happy with how things are going.
Kudos Mr. White, for a great novel that taps into bth the Alan and Sam perspectives.
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