Rating: 
Summary: Not his best
Review: I've read most of Stephen White's other books, and found them to be a quick read of better-than-average quality, so when I saw this one I picked it up.This book, however, fails to live up to the "better-than-average" status of his other Alan Gregory books. The plot here is thin and ridiculous. The characters are given improbable motives and even more improbable handicaps and abilities. This book felt rushed, and lacked the depth of plot and intrigue of his earlier books, almost as if White is getting tired of being narratively hemmed in by the slightly dweebish, boring Alan Gregory. After this book, I know I am.
Rating: 
Summary: Plot twists, red herring and a surprise ending!
Review: Is Tom Clone really guilty? Should he have really been released from death row? Read this book, and decide for yourself. You may be surprised!Clone was sent to prison for the brutal murder of a local girl in Colorado. He sits on death row waiting for the inevitable - but then a knife is found by FBI agent Kelda James that is shown to have different DNA on it, thereby absolving him from the crime. It is now up to Alan Gregory, psychologist, to help ease him back into the real world Nevertheless, there are still those who think he is guilty and want revenge. Who are they? In addition, why do they want revenge? He was proven innocent. There are several plots twists and clever angles that make this book a riveting read--along with a surprise ending. Read it and be surprised. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Plot twists, red herring and a surprise ending!
Review: Is Tom Clone really guilty? Should he have really been released from death row? Read this book, and decide for yourself. You may be surprised! Clone was sent to prison for the brutal murder of a local girl in Colorado. He sits on death row waiting for the inevitable - but then a knife is found by FBI agent Kelda James that is shown to have different DNA on it, thereby absolving him from the crime. It is now up to Alan Gregory, psychologist, to help ease him back into the real world Nevertheless, there are still those who think he is guilty and want revenge. Who are they? In addition, why do they want revenge? He was proven innocent. There are several plots twists and clever angles that make this book a riveting read--along with a surprise ending. Read it and be surprised. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: not his best, but OK
Review: Psychologist Alan Gregory through his clinical practice and friendships, becomes the person with the most pieces to this puzzle. Although I liked the book well enough, I came away feeling that there was something missing. None of the characters, including Gregory himself, caught my interest enough to care what happened. Gregory is going through a mid-life crisis here, and I felt like advising him to give it up and find a new profession. If you want to know about the plot -- Gregory finds himself acting as therapist to an FBI agent who was instrumental in the release of a death row prisoner based on DNA evidence, and also as therapist to the released prisoner. Many in the law enforcement community are angry about the release, despite the evidence. As violence erupts, things told to Gregory in therapy gives him an information advantage over his cop friend Sam Purdy, but he is bound by his confidentiality obligations. One small detail that really bothered me, because if seems somehow disrespectful -- none of the people who prepared this book for print bothered to check the name of the bombed federal building in Oklahoma City , which is referred to in the book as the "murrow" building rather than the "Murrah" building. This is poor editing.
Rating: 
Summary: 4 1/2 stars
Review: See book summary above. A richly entertaining psychological thriller. The protagonist, one of my favorite characters named Alan Gregory, seems to have picked up another one of those patient's that cause grief in his life. What fun. With just the right amount of action, along with the twists and turns, this is one of Stephen White's best. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: What Did I Do To Deserve This?
Review: Starts strong with some good hooks that catch the reader's interest. Slows as characters develop and information added in second section. In the third section, the story suddenly careens from a plausible, psychological thriller to bizarre and unbelievable potboiler. For example, the heroine Kelda James, FBI special agent, commits acts that are illegal and sadistic and totally out of character. Why? Don't ask. Motivation for all the main characters is thin and contrieved. Strangely, the author is a psychologist in real life and you would think that this would be his strong suit. For example, the motivation for the main murder in the story is revealed in a throw-away line. The killer is said to have met his victim in a bar and she disrespected him and several days later he tracked her down and slit her throat. Now the killer is not a psychotic, not a serial murderer, hardly knows the victim, and presumably is not umder the influence of drugs/alcohol at the time of the murder, yet this is the pivotal event in the book and it is a completely random and incongruous act. This is some very weak plotting. The entire 2nd half of the novel is disappointing and I personally regretted the time and energy spent in completing the read.
Rating:
Summary: What Did I Do To Deserve This?
Review: Starts strong with some good hooks that catch the reader's interest. Slows as characters develop and information added in second section. In the third section, the story suddenly careens from a plausible, psychological thriller to bizarre and unbelievable potboiler. For example, the heroine Kelda James, FBI special agent, commits acts that are illegal and sadistic and totally out of character. Why? Don't ask. Motivation for all the main characters is thin and contrieved. Strangely, the author is a psychologist in real life and you would think that this would be his strong suit. For example, the motivation for the main murder in the story is revealed in a throw-away line. The killer is said to have met his victim in a bar and she disrespected him and several days later he tracked her down and slit her throat. Now the killer is not a psychotic, not a serial murderer, hardly knows the victim, and presumably is not umder the influence of drugs/alcohol at the time of the murder, yet this is the pivotal event in the book and it is a completely random and incongruous act. This is some very weak plotting. The entire 2nd half of the novel is disappointing and I personally regretted the time and energy spent in completing the read.
Rating:
Summary: Just terrific...one more time!!!
Review: 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 Gregory's family are bit-part players here, but we are treated to a lot more of Diane Estevez, Gregory's office partner, and Sam Purdy, the policeman who is Gregory's best friend. Sam's 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 White's hallmarks and he doesn't disappoint in the latest offering!
Highly recommended!!! If you've not read Stephen White, by all means take the time to go back to 'Privileged Information' where it all started.
Rating:
Summary: DNA, Death Row, A Midlife Crisis and Multiple Sclerosis
Review: 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! Daniel J. Maloney
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Rating:
Summary: Stunning and complex novel of psychological suspense.
Review: Stephen White's latest book, "The Best Revenge," is an exciting and surprising thriller that grabs the reader and never lets go. It is about a former medical student named Tom Clone, who was convicted years ago of murdering a young woman. Clone ends up on Death Row, but he is released from prison when new DNA evidence suggests that he may be innocent. Clone is baffled but gratified at his sudden good fortune. However, some of the people he meets think that Clone is guilty, and he receives death threats from those who would like to execute him themselves. Special Agent Kelda James helped get Tom Clone out of jail, and she has some serious problems of her own. She suffers from intense and almost unrelenting pain in her legs, for which the doctors have no cure. In addition, she has to deal with Tom Clone's romantic interest in her, which makes her feel uncomfortable. Both Clone and James are seeing psychologist Alan Gregory. Gregory would like to help these two confused and troubled individuals. However, the psychologist soon discovers that getting in too deep with this pair may be both professionally and personally costly. White sets up an incredibly complicated plot and he makes it work. He uses the Colorado setting to great effect; White's vivid descriptions of the Rocky Mountain State help the novel come to life. The book is also remarkable for its psychological complexity. White's writing has several dimensions. Not only does he effectively describe how people behave under stress, but he also explores how guilt, lies and the thirst for revenge can eat away at people's lives. Finally, the author skillfully tackles the thorny issue of whether or not our criminal justice system can be trusted to mete out justice fairly. "The Best Revenge" is a thought-provoking and well-written thriller that I highly recommend.
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