Rating: 
Summary: Kirkus IS WRONG! This is another Winner from Stephen White
Review: ...CRITICAL CONDITIONS is another engaging and faced paced psychological thriller from Stephen White...White writes with the typical spare prose that readers have discovered in his previously published Alan Gregory novels. He continues with that style very effectively in CRITICAL CONDITIONS. White reunites his readers with the characters fans of this series have come to know and root for. Of course, there is Alan Gregory himself. There's Adrienne, Lauren Crowder, Alan's wife, Sam Purdy and Emily the Gregory's "bouvier des Flandres" who is always happy when Alan walks through the front door. In this series installment, Alan is called in to treat the mute and suicidal teenager who may or may not be responsible for the murder of the CEO of a managed care insurance company. It just so happens that this CEO, an MD before becoming a very successful business executive, heads the company that has denied experimental treatment to the younger sister of Merritt Strait. Chaney Strait, a little girl with a rare viral disease of the heart muscle has been denied care pioneered by doctors in Seattle. The new procedure is experimental and extremely expensive. It is obvious that this fictional managed care company, known as MedExcel, is the villain because money is really the root of the issue. They don't want to pay it out for something that may or may not save the life of little Chaney Strait. What every reader knows however, is that without the procedure, little Chaney has absolutely NO CHANCE at all. In the process of revealing the plot to the reader, White also points out that his "slowly becoming closer friend" Sam Purdy has family ties to the Trent/Strait family. You see, Sam is related by marriage to Brenda Strait (the news anchor mom of Merritt and Chaney). Sam's wife Sherry is Brenda Strait's estranged younger sister. John Trent, Brenda's husband and the father of the critically ill Chaney is like Alan Gregory, also a clinical psychologist. In his usual fashion, White adds twists and complications to the plot line and the lives of his main characters. It's what makes these books so interesting and gripping. While they are labeled psychological thrillers, in many cases these stores by Stephen White possess all of the elements needed to make them great police procedural novels, too. In his "other" life, Stephen White is also a clinical psychologist and despite his recent successes as an author, still practices in and around Boulder, Colorado. From the tone and the positions taken by Alan Gregory, it is obvious that in his professional life, Stephen White has had problems with managed care companies. He voices those dislikes through the person of his main character Dr. Alan Gregory. What I did have a little bit of difficulty with was his tendency to constantly "harp" on the insurance companies and make them ALL sound like villains. Everyone knows that most Americans detest managed care and the companies that administer the policies of them. I don't think White needed to remind us every few pages that he would have to fight with MedExcel to cover Merritt's treatment and possibly to receive reimbursement. My guess is, White was stiffed a time or two and used this novel as a way to make his point. That minor criticism notwithstanding, this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Critics of managed care will like it even more than the average reader because Gregory's/White's views will be their own. The characters he provides in the story are people who could be just like the rest of us. Many readers may well have horror stories of their own to tell. This story DOES read like it came from any number of cases in recent headlines and that's what makes it so timely, effective and believable. Like many other writers of popular fiction these days, Stephen White doesn't flood his narrative with wordiness. His prose is spare and effective. He is consistent from one book to the next and he does an outstanding job of building on the recurring characters his fans are already familiar with. Although the Alan Gregory novels are part of a recurring series, it is not absolutely necessary for the reader to read them in the order written; although I recommend that they do for the sake of continuity and understanding. I have not been disappointed with this series or its author and I look forward to each new installment. I think that speaks well of an author and there is nothing about CRITICAL CONDITIONS not to like. Although I have not read them yet, I look forward to reading his next two works, MANNER OF DEATH and COLD CASE.
Rating:
Summary: Kirkus IS WRONG! This is another Winner from Stephen White
Review: ...CRITICAL CONDITIONS is another engaging and faced paced psychological thriller from Stephen White...White writes with the typical spare prose that readers have discovered in his previously published Alan Gregory novels. He continues with that style very effectively in CRITICAL CONDITIONS. White reunites his readers with the characters fans of this series have come to know and root for. Of course, there is Alan Gregory himself. There's Adrienne, Lauren Crowder, Alan's wife, Sam Purdy and Emily the Gregory's "bouvier des Flandres" who is always happy when Alan walks through the front door. In this series installment, Alan is called in to treat the mute and suicidal teenager who may or may not be responsible for the murder of the CEO of a managed care insurance company. It just so happens that this CEO, an MD before becoming a very successful business executive, heads the company that has denied experimental treatment to the younger sister of Merritt Strait. Chaney Strait, a little girl with a rare viral disease of the heart muscle has been denied care pioneered by doctors in Seattle. The new procedure is experimental and extremely expensive. It is obvious that this fictional managed care company, known as MedExcel, is the villain because money is really the root of the issue. They don't want to pay it out for something that may or may not save the life of little Chaney Strait. What every reader knows however, is that without the procedure, little Chaney has absolutely NO CHANCE at all. In the process of revealing the plot to the reader, White also points out that his "slowly becoming closer friend" Sam Purdy has family ties to the Trent/Strait family. You see, Sam is related by marriage to Brenda Strait (the news anchor mom of Merritt and Chaney). Sam's wife Sherry is Brenda Strait's estranged younger sister. John Trent, Brenda's husband and the father of the critically ill Chaney is like Alan Gregory, also a clinical psychologist. In his usual fashion, White adds twists and complications to the plot line and the lives of his main characters. It's what makes these books so interesting and gripping. While they are labeled psychological thrillers, in many cases these stores by Stephen White possess all of the elements needed to make them great police procedural novels, too. In his "other" life, Stephen White is also a clinical psychologist and despite his recent successes as an author, still practices in and around Boulder, Colorado. From the tone and the positions taken by Alan Gregory, it is obvious that in his professional life, Stephen White has had problems with managed care companies. He voices those dislikes through the person of his main character Dr. Alan Gregory. What I did have a little bit of difficulty with was his tendency to constantly "harp" on the insurance companies and make them ALL sound like villains. Everyone knows that most Americans detest managed care and the companies that administer the policies of them. I don't think White needed to remind us every few pages that he would have to fight with MedExcel to cover Merritt's treatment and possibly to receive reimbursement. My guess is, White was stiffed a time or two and used this novel as a way to make his point. That minor criticism notwithstanding, this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Critics of managed care will like it even more than the average reader because Gregory's/White's views will be their own. The characters he provides in the story are people who could be just like the rest of us. Many readers may well have horror stories of their own to tell. This story DOES read like it came from any number of cases in recent headlines and that's what makes it so timely, effective and believable. Like many other writers of popular fiction these days, Stephen White doesn't flood his narrative with wordiness. His prose is spare and effective. He is consistent from one book to the next and he does an outstanding job of building on the recurring characters his fans are already familiar with. Although the Alan Gregory novels are part of a recurring series, it is not absolutely necessary for the reader to read them in the order written; although I recommend that they do for the sake of continuity and understanding. I have not been disappointed with this series or its author and I look forward to each new installment. I think that speaks well of an author and there is nothing about CRITICAL CONDITIONS not to like. Although I have not read them yet, I look forward to reading his next two works, MANNER OF DEATH and COLD CASE.
Rating:
Summary: An excelent book you don't want to miss!!
Review: A great suspense thriller. I couldn't put it down. You don't want to miss any of the books in this series!
Rating: 
Summary: Intricate Plot
Review: An intricate plot makes for fine reading in this, the latest from Stephen White. I've enjoyed all of his previous books and was not disappointed with this one. Likeable characters, consistent writing, and many twists and turns in the story make it a winner.
Rating: 
Summary: Thanks to the Reader below for blowing the whole story!
Review: Before reading a book or while reading a book, I like to check what other people have thought of the book, author, etc. I know that I read here at my own risk, but who would write a review of a murder mystery and GIVE AWAY THE ENDING! Is that the way you normally recommend a book? Here's a great mystery I'm sure you'll love, by the way, the Butler did it! Enjoy! I'm halfway through the book and now have no interest in finishing it. Thanks a bunch
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Instalment
Review: Clinical psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory is the regular hero in this Boulder/COLO-based thriller series which keeps getting better and better. Author Stephen White has a good feeling for storylines and developing characters. All of the Alan Gregory novels had interesting topics and a good pace; all of them were very exciting and well written. I always look forward to Stephen White's latest release and I hope he'll come up with more thrilling Dr. Gregory cases for years to come. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Could have been better
Review: Every once in a while I enjoy one of White's books. This one, however, seemed a little convoluted and definitely too drawn out. Also, the book had just too much coincidence and too many contrived situations for my liking. The story wasn't bad and I really did not figure it out until close to the end...mainly because the 'bad guy" was someone who had really not been a part of the book. There were a lot of characters, about six suspects, as well as plots and sub-plots in "Critical Conditions". Some characters I would have liked to have known better - White needed to do better character development on some of them, I thought. The mystery itself - who murdered the CEO of a managed care program? - was secondary to the human dramas being played out in two hospitals by two sisters. Money was the root of all the evil in this book: the money a managed care company refused to shell out for an experimental procedure. I think the author had a bone to pick with managed care and used this book as his vehicle. It would have been better if he had not beaten the idea to death, over and over and over. Still, "Critical Conditions" was a good read and with a little judicious editing, could have been very good.
Rating:
Summary: Great, quick read
Review: I don't know who reviews for Kirkus, but they couldn't be more off base. Stephen White writes a gripping story that keeps you guessing until the very end. I read while on the treadmill at the gym and I had to reset the timer just to get to a point where I could drive home! A great suspense book.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN
Review: I LOVED THIS BOOK. I THINK IT WAS WELL WRITTEN & VERY INTERESTING. AS A NURSE I CAN UNDERSTAND ALL THE HMO ISSUES & CAN RELATE TO THEM. I KNOW EXACTLY HOW THESE PARENTS FELT, BUT FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION. I REALLY ENJOYED THE MURDER MYSTERY PART, AS I DO LOVE MURDER MYSTERIES. I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I STAYED UP TIL 0300 AM TO FINISH IT. I WOULD NEVER HAVE FIGURED OUT THE PLOT AHEAD OF TIME. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AUTHOR SHOULD HAVE EXPOUNDED ON THE CHARACTER OF THE BOYFRIEND WHO WAS THE MURDERER & THIEF. ALTHOUGH HE DOES SHOW THE GREEDY DECEITFUL NATURE OF THIS CHARACTER. I AM GOING TO PASS ON MY COPY TO A FRIEND & WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE. KUDOS TO THE AUTHOR.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book.
Review: I started out reading his book Manner of Death which was a birthday gift from my father. I enjoyed that book so much I went out a bought this book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. It is a page turner and I couldn't put it down. So far the two books that I have read are excellent.
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