Privileged Information

This was my first book of Stephen and it won't be my last. It was a terrific read. I happen to be going to a therapist and I'm very familiar of the privacy issues that a therapist has. So how about solving a murder mystery when you can't reveal what your patient tells you. A very clever read and worth the time

I have read all of Stephen White's novels and enjoyed them immensely. However, I have to agree with a couple of the other reviewers that reading them in order is best. I failed to do so and one day when I have forgotten the details I will read his whole series from beginning to end. They are that good. In Priviledged Information we are introduced to Alan Gregory who is a very interesting character. This book is a real thriller and very suspenseful. I could not put it down like all of White's books. I find his books every bit as good as Jonathan Kellerman's. Perhaps more so as his relationships with others are explored more deeply than Alex Delaware's.

This is the first of the "Alan Gregory" series by White. What a beginning! This book is chock full of fascinating characters and a plot that will keep you guessing long into the night (or early morning!). White is especially effective at developing characters that are real and convincing, without the headliners being squeaky-clean perfect. All the characters have their flaws - like REAL people. I am tired of reading books where the "hero" has a picture perfect life. White's Alan Gregory character is superb.One note that I think is important about the White books: If possible, read them in order of publication. "Privileged Information" is the first in the Gregory series and the others follow a natural progression and reading out of order may cause some confusion. Actually, it's a tribute to the well-woven character development by a true master of the thriller - Stephen White.

I read a lot of mystery novels, so there aren't many that get my attention. Stephen White got my attention. It didn't happen right away - the first 100 pages aren't mindgripping, but the last 250 are phenominal.A psychologist turned detective, Alan seems to have a string of bad patients who all share something in common - death. He tries to put the pieces together, with help from his D.A. girlfriend, who ends up in some trouble herself. The climax is one of the best-written, most suspenseful pieces of writing I have read in a long time. Absolutely wonderful.White has sold me on his books - I've ordered his others already. If Privileged Information is any indication, he is a very unique writer which those of you who enjoy mystery novels will get quite a bit of enjoyment from.

This is the first book in the series about Alan Gregory who is a clinical psychologist in Boulder, CO. One of his patients, Karen Hart, has committed suicide and left behind a diary which implicates Alan in a sexual relationship. Although the allegations are baseless, the impact on Alan is severe as many of his patients leave his practice. The trend continues when a second patient dies in an auto accident and a third is murdered. A new patient, MichaelMcClelland, comes to Alan for counseling; and Alan finds himself disturbed at every visit with this individual. McClelland is experiencing a classic case of transference in which he vests Alan with the characteristics of someone from his past. Alan's discomfort results in his terminating the professional relationship, but not before McClelland makes a startling statement indicating that he may have murdered the third patient. This results in an ethical quandary for Alan, since the information is privileged and must remain confidential even if it means more people are in danger. How Alan works his way through this terrible dilemma is riveting. The bookis an excellent debut, very well written and plotted. In addition, White is very skilled at characterization. Alan starts a new relationship with Lauren Crowder, a district attorney who has various intimacy issues, some related to the fact that she is afflicted with MS. Alan is also still emotionally connected to his recently estranged wife. Both his personal and professional life are skillfully interwoven. A good read.