Remote Control (Alan Gregory)

As a long time White fan, I read this book shortly after it was released. I raced through it and my overwhelming reaction was "weird." I recently checked out the tape for my husband to read and decided to give the book a second chance. I suspect that the slower pacing of the tape forced me to pay attention to the many details that make this book make sense. The cyber part of the book is still pretty weird but now the mystery worked. Alan Gregory's wife, Lauren Crowder, has center stage in this book. She's befriended Emma who has been blessed/cursed with Kennedy-like fame after the assassination of her father, the Surgeon General. Emma gets involved with a computer whiz and things start to turn ugly. The book is written in alternating chapters of present time and short-term flashback. In the present time, Lauren is standing outside of Emma's house during a blizzard. She fires her gun to warn off a stranger. The stranger is shot. Lauren is arrested -- and then goes into a medical emergency. Did Lauren shoot the stranger? What's going on in the first place? This book is complicated. Alan and Lauren, who I normally love, are caught up in hiding too many secrets to be believed. Their refusal to confide in old friend, detective Sam Purdy, stretched their credibility considering all he's been through with them. Still, there are some truly page-turning moments and some good laughs along the way. The vision of the electric pink "bunny" on the snowplow is wonderful. Bottom-line: This is definately NOT a book to read cold-turkey. Readers are strongly encouraged to have read at least two of the previous four Alan Gregory novels before attempting Remote Control. Then, my advice is to read this one slowly. It's not White's best work but can be a good read with the right approach.

Could Stephen White have written any more twists into this book? Would it be possible for more characters to be in jeopardy? The book starts out with Emma, the daughter of an assassinated politician, and her quest for privacy. Did Lauren, in an attempt to defend Emma's privacy, shoot someone? Lauren is arrested for what may become capital murder, and the complications from her MS are quickly threatening her life. Alan must not only battle the system to get Lauren to the hospital, but also find a way to solve the crime and get her out of jail. Unfortunately, his own culpability prevents him from being completely honest with his police friend Sam, who might be able to help. This book is full of thrilling legal maneuvering, and White uses a type of flashback writing that really keeps your interest going and your brain working to sort out the events. This book is not as good as some of White's others, but it is definitely worth the read for White's avid fans.

I have read all of Stephen White's books, and this is the best one yet. I could hardly believe it when I reached the end. I began reading the book and then "boom" it was over and I don't think I had taken a breath during the whole thing. The main characters were all familiar from his previous books, but this time they were like old friends and not just names on a page. The plot of the book, which involves high tech use of computer and the abuse heaped by the press on celebrities, is timely and intriguingly combined. Hats off to White and I hope that he hurries his next Allen Gregory book along.

In Boulder, Colorado Emma Spire, the daughter of the assassinated Surgeons General, is an intern in the District Attorney's office, working directly for Lauren Crowder. While a blizzard was raging, in order to protect Emma from a potential kidnapping, Lauren fires a shot at a distant, blurry figure. Later on, the police report that they have found a person critically shot in a nearby street. Lauren informs the police that she fired a shot at a abductor. ..... The police bring Lauren in for further questioning, but she responds in a vague manner in order to protect Emma's privacy. Her answers upset the police. Meanwhile Lauren wonders whether the kidnapping attempt and the disappearance of a computer disk containing personal information about Emma and her boy friend are associated with the antiabortion movement's killing of the intern's father. With the help of her husband, psychologist Alan Gregory, Lauren plans to prove more than just the fact that she is innocent. She plans to uncover the identity of the culprit behind the nefarious plot against Emma. ..... REMOTE CONTROL is an exciting installment in the Alan Gregory series in that the novel focuses more on his spouse. Though the reader will have to suspend some minor credibility, they will find it worth doing because of the fast-paced story line, the incredibly charming lead couple, and a fabulous support cast, especially Emma and Lauren's legal defense team. Stephen White's fifth Gregory book is a refreshing return to some old friends. .....Harriet Klausner