Warning Signs

Stephen White

Book 10 of Alan Gregory

Language: English

Publisher: Dell

Published: Jan 1, 2003

Description:

Sometimes the warning signs come too late...**

**The brutal slaying of Boulder’s controversial D.A. strikes deep in the heart of everything clinical psychologist Alan Gregory holds dear: After all, Alan’s wife, Lauren, worked for the dead man.

When a new patient walks into Alan’s office—a terrified mother with an explosive secret—he finds himself edging even closer to the darkness. Soon her privileged exchanges convince Alan that a crime is about to be committed. And when he uncovers a shocking link to the D.A.’s slaying, Alan is suddenly locked in the ethical dilemma of his career, thrust into a desperate manhunt for a killer whose identity no one could have guessed.

As the minutes tick down, Warning Signs explodes into a gripping story of crime and punishment, tragedy and retribution—and of human beings caught in the shattering cross fire of forces beyond their control...forces sometimes within themselves.

From the Paperback edition.

**

From Publishers Weekly

When can a psychologist go to the police about a client without violating the doctor/patient contract? Boulder psychologist Alan Gregory, veteran of nine previous White suspense novels, wrestles with this dilemma in White's latest top-flight thriller. Neurotic Naomi Bigg seeks help when she suspects her high school son, Paul, plans to avenge his sister's rape and his father's murder conviction for killing the rapist, who was let off on a technicality. Paul's best friend, Ramp, an explosives fanatic, lost his mother to a paroled rapist/murderer and has his own list of targets. Alan's erratic sessions with Naomi begin to unnerve him when he picks up hints of a connection to the recent brutal murder of Boulder's DA, his wife Lauren's boss. Even worse, he realizes that Lauren, suffering from MS and just ending maternity leave, assisted in the bungled prosecution of Paul's sister's rapist. And to further complicate things, the prime suspect in the DA murder case is Boulder police detective Lucy Tanner, partner of Alan's best friend, Sam Purdy. When a car bomb kills a judge's wife in Denver, Alan is torn with indecision, but goes to Sam after explosives are found in the dead DA's house. When a bomb goes off at Alan's office and Lucy is kidnapped, Alan and Sam team up and track Ramp on his deadly bomb spree. White (Private Practices) deliciously taunts the reader with his trademark twists, smoothly weaving plots together and sprinkling red herrings among the solid clues. Could Columbine have been prevented if the shooters' parents had gone to the police? How many warning signs are needed before action should be taken? These questions have led to the "no tolerance" policies in many schools and underlie this tensely satisfying outing. National ad/promo.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this thriller featuring Boulder, CO, psychologist Alan Gregory and his attorney wife, Lauren, Lauren's multiple sclerosis symptoms recur six months after daughter Grace's birth. In addition, her ex-boss, Boulder DA Roy Peterson, is beaten to death, and Lucy Tanner, a detective, is suspected of the murder. Lauren agrees to defend Lucy, and to complicate matters, Alan's patient Naomi Biggs has a teenage son who may be involved in the crime. Together Alan and Lauren deal with troubled teenagers, their own personal concerns, and those of their clients in this well-developed suspense novel with an exciting finish. Dick Hill's voice, tones, and inflections add to the excitement. A good addition to audio collections. Steven J. Mayover, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.