New York Times bestselling author Stephen White returns to his beloved Alan Gregory series with a taut, ripped-from-the-headlines crime s...
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Jun 22, 2011
Jeanette
rated it: 
3 1/2 stars
I always enjoy the books in this series, some more than others. In comparison with the earlier Alan Gregory novels, I found this one too cerebral, wordy, and dense with descriptions of the architecture, layout, and history of Boulder. I kept thinking White made too many trips to the thesaurus while writing this. Big words where simpler ones would have served just as well or better. It was also heavy on discussions of domestic complications.
He tried to give me an More...
I always enjoy the books in this series, some more than others. In comparison with the earlier Alan Gregory novels, I found this one too cerebral, wordy, and dense with descriptions of the architecture, layout, and history of Boulder. I kept thinking White made too many trips to the thesaurus while writing this. Big words where simpler ones would have served just as well or better. It was also heavy on discussions of domestic complications.
He tried to give me an More...
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May 18, 2011
Dlora
rated it: 
I really, really like Stephen White's writing. He writes intelligently and I have to really concentrate to understand what is going on. The Last Lie focuses on Alan Gregory and his work as a clinical therapist, this time in a supervisory capacity with a newer therapist. I am fascinated with the inner workings of how a therapist keeps himself out of the "work" of helping a client learn about him/herself through questions and insights. The person being analysed is a rape victim and the r
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Apr 09, 2011
E
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While I am still a big fan of this series, methinks White must have some kind of hold over his publisher to get this horse out of stable in this hobbled state. This book is in need of both a good story editor and good copy editor. Has he just gotten so popular that they'll let him do anything he wants? The three-chapter "background" on the Kobe Bryant story was more like a rant than a contextualization. I might agree with most of what is discussed, but it felt way too drawn out and irr
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Dec 29, 2010
Margaret
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This is another of my favorite authors. Stephen White is a psychologist who writes about a psychologist in Boulder, CO. His cast of characters is similar to those of Jonathan Kellerman, but that's where the similarity ends. His main character is on occasion consulted by his Boulder police officer friend, but often gets involved with criminal cases through his innate curiosity. All of the characters have a lot of depth with good and bad things happening in their lives. Boulder is a small cit
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Oct 02, 2010
Susan
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It all started with that damn housewarming.
This latest Alan Gregory novel is about a partially-remembered rape, about the new dog-hating neighbors (I tend not to trust people who don't like animals, but that's just me), and about justice. Especially about how justice is sometimes hijacked by lawyer wizards. The mystery was entertaining and I liked the book for the quick read that it is. I had read only a couple of this series before I read this one, so I occasionally lost a bit of More...
This latest Alan Gregory novel is about a partially-remembered rape, about the new dog-hating neighbors (I tend not to trust people who don't like animals, but that's just me), and about justice. Especially about how justice is sometimes hijacked by lawyer wizards. The mystery was entertaining and I liked the book for the quick read that it is. I had read only a couple of this series before I read this one, so I occasionally lost a bit of More...
Nov 07, 2010
Sandie
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Part novel and part indictment of lawyers and the legal system, Steven Whites latest Alan Gregory adventure tends to drone on and on about the lack of justice in our justice system. His story is analogous of the sexual assault case involving NBA super-jock Kobe Bryant that blazed in the media a few years ago…….and then quietly disappeared from the headlines and our collective memories. White utilizes Boulder detective Sam Purdy as his means of examining the minutiae of the Bryant case and lega
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May 17, 2011
Jean
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I think Stephen White is one of the best authors around and is vastly unappreciated. He has several reoccuring characters in his novels, the most important psychotherapist Alan Gregory. Alan is married to Lauren, who is a District Attorney in Boulder, CO, where they live. Alan's best friend, Sam Purdy, is a cop. So often Sam, Lauren, or both are working on cases where they cannot disclose the names or natures of the crimes committed. Unfortunately, sometimes they are patients of Alan's that he i
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Sep 01, 2010
BJ
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Jan 30, 2011
K
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The Last Lie is the newest in the Alan Gregory series. Alan and Lauren's new affluent neighbors (he is a lawyer giving advice on TV ala Dr. Oz) host a housewarming party that ends in quiet disaster. One of their guests, a young widow, elects to spend the night after indulging in too much wine, only to wake the next morning with no memory beyond getting ready for bed. Was she drugged? Raped? Lauren, a deputy district attorney fighting debilitating MS, and detective Sam Purdy are both privy to fa
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Feb 15, 2012
Annabelle
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This is in the series of Alan Gregory, the psychologist, living in the hills above Boulder, Colorado. I spend a lot of time, there so I could track all the locations, the restaurants, trails. His plots are somewhat obvious, you know who the perpetrator is at the beginning, in this case there is an acquaintance rape by Alan’s extremely wealthy neighbor who is an attorney TV personality focusing on women’s rights. Alan’s adopted son figures in, and there are many red herrings. Alan’s wife who h
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Apr 07, 2011
Susan
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The latest in this series of Alan, a psychologist living in Boulder, Co. and his wife who is an assist DA who also has MS. Alan always gets in the middle of assorted crimes and this story is no different. The author has had plenty of pages in his previous books to fully realize his characters so he doesn't spend a lot of ink explaining them. The story is about their new neighbor, a celebrity lawyer who champions women's rights who moves into the neighbors house. A very confused woman drives t
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Mar 18, 2011
Sangeeta
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Sep 24, 2010
Barb
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I'm a long-time fan of Stephen White, and not just because he hails from Boulder, though I love the familiar context of his books. His stories tend to be interesting and I enjoy the ongoing back-stories of the characters-- Sam Purdy, his best friend and a detective, his wife, Lauren and her battle with MS, his own practice as a clinical psychologist. His newest might be his best in quite awhile. Centered around rape instead of murder, White delves into the secret world of lawyers and deals, the
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Sep 19, 2010
Ken
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This ranks up there with my all-time favorite Stephen White stories. He has taken breaks to feature other characters in the prime role. While I understand that as a chance to flesh out the other characters, I prefer Alan Gregory in the lead. I liked the many twists and turns the plot takes. When I think I have it figured out, something else happens to make me think otherwise. I am of the opinion this story may arise from some of Mr. White's personal beliefs, but he never becomes preachy through
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Oct 01, 2010
Janice
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Alan Gregory has frequently struggled with some ethical boundaries in this series, and in this book he really gets into some muddy waters: he is right in the middle of a possible crime, and receiving information from a law enforcement perspective through his friend Sam Purdy, from a prosecutorial perspective from his wife Lauren, and from a professional and clinical perspective from his supervisee, who it the therapist for the victim of the alleged crime. Alan ends up with more information th
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Aug 29, 2010
Stephanie
rated it:
Wow, this is #18 in the series? I remember learning about this series in New Orleans at an ALA conference back in the 90s. I love it...wish I could remember who told me about it...in any case, I feel like I know these people. The story kept my interest, and I cared what happened to Alan and Lauren and (especially) Emily...but the bit about the secrets in the house next door that made the ending possible, and the ending itself, just were a tad off for me. Not enough WSOD on my part, I guess. But
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Jan 12, 2011
Marsha
rated it:
In this latest entry in the Dr Alan Gregory series Stephen White adds the element of irritating neighbor to his life. When a popular local media celebrity moves in to the property adjacent to his own, Dr Gregory's once quiet piece of Paradise is compromised. But little does he know his new neighbors will turn his life and his family's life upside down.
I always find Stephen White's books well written and entertaining. I found the opening scene of the book, with a woman parked in a no More...
I always find Stephen White's books well written and entertaining. I found the opening scene of the book, with a woman parked in a no More...
Dec 28, 2010
Missmath144
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A Boulder psychologist is supervising another psychologist with regards to her therapy sessions. One patient they are concerned about (the three-wood widow because her husband died as he was swinging a three wood in golf) was at Burning Man and saw her psychologist there, creating an embarrassing moment for the psychologist. The book involves an orphaned boy, a rape, a murder, an infidelity, and more. I wasn't impressed with the author's style. I also did not like his over-use of dashes (sometim
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May 01, 2011
Lynn
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This was the second I read in this series, although not it was #18. Interesting, but long winded. Not as compelling for me as the first I read.
I have #6 on my iPod and will give it a chance.
This one deals with an "alleged" sexual assault and there is a long (very long) riff on Kobe Bryant who misbehaved in Colorado and the "wizard lawyers" who manipulated that entire incident, although not in Boulder which is the setting for this series.
S More...
I have #6 on my iPod and will give it a chance.
This one deals with an "alleged" sexual assault and there is a long (very long) riff on Kobe Bryant who misbehaved in Colorado and the "wizard lawyers" who manipulated that entire incident, although not in Boulder which is the setting for this series.
S More...
Apr 27, 2011
Forgetfulone
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Classic Stephen White. I've read every book he's written. Getting back to Alan Gregory as the main character (instead of Purdy) made this book better than the last. White's creativity and imagination don't require you to completely suspend reality. Yet it kept me on the edge of my seat. Twists, turns, mysteries, characters you can like and dislike, an interesting storyline... just what I look for in a good book. I guess that goes to show that authors are so much better when they don't use
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Jul 17, 2011
Cindy
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I liked this one. Hadn't picked up a suspense thriller in awhile, so it was nice to go back there. I like White's perspective as a clinical psychologist and give plenty of credibility since that was his vocation before he started writing.
The book is definitely fast paced, and I enjoyed White's sense of humor. White didn't do too bad with the kid Jonas. Although the kid has suffered way more trauma than can possibly be heaped on an individual, White still makes the boy "real." More...
The book is definitely fast paced, and I enjoyed White's sense of humor. White didn't do too bad with the kid Jonas. Although the kid has suffered way more trauma than can possibly be heaped on an individual, White still makes the boy "real." More...
Jul 25, 2010
Suspense Magazine
rated it:
Shutting the final page of White’s newest installment to the popular Alan Gregory series, “The Last Lie” was akin to saying goodbye to a friend before a long journey. Realistic vibrations surge through the pages with an electric tempo, making it effortless to become acquainted or reacquainted with the Gregory family and other assorted cast members.
The situation is not a simple one. A crime has been committed mere feet from Alan Gregory’s front door and the sanctity of his family’s h More...
The situation is not a simple one. A crime has been committed mere feet from Alan Gregory’s front door and the sanctity of his family’s h More...
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Apr 17, 2011
Dustin Crazy little brown owl
rated it:
I waited and waited for an audiobook to become available through the Boulder Public Library. I listened on audiobook while walking in Boulder - I enjoyed the story, even if it wasn't one of my favorites. Recently, The Daily Camera (Boulder's Newspaper) did move it's operations from Downtown, just like the book said, I guess I should be watching for a new multi-use building :-)
A lot does happen in this story to affect Alan Gregory's family: new neighbors and thoughts of moving from Span More...
A lot does happen in this story to affect Alan Gregory's family: new neighbors and thoughts of moving from Span More...
Jan 26, 2011
Karin
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This is vintage Alan Gregory and Sam Purdy together in Boulder Colorado sleuthing and shrinking like in the old days, love it!The character development however indicates that the times they are a'changing and life as we know it is coming to an end for Alan and his family.And what is up with Sam?His delivery of the Kobe Bryant parable had me thinking:who is this guy(in an absolutely good way)?Hopefully the next novel is in the making,it will be a good one as well if Mr.White continues the thread
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Feb 06, 2011
Nancy
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Another interesting book from the dependable "Alan Gregory" series. What makes Stephen White's books interesting is that the main character is neither a cop nor in the military--he's not even a lawyer. There are many enjoyable crime/mystery/thriller series but most have the requisite danger scene near the end, with the hero pulling it storyline out of the fire.
I really like the idea at the core of the book: justice can be bought. It's what stuck with me after the action was
I really like the idea at the core of the book: justice can be bought. It's what stuck with me after the action was
Oct 25, 2010
Diane
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This book, like most of Stephen White's, is set in Boulder. The theme seemed to be: The Kobe Bryant case in Eagle county ruined the justice system and set a precedent enabling "wizard lawyers" for both parties to circumvent the system and achieve a result for their client with no accountability to the public or the next potential victim. Interesting enough premise but I could have done without the preachiness and the 3 chapters (chapters 19-21) that were a direct factual rehash of t
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Sep 21, 2010
Sara
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A good book but not as good as his last one--I really like Sam Purdy, who isn't in this one so much. This one continues the story of his marriage and children along with the new development of Adrienne's house having been sold--the crime happens there. It's loosely based on the Kobe Bryant accusation and how celebrities and famous people can buy the "justice" they want.
Sep 02, 2010
Herzog
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White is in fine form with this return to the full Alan Gregory experience. The book revisits old themes including his now deceased neighbors, the development of his relatioship with their son, Jonas, Alan's dogs, Sam and so forth. The book is packed with psychological experience of which White is among the best mystery novelists going - a very strong effort.
Aug 30, 2010
Coco
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I have fallen out of love with this series lately. This one in particular seemed quite tedious and just didn't have enough action to sustain my interest. I liked checking in with the familiar characters and the Boulder scenes are always good, but this book just didn't keep my interest past the first few pages.
Aug 21, 2010
Ashley
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The Alan Gregory series is one of my very favorite. I order the books months in advance and always look forward to reading them. Like the previous in the series this did not disappoint at all. I thought it was a fascinating story and it was told really well. As someone who lived in Boulder for four years I always enjoy reading about it!
