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Kill Me
(Alan Gregory #14)
by
He has chosen to die and signed a contract with the right people to make it happen. Everything will go as planned, even if he changes his mind. Which he has. And all he can do now is keep looking over his shoulder.
Paperback, 512 pages
Published
March 6th 2007
by Signet
(first published March 2nd 2006)
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Zeinab Ahmed
Yes and the book was so interesting. Might be the best book I've ever read
Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
4.5* Kill Me is a very distinct and unusual book which starts slowly but soon hooks you in by creating a perfectly brilliant dialogue by the main character talking to a car salesman; this alone is well worth the read. Although the author doesn’t give a name to the main character he becomes a patient to psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory. The “patient” genuinely doesn’t want to die, but he is determined to never be left in a vegetative state should an accident or health issue occur. He embarks on this
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I have loved the whole series of Stephen White's Alan Gregory books. This book was meant to be a "stand alone" book with Alan Gregory as a minor character in the book. For me, when I read a book and I continue to think about it after I am done- that is an amazing book. Well, I read this book when it came out in 2007 and I still think about it. This is a book I would recommend to anyone - it is definitely one of the best books I have ever read. Now what was interesting to me was that many of Step
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While the premise is interesting (people with lots of money can set parameters under which they wouldn't want to live anymore -- like debilitating illness, paralysis -- and a company will kill them and make it look like an accident so they don't have to kill themselves and lose face), I read Stephen White for Dr. Allen Gregory and Dr. Gregory was barely there.
Not only that, I LOATHED the main character and it's very hard for me to like a book where I don't like the main character.
Not only that, I LOATHED the main character and it's very hard for me to like a book where I don't like the main character.
As I read this I told friends: I’ve been reading a really great book and as I was getting deeper and deeper all I could concentrate on was the hope that writer—and this was my first time reading him—didn’t fuck up the ending after doing such a great job on the premise and build up of the story. It was poised on thebrink for quite some time. It really could have gone poorly. I am VERY pleased to announce though, that I was not disappointed in the slightest and the ending of the book was not what
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Review of Kill ME Stephen White
This book rated a 2 star at the beginning, a 5 star half way through then fell off near the end for a 3 star overall. Cut out 75 pages, make it more believable and it would have been a solid 4 star read.
Starts off a little too slowly with endless discussions on how an obscure organization will take care of terminating someone’s life when the situation dictates. The unnamed principle character signs up, wants in and even when initially rejected insists on signing hi ...more
This book rated a 2 star at the beginning, a 5 star half way through then fell off near the end for a 3 star overall. Cut out 75 pages, make it more believable and it would have been a solid 4 star read.
Starts off a little too slowly with endless discussions on how an obscure organization will take care of terminating someone’s life when the situation dictates. The unnamed principle character signs up, wants in and even when initially rejected insists on signing hi ...more
This was the first Stephen White book I've read, and I didn't realize that the Alan Gregory character is carried through most of his books...otherwise, I probably would have gone searching for #1.
Having said that, Kill Me was an excellent introduction to White's writing style. Because it isn't so much from the point of view as Gregory, the book completely stands on its own.
I've read several good books this year, but I'd put this one near the top. The concept captured my attention, the book reads ...more
Having said that, Kill Me was an excellent introduction to White's writing style. Because it isn't so much from the point of view as Gregory, the book completely stands on its own.
I've read several good books this year, but I'd put this one near the top. The concept captured my attention, the book reads ...more
I just lost a review I wrote. So I'll just say you won't be able to put it down & it will stay with you after you've read it. Stephen White I one of my favorite writers. I'll continue to read my way through his books.
The good news is that the author is a terrific writer. You want to keep reading because of the quality of the writing.
The bad news is the story has a hole in it the size of the Grand Canyon. It could be possible to read this story without paying too much attention to this ginomourous hole, but that wasn't the case for me. I kept screwing up my forehead at various plot turns, saying to myself "What?! That makes no sense!"
Kind of gets in the way of losing oneself in the plot.
So this wealthy-beyond ...more
The bad news is the story has a hole in it the size of the Grand Canyon. It could be possible to read this story without paying too much attention to this ginomourous hole, but that wasn't the case for me. I kept screwing up my forehead at various plot turns, saying to myself "What?! That makes no sense!"
Kind of gets in the way of losing oneself in the plot.
So this wealthy-beyond ...more
I have all of Stephen White’s books but this is by far my favorite. As with previous White novels, it is set in the present day and in Colorado. But in this one his regular character, Dr. Alan Gregory, has only a minor but interesting role. The main character is an extremely wealthy, powerful and active man who does not want to live in a disabled or vegetative state. He is a nameless patient of Dr. Gregory’s who has taken his desire far beyond having a Living Will. He has purchased “death insura
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This is one of those books you just don't want to end, a gripping page turner from start to finish and with a very thought provoking moral to the plot. Would you want someone to kill you if you were to be left in a vegetative state following an accident, if there was a company that would do that and you could sign up to in advance? Thoroughly enjoyed this and will be looking for more Stephen White books.
interesting premise: someone with a terminal disease hires Death Angels to kill him when his quality of life dips below a certain point, so he wont have to live in pain or burden his family with the decision of when to pull the plug. But...what if he wants to live? Woah, who could have seen that coming! It would have made a great short story. But beyond the admittedly-engaging premise, it was just terrible.
Best Stephen White book (Alan Gregory) I've ever read. I'm not that hooked on these books but this one is SPECIAL!!!!
You are not able to read it and forget it. It will make you think for a very very long time. Probably change a lot of preset end of life views you've always thought were unchangeable.
Great read!
You are not able to read it and forget it. It will make you think for a very very long time. Probably change a lot of preset end of life views you've always thought were unchangeable.
Great read!
PROTAGONIST: Dr. Alan Gregory
SETTING: Boulder, Colorado
SERIES: #14 of 14
RATING: 3.75
He's a risk taker, a daredevil, an adventurer. There is no challenge that he is unwilling to face. Off with his buddies on a skiing vacation, soaring through the Canadian Rockies, he has a terrible accident when a shelf of snow that he is standing on crumbles. Rolling down the mountain, two trees dead ahead, and somehow he manages to avoid almost certain death, with only a debilitating injury to his left arm to s ...more
SETTING: Boulder, Colorado
SERIES: #14 of 14
RATING: 3.75
He's a risk taker, a daredevil, an adventurer. There is no challenge that he is unwilling to face. Off with his buddies on a skiing vacation, soaring through the Canadian Rockies, he has a terrible accident when a shelf of snow that he is standing on crumbles. Rolling down the mountain, two trees dead ahead, and somehow he manages to avoid almost certain death, with only a debilitating injury to his left arm to s ...more
A totally unexpected direction by White. The main character is not the usual Dr. Alan Gregory but rather, a rich, somewhat narcissistic rich entrepreneur, whose full name we never learn.
While skiing, he has a brush with death and simultaneously learns that a friend will be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. He tells one of his "adventure" buddies that he doesn't want to end up in the same situation. This friend puts him in touch with an organization that guarantees a quick death und ...more
While skiing, he has a brush with death and simultaneously learns that a friend will be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. He tells one of his "adventure" buddies that he doesn't want to end up in the same situation. This friend puts him in touch with an organization that guarantees a quick death und ...more
This book raised some really good questions, like how you would face death if you were given "bad news," and is there ever NOT unfinished business? When do you let go? When should you live for others and when should you die for yourself? And many more.
The problems with the book were also many. For instance, as a middle-class American, I failed to have much empathy at all for the main character. It's difficult to do that when you are struggling to pay the mortgage in this economy while the story' ...more
The problems with the book were also many. For instance, as a middle-class American, I failed to have much empathy at all for the main character. It's difficult to do that when you are struggling to pay the mortgage in this economy while the story' ...more
This was such an amazing book! I checked it out just because it looked like a good, fast-paced thriller. Which it absolutely was, but it was also so much more! A story about a wealthy man living an adrenaline-junky life, always on the edge. One day he has a close brush that could have ended in death & finds out a good friend will be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. this leads him to finding an "insurance" company specializing in quality of life. A client sets certain perameter
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I don't normally like reading a series, because if you don't start with Book One and read them in order, you don't know the background of the various characters and the later books don't fully make sense. It's like going to a party at which all the other guests, whom you've just met, have known each other since kindergarten.
But I do enjoy a number of the books in Stephen White's Alan Gregory series. Especially those that are written from the viewpoint of one of Dr. Gregory's assortment of strang ...more
But I do enjoy a number of the books in Stephen White's Alan Gregory series. Especially those that are written from the viewpoint of one of Dr. Gregory's assortment of strang ...more
When I picked this up at a local thrift shop, I thought it sounded like it was right up my alley. Unfortunately, it took far too long for me to get into the main story of a man who has chosen to die and has taken out a contract with the right people to make sure it happens even if he changes his mind. I also wasn't a fan of the narration and writing style. I found myself skimming over large portions. I'd never read anything by Stephen White so I thought I would give it a try, but it just wasn't
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Quite different from his other books. I wanted to have Alan Gregory more a part of the story. But it was very interesting. I'm not sure I quite bought into whether I think this scenario could really happen, but it was a thought provoking concept that someone would pay other people to end their life should one become disabled in some way. This wealthy man does, and of course crosses that threshold a lot sooner than he expects. What ensues is intriguing, including how the author will have it come
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A fast-paced and fascinating study of what to do when one faces possible long-term debilitating illness. As the blurb says in the description of the book, this is a roller coaster of a book. The pace never slackens and the characters are well-drawn. I loved the beginning and middle of the book. The last part of the story became more and more far-fetched. Too bad. I really liked the writing but it got into the realm of unreality when it could have maintained the suspense and discussed the issues
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Wonderful high concept premise, poorly executed. The writing is workmanlike, but it becomes impossible to suspend disbelief at many points, and it starts terribly slowly. Also I felt as if I were being lectured to that suicide/euthanasia in the face of excruciating pain or humiliating loss of brain function are bad ideas, and I really resent that lecture, which likely derives from a religion not my own. If anything, it made me more certain than ever that if I get such a diagnosis I am offing mys
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Cool setting - Denver! I think that my enjoyment was increased as I recognized many of the settings in the text. The chase scene through the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70 was quite exhilarating, if memory serves. I did not have too much sympathy for the main character - I am rather tired of men behaving badly. I am glad I found this review in my other book, as I shared then that I would read more from this author. I shall add him to my summer reading list - perhaps there are some ebooks that I can g
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It saddens me to give a book by one of my favorite writers ONLY 2 STARS! The story was good (ish). The writing style drove me to distraction. It seems almost as if he gave the idea to someone else to write the book for him. Someone not quite as talented. It could have been a very good book but ended up merely Ok. (sigh)
I enjoyed the book. The flow of logic was dubious and contradictory at times. The author made up and changed the rules of the game as he saw fit. Characters where complete and interesting, so if you don't over think this one too much it's a pretty enjoyable read.
Note to self: Never ever contract for a hit on yourself.
I liked it until the horrible ending. Not to mention why does he love his illegitimate kid so much more than his two legitimate ones that he practically forgets them all together??
I am an oncology nurse and I have been part of many conversations with colleagues that surround the premise of, if such and such situation occurs where my health is taken away and I am incapacitated, kill me. What if you could chose to die, but once arranged, you can't change your mind or cancel the contract? That is the story of "Kill Me" by Stephen White. So apparently this is the 14th book in a series, however it is the first one I have read and it was not based on anything in the previous bo
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Funny, if I had known this was a series on this Alan Gregory psychiatrist, I would never have picked this up. But nowhere on the cover did it say it was part of this series and Gregory played a very minor role in the story. In fact, the most boring parts of the book were when Gregory was in the scene. But I really enjoyed the book. Great premise and the author carried through on it. A bit of an anticlimax at the end (Gregory was in it!), so it wasn't the best way to wrap it up. Loved the charact
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Speedy page-turner with jaw-dropping consequences
Took a bit to get the story set up in the beginning, a little too much “feathering of pedals” and “valve clatter” for me at the front, but I powered through it, and was rewarded with a story of increasing tension and emotion.
I wondered at how tight the father got with the son after just two visits, but I’m not a man or a dad, so what do I know.
The relationships are writ large on a backdrop of murder and mayhem, which is just the way I like it.
Yo ...more
Took a bit to get the story set up in the beginning, a little too much “feathering of pedals” and “valve clatter” for me at the front, but I powered through it, and was rewarded with a story of increasing tension and emotion.
I wondered at how tight the father got with the son after just two visits, but I’m not a man or a dad, so what do I know.
The relationships are writ large on a backdrop of murder and mayhem, which is just the way I like it.
Yo ...more
Not bad for a mystery/thriller novel. Not bad at all. Usually I despise mysteries/thrillers because ironically enough, they are boring. They never have good writing, they are trite, and overall just have predictable plots. This one was really "adjective heavy." Hemingway would have hated it. But it was well-written, so the descriptive language actually worked--it didn't make me completely put the book down. 3.5 stars.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| What's the Name o...: Secret group that performs euthanasia for rich- SOLVED! [s] | 4 | 49 | Feb 10, 2013 03:41PM |
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Stephen White is the author of the New York Times bestselling Alan Gregory novels. In his books, he draws upon over fifteen years of clinical practice as a psychologist to create intriguing plots and complex, believable characters.
Born on Long Island, White grew up in New Y ...more
Stephen White is the author of the New York Times bestselling Alan Gregory novels. In his books, he draws upon over fifteen years of clinical practice as a psychologist to create intriguing plots and complex, believable characters.
Born on Long Island, White grew up in New Y ...more
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Alan Gregory
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“I've tucked and tried to roll after that first spread-eagle spin but soon discovered the universal truth that bowling-ball-shaped objects bounce downhill much faster than do mannequin-shaped objects. In my current predicament, speed, obviously, was not my friend.”
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