Critical Conditions: An Alan Gregory Thriller

This is my first book by Stephen White, but not the last. The plot is excellent with many twists and turns to keep me interested, not confused. It sees Dr. Gregory trying to help a young girl who may or may not have killed in order for her sister to get critical health care. However, readers shouldn't despair as it is not full of medical language or too much cumbersome details. I give this book a well deserved five star rating.

The problem with writing about kids, particularly teenagers, is that we have gratefully forgotten what a difficult, scary, uncharted journey adolescence was for us. And I'm just talking about acne and skinny arms (or chests)! Imagine what we would feel like if we had terminally ill sibs?

As a result we have pushed to the more distant recesses of our memory what we did or even more significantly, why we did it. So the 15-year old ingenue in White's excellent murder mystery is at times conniving, relentless, obsessed, beautiful, kid-like, confused along with all of the other formed and unformed virtue/vices of kids placed in life and death circumstances. Or what we imagine those to be.

Her infant sister is dying of a rare disease necessitating, if it will work at all, an expensive heart transplant. Each member of the family has made tremendous sacrifices and then Merritt, the 15-year old, is charged with the murder of the CEO of the insurance provider who rejected the application for the transplant. Did she? Didn't she? Who did? And what else went on?

White weaves in the usual suspects, the gruff Sam Purdy, the lovely but also ill wife Lauren, his (not so) "normal" colleagues, a couple of Colorado Avalanche hockey games . . . even the loyal dog Emily makes several appearances.

Hard to believe, I suppose, to paraphrase Churchill, that so much could happen to so few so close to eachother at the same time. Yet, a relentless mystery for Dr. Alan Gregory to solve who despite impressive credentials, remains "everyman" under these painful circumstances.

Larry Scantlebury. 4 stars.

Stephen White is a doctor who writes books that seem more intended to promote his social viewpoints than entertain his readers. This time, he savages insurance companies with undeserved vitriol (he's a doctor; duh.). In an earlier book he crucifies the Mormon church with surprising hatred. Which is his prerogative, of course, but, as indicated by other reviews here, it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of his readers -- certainly this reader. "Critical Conditions" is a fair thriller which holds one's attention, but there are just too many serendipitous coincidences and character connections here, which I feel are the signs of a not-quite-ready-for-prime-time writer. And after you've read a few of White's books, you come to know the formula and can almost predict where the book's going to go. I liked his first book but with each subsequent book, I find him less and less satisfying. Unfortunately, after I read the first book, I ordered all his books from Amazon.com and now I'm stuck with having to read them. Well, there are worse books one could read and I gotta admit that once I start a White book, I usually can't put it down. But once it's finished, it's eminently forgettable. Three stars.

It's impossible to begin this novel and not devour its entirety in one sitting. It's THAT good. White's hero, psychologist Alan Gregory is beseeched by his urologist friend and colleage, Adrienne, to begin treatment with a recently-admitted 15 year old who attempted suicide. Soon, it becomes clear that the victim is embroiled in the recent murder of a universally-despised physician who chaired a regional health care company. Did she do it? If so, why? It's not the resaon you'll think upon the introduction.
Fast-paced and sparkling with interesting characters and dialogue, this is a thriller not to be missed. So many plot twists, you'll be boggled how they all interconnect, but rest assured White weaves them seemlessly.

...CRITICAL CONDITIONS is another engaging and faced paced psychological thriller from Stephen White...White writes with the typical spare prose that readers have discovered in his previously published Alan Gregory novels. He continues with that style very effectively in CRITICAL CONDITIONS.
White reunites his readers with the characters fans of this series have come to know and root for. Of course, there is Alan Gregory himself. There's Adrienne, Lauren Crowder, Alan's wife, Sam Purdy and Emily the Gregory's "bouvier des Flandres" who is always happy when Alan walks through the front door.
In this series installment, Alan is called in to treat the mute and suicidal teenager who may or may not be responsible for the murder of the CEO of a managed care insurance company. It just so happens that this CEO, an MD before becoming a very successful business executive, heads the company that has denied experimental treatment to the younger sister of Merritt Strait. Chaney Strait, a little girl with a rare viral disease of the heart muscle has been denied care pioneered by doctors in Seattle. The new procedure is experimental and extremely expensive. It is obvious that this fictional managed care company, known as MedExcel, is the villain because money is really the root of the issue. They don't want to pay it out for something that may or may not save the life of little Chaney Strait. What every reader knows however, is that without the procedure, little Chaney has absolutely NO CHANCE at all.
In the process of revealing the plot to the reader, White also points out that his "slowly becoming closer friend" Sam Purdy has family ties to the Trent/Strait family. You see, Sam is related by marriage to Brenda Strait (the news anchor mom of Merritt and Chaney). Sam's wife Sherry is Brenda Strait's estranged younger sister. John Trent, Brenda's husband and the father of the critically ill Chaney is like Alan Gregory, also a clinical psychologist.
In his usual fashion, White adds twists and complications to the plot line and the lives of his main characters. It's what makes these books so interesting and gripping. While they are labeled psychological thrillers, in many cases these stores by Stephen White possess all of the elements needed to make them great police procedural novels, too.
In his "other" life, Stephen White is also a clinical psychologist and despite his recent successes as an author, still practices in and around Boulder, Colorado. From the tone and the positions taken by Alan Gregory, it is obvious that in his professional life, Stephen White has had problems with managed care companies. He voices those dislikes through the person of his main character Dr. Alan Gregory. What I did have a little bit of difficulty with was his tendency to constantly "harp" on the insurance companies and make them ALL sound like villains. Everyone knows that most Americans detest managed care and the companies that administer the policies of them. I don't think White needed to remind us every few pages that he would have to fight with MedExcel to cover Merritt's treatment and possibly to receive reimbursement. My guess is, White was stiffed a time or two and used this novel as a way to make his point.
That minor criticism notwithstanding, this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Critics of managed care will like it even more than the average reader because Gregory's/White's views will be their own. The characters he provides in the story are people who could be just like the rest of us. Many readers may well have horror stories of their own to tell. This story DOES read like it came from any number of cases in recent headlines and that's what makes it so timely, effective and believable.
Like many other writers of popular fiction these days, Stephen White doesn't flood his narrative with wordiness. His prose is spare and effective. He is consistent from one book to the next and he does an outstanding job of building on the recurring characters his fans are already familiar with. Although the Alan Gregory novels are part of a recurring series, it is not absolutely necessary for the reader to read them in the order written; although I recommend that they do for the sake of continuity and understanding.
I have not been disappointed with this series or its author and I look forward to each new installment. I think that speaks well of an author and there is nothing about CRITICAL CONDITIONS not to like. Although I have not read them yet, I look forward to reading his next two works, MANNER OF DEATH and COLD CASE.

I don't know who reviews for Kirkus, but they couldn't be more off base. Stephen White writes a gripping story that keeps you guessing until the very end. I read while on the treadmill at the gym and I had to reset the timer just to get to a point where I could drive home! A great suspense book.

My second Stephen White book (Priviledged Information) and I wasn't disappointed. A great read and would recommend reading it after "Privileged." I really like Dr. Alan Gregory's character. Smart, ethical and compassionate. A wonderful author

One of the best of White's thrillers...

The book gives an insight into the fascinating world of Psychology which Dr. Alan master with great talent. With a very difficult patient who insists on not talking and with time running out for her little sister who is dying, the puzzle started to be solved one step at the time.

I always finish White's books with a feeling for more. Can't wait to read his next one...

As in the other books in the series, White uses twists and turns in the plot to keep the story moving and the readers guessing. His writing is often funny and never overly wordy. Managed care seems to be an underlying theme in the novel, and the author obviously has strong opinions about it, but it's pretty much incorporated into the natural story line; the readers are not slammed over the head with the message. This book won't keep you on the edge of your seat, but it will keep you interested.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory is the regular hero in this Boulder/COLO-based thriller series which keeps getting better and better.
Author Stephen White has a good feeling for storylines and developing characters. All of the Alan Gregory novels had interesting topics and a good pace; all of them were very exciting and well written.
I always look forward to Stephen White's latest release and I hope he'll come up with more thrilling Dr. Gregory cases for years to come. Highly recommended.