Review: Dry Ice

Sublimation: in chemistry, it is the process by which matter changes from a solid state into a vapor, without first melting - like dry ice. In psychology, sublimation is the uncertain alchemy of turning emotional dross into beneficial life gold, without patient melt-down.

Dr. Alan Gregory, a clinical psychologist in Boulder, Colorado, knows all about the crush of keeping his patients’ secrets. But, Gregory has one of his own. His newest patient, Kol Cruz, stirs up Gregory’s locked past with a seemingly innocent statement. Gregory’s childhood private trauma, hidden from everyone close to him, launches his struggle to decide whether to keep his secret, or move that information into the ‘private’ category, shared only with a few. He doesn’t have the luxury of time to decide as someone already knows it.

When Gregory was a green psychologist, he treated Dr. Michael McClelland. The therapy tested the limits of Gregory’s training and skills, and the fluidity of the boundary between privileged and public information. (“Privileged Information”, Viking Press - hardcover; Signet - paperback, 1991) Sixteen years later, McClelland walks away from the Colorado State Mental Hospital, where he has successfully avoided standing trial for his long-ago crimes. Gregory immediately suffers his worst fear: a brilliant, determined killer with a long-simmering vendetta is coming after him, and his family.

His wife, deputy district attorney Lauren Crowder, struggles with her worsening illness and a legal matter she must keep secret from her husband. When Gregory comes under suspicion under ambiguous circumstances, he turns to new Cozier Maitland associate, his old patient, Kirsten Lord to advise him. (“The Program”, Doubleday - hardcover; Dell - paperback, 2001)

Finally, Dr. Gregory shows more than his usual bland acceptance of life with his grudge-holding and prickly wife. This reader has enjoyed White’s series for its expert plotting and verisimilitude to legal and mental health issues. This has kept her hooked, even in the face of the considerable irritation of most of the continuing women characters: the crass neighboring urologist, the self-absorbed and irritating Diane Estevez, Gregory’s clinical practice partner, and Gregory’s resentful wife. “Dry Ice” closes the story circle begun in “Privileged Information, but also reveals Gregory to be a flawed, but strong central character, after all.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, A. Rolfingsmeier

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.

Book Review: Dry Ice

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.