Book Review: Manner of Death

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Manner of Death     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Stephen White
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Psychological Suspense
Series: Alan Gregory # 7
Dutton, Jan 1999, $23.95, 368 pp.

Boulder psychiatrist Dr. Alan Gregory is a bit melancholy as he attends the funeral of Dr. Arnold Dresser, who died from a fall while climbing Maroon Peak near Aspen. Alan and Arnold were trained at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and stayed in touch though they were never close friends. After the funeral, Alan returns home to take his spouse, Lauren Crowder, who suffers with multiple sclerosis, out to lunch. At the restaurant, a funeral attendee, Dr. A.J. Simes, intrudes on Alan and Lauren when she provides them with privileged information that someone plans to kill Alan and has murdered Arnold.

Alan soon learns that the staff, students, and management who shared Alan's residency are being killed. Apparently, only he and his former lover Dr. Sawyer Sackett are left from the class of '82. No motives and no evidence exists. Alan, Sawyer, and Lauren know they must uncover a serial killer before they end up in harm's way.

The Alan Gregory thrillers are some of the best psychological suspense tales on the market today. However, the seventh book, MANNER OF DEATH, is the best novel to date because Stephen White injects jocularity without defacing the critical conditions that confront the lead trio. Mr. White paints a frightening yet promising picture of psychology that adds to the tale. Even higher authorities than this reviewer would tell readers that the Gregory mysteries are all worth reading, but especially this newest entry.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner