Line of Fire (Alan Gregory)

At one point, I thought the book was pitch perfect, a nice visit with all the favorite characters we have come to love so much. It was fast paced and given that the series is ending, I realized that all the characters were at risk. A thriller for sure. There was a lot to like here. Yet, the book felt rushed at the end, and I could not believe the actions of some of the characters that were not fully explained.Thank goodness, I was reading on a Kindle because after I finished, I searched by certain terms to see if I had missed clues because things did not make sense at the conclusion. The last part seemed to happen too quickly and some revelations didn't make sense. I can't say more without spoiling the book. At one point, suddenly a weapon appeared in one passage, and I didn't see where the weapon was ever introduced. I won't say more to spoil.The book involved many rather complex, convoluted story lines. There are many opportunities to say, "I didn't see that coming," but not in a good way. Dr. White usually brought us along more slowly. I think he is just "through" and maybe took out his feelings, which you can read about on his website, on the characters.The ending of the book was chaotic beyond necessity, and I was deeply disappointed in the development and denouement of key characters. It had been so long since I read the book to which this one is clearly linked that I wish I'd known that and could have reread the earlier book. The author gave sufficient reminders, but to sense the desperation, it would have been nice to have been more recently familiar with the motivation behind the chaos of this book. The author did seem to get bored and tied things up pretty quickly, logic be damned.Still, with all that, fans of Stephen White, who are soon losing this wonderful series will find much to enjoy. There was much to savor here, but the author didn't seem interested in spending the time. Maybe he's just tired of dealing with the publishers and the publishing business, as he has pretty much said.I will miss the characters and still don't understand why the author did some of the things he did. If you like Alan Gregory and Stephen White, you will enjoy this book. No such thing as a bad Stephen White book, you know how that saying goes. :) I have each one and will reread the all I am sure.I suggest that you DO NOT START WITH THIS BOOK. Go back to the beginning. I have enjoyed each book. I will miss Dr. Stephen White and Dr. Alan Gregory. For the readers who may feel lost without this dynamic Alan Gregory series, check out Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series. Start from the beginning there, too. The character development of her characters is exquisite and you will appreciate the richness of her storylines.

Another great novel by author Stephen White, my favorite Author. I'm never disappointed reading his books. I'm so glad I can read them in the Amazon cloud reader as I can no longer read fine print, now I simply choose what option I see best. Most of his books read before in paperback. His books are interesting in verse and characters who become almost like friends. I recommend his great books.

Enjoyable and fast paced after a slow start. Was puzzled by references to s book that was 4 or 5 back. I just read the book before this and not a single mention whereas it was a major point in the set up here. So I kept wracking my brain about it and that was annoying. The character is very disturbed here with Todd but not in the previous two books?l. Halfway through the followining, it becomes clear that lots of points from various books are getting wrapped up. A must read along with next for followers of the series.

The star rating is more than the book deserves but the series was always so good .... the last installment disappoints. The Alan Gregory saga ends with a wrap up of the events in Frederick. Sam Purdy did not walk away clean ... there was a witness and the entire episode is back in the sight of law enforcement. In fact, Alan's wife Lauren is drawn in. At the same time his long time office partner Diane is coming unhinged and some patients are more or less than they appear.There is so much of this book that feels contrived. Incidents that make no sense, as if they are literary signposts saying 'pay attention to this and remember it', characters that seem to be there for the dialogue only. White's books are usually so much better.Gregory was self-indulgent and whiny.If you read the series you have to see it to the end. This end was disappointing.

I like all of White's books. In only ONE of them, did I figure out the protagonist before the end. I think characters like Sam and Alan who have a HUGE secret between them would eventually come to dis-trust each other. So I've read some complaints about that--but it was bound to happen....Then there is Lauren, who I NEVER warmed up to, well this book surprise about her--blew me away!I love the way Alan loves his kids--and when he takes Jonas in as his son--he becomes HIS SON. I love that about the character. This book, like all of his, were an up and down ride, where I could not possibly figure out what was going to happen next. I sometimes wonder is White knows 'who done it' as he writes or if the answer comes while he writes.Anyway, this is an excellent Alan Gregory book---get it!

Tension in the Gregory mysteries is created by an ethical dilemma for the psychologist. They've stretched to be more and more incredible. In this penultimate book, Gregory invents an ethical problem where none exists. He is protecting the confidentiality of a man who is not his patient. Comaman makes an appointment w/Gregory to blackmail him not seek psychotherapy so he is not a client and therefore, does not get the privilege of confidentiality.If the question is do I protect my family or do I worry about going before an ethics board for someone who is not even a client, the answer is clearly in favor of protecting the family. Not for Gregory. This is such a ludicrous premise that I gave up.I've read some, but not all, of the series. I have no idea who the villain McLleland (sp)is as of page 191.

He should have stopped with the first in this 2book finale. This book says nothing new and very little that is gripping.

Keeps the tension at a high level

Intriguing, engaging and compelling, with strong characters, humour and some sadness, a very good book.

I have all of Stephen White`s books and this one was just not as good as some of the others. I think he is tiring of the characters as he is ending this series.

Very good