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Alan Gregory #14
Kill Me
THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT.
New York Times bestselling author Stephen White has written a new breed of thriller. Throw out everything you think you know about twists, turns, and surprises.
Get ready for the next big thing.
Get ready to meet the Death Angels.
We've all been there. A loved one or a dear friend becomes desperately ill or is tragically injured. Someonemaybe even yousays, If that ever happens to me, I wish someone would just . . . kill me.
What if you could choose when to die?
But once you decide, you can't change your mind.
Ever.
No matter what.
Welcome to the next step in the evolution of suspense fiction, to an in-your-face/what-would-you-do? topical thriller. Kill Me is a brilliantly conceived roller-coaster ride that zeros in on some of the most contentious issues of our time, the human yearning for connection between the choices we make about our lives and deaths.
New York Times bestselling author Stephen White has written a new breed of thriller. Throw out everything you think you know about twists, turns, and surprises.
Get ready for the next big thing.
Get ready to meet the Death Angels.
We've all been there. A loved one or a dear friend becomes desperately ill or is tragically injured. Someonemaybe even yousays, If that ever happens to me, I wish someone would just . . . kill me.
What if you could choose when to die?
But once you decide, you can't change your mind.
Ever.
No matter what.
Welcome to the next step in the evolution of suspense fiction, to an in-your-face/what-would-you-do? topical thriller. Kill Me is a brilliantly conceived roller-coaster ride that zeros in on some of the most contentious issues of our time, the human yearning for connection between the choices we make about our lives and deaths.
Intelligent and relentlessly paced, Kill Me is the smart kind of read that fans have come to expect from Stephen White. Kill Me brings Alan Gregory face-to-face with the most challenging case of his career. As always, White's characters are indelible and the dialogue is dead-on, but Kill Me is fresh and thought provoking in a way that's so uncommon in crime fiction. Kill Me delivers on all the promise of White's earlier work and then raises the bar in an unforgettably inventive tale of life and death. This is the book that you won't be able to put down, but more to the point, this is the book that won't go away after readers have raced to the last page. Readers will be asking each other: What would you do? If you could sign upreallywould you?
Raves for KILL ME:
Michael Connelly says:
Stephen White has always been a rock solid writer. But this book should turn heads. Big, provocative, and downright gripping, this is his best yet.
Jeffery Deaver says:
Kill Me is that rarest of creationsa thinking person's thriller. In this age of the same-old, same-old fiction, White's novel stands dizzyingly above the pack. The concept is unique (and brilliant), the writing is sharp, observant, and wry (White's trademark), and every page of this compelling tale is filled with perfectly realized human emotionabout life, death, and family. Superb.
Paperback
First published March 2, 2006
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1374 people want to read
About the author
Stephen White
293 books569 followersLibrarian 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 York, New Jersey, and Southern California and attended the University of California campuses at Irvine (where he lasted three weeks as a creative writing major) and Los Angeles before graduating from Berkeley in 1972. Along the way he learned to fly small planes, worked as a tour guide at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, cooked and waited tables at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, and tended bar at the Red Lion Inn in Boulder. Trained as a clinical psychologist, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 1979 and became known as an authority on the psychological effects of marital disruption, especially on men. White's research has appeared in Psychological Bulletin and other professional journals and books. After receiving his doctorate, White not only worked in private practice but also at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and later as a staff psychologist at The Children's Hospital in Denver, where he focused his attention on pediatric cancer patients. During those years he became acquainted with a colleague in Los Angeles, another pediatric psychologist named Jonathan Kellerman. At the time, Kellerman and White were two of only about a dozen psychologists in the country working in pediatric oncology.
Series:
* Alan Gregory
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 York, New Jersey, and Southern California and attended the University of California campuses at Irvine (where he lasted three weeks as a creative writing major) and Los Angeles before graduating from Berkeley in 1972. Along the way he learned to fly small planes, worked as a tour guide at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, cooked and waited tables at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, and tended bar at the Red Lion Inn in Boulder. Trained as a clinical psychologist, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 1979 and became known as an authority on the psychological effects of marital disruption, especially on men. White's research has appeared in Psychological Bulletin and other professional journals and books. After receiving his doctorate, White not only worked in private practice but also at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and later as a staff psychologist at The Children's Hospital in Denver, where he focused his attention on pediatric cancer patients. During those years he became acquainted with a colleague in Los Angeles, another pediatric psychologist named Jonathan Kellerman. At the time, Kellerman and White were two of only about a dozen psychologists in the country working in pediatric oncology.
Series:
* Alan Gregory
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 397 reviews
October 31, 2015
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 task by asking friends to kill him if he becomes incapacitated and unable to do it himself. Before long a mate suggests he should get in touch with an off the radar group who will, without hesitation, kill him for a substantial fee. Since the “patient” is extremely wealthy this has great appeal, and consequently he makes contact with the secret organization called the Death Angels. Kill Me is an extraordinary unique novel and was quite the ride.
June 18, 2024
Returning to re-read Stephen White’s great thriller collection after a number of years, this summer binge should be a great adventure. White keeps the reader hooked with another great novel, full of unique perspectives ina story that strays from the series norm. A wealthy man is diagnosed with some terminal news and is unsure how he wants to spend the balance of his time. Seeking to ensure that he is not left in a state of agony, he is put in touch with a group who are willing to kill at the appointed time, for a fee. Now, he must live life and wait to see what the future brings, while trying to ensure he is aware of any surprise that awaits him. Someone is ready to kill him, though when is the greatest mystery of all. Dr. Alan Gregory plays a wallflower role in this piece, as Stephen White blows the reader’s mind with this gripping book.
He’s quite wealthy, enjoying everything that money can buy. All that being true, there are some things that money cannot buy. When a terminal diagnosis turns things around, treatments can be paid for, but the body has its own agenda. If only there was something money could do…
With great wealth comes some additional benefits. A discrete referral sends the patient to meet someone who might be able to help. The Death Angels will, for a fee, offer to kill and ensure that pain is never too much. When and where remains a secret, but it is assured. Now, it is a waiting game!!
While this could be a great means of ensuring that there are no loose ends, the contract cannot be rescinded once signed. With the contract comes some added requirements, all while awaiting an uncertain death. A chilling story that will keep the reader flipping pages well into the night as White impresses once more.
I remember discovering this series years ago, devouring many of the books in short order. When I chose to return, I decided that I would try a complete series binge, getting the full Alan Gregory experience. Stephen White uses many of his personal experiences as a clinical psychologist to pull on ideas and character aspects, which becomes apparent in this unique novel.
White’s writing usually explores his own personal situations as a clinical therapist, but this book changes that recipe for success. Rather, its protagonist is Alan’s patient who is trying to come to terms with his end of life plan. While Dr. Gregory is eager to help where possible with processing emotions, this book is more about the act of death and how it can creep up on anyone. The narrative builds in a great way, telling a story that is mostly free from clinical analysis and police perspectives. It keeps moving as the reader is left to wonder what will happen and how the “death angels” will stay off the radar. Touching only briefly on the series regulars, this story captures the inner mental workings of a man, his family, and the group who are ready to pull the plug at a time unknown.
Plot points drive the story, as they do with all books in this series. However, the premise of surprise is a theme that is core to the story’s success. The reader is left to wonder and wait with bated breath to better comprehend the tension that builds. White keeps the reader in the middle of it all and provides a stellar bit of storytelling that has no clear path. I am eager to see how the series will keep progressing and what adventures await Dr. Alan Gregory.
Kudos Mr. White, for providing this in-depth look at the mind when terminal diagnoses are in play.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
He’s quite wealthy, enjoying everything that money can buy. All that being true, there are some things that money cannot buy. When a terminal diagnosis turns things around, treatments can be paid for, but the body has its own agenda. If only there was something money could do…
With great wealth comes some additional benefits. A discrete referral sends the patient to meet someone who might be able to help. The Death Angels will, for a fee, offer to kill and ensure that pain is never too much. When and where remains a secret, but it is assured. Now, it is a waiting game!!
While this could be a great means of ensuring that there are no loose ends, the contract cannot be rescinded once signed. With the contract comes some added requirements, all while awaiting an uncertain death. A chilling story that will keep the reader flipping pages well into the night as White impresses once more.
I remember discovering this series years ago, devouring many of the books in short order. When I chose to return, I decided that I would try a complete series binge, getting the full Alan Gregory experience. Stephen White uses many of his personal experiences as a clinical psychologist to pull on ideas and character aspects, which becomes apparent in this unique novel.
White’s writing usually explores his own personal situations as a clinical therapist, but this book changes that recipe for success. Rather, its protagonist is Alan’s patient who is trying to come to terms with his end of life plan. While Dr. Gregory is eager to help where possible with processing emotions, this book is more about the act of death and how it can creep up on anyone. The narrative builds in a great way, telling a story that is mostly free from clinical analysis and police perspectives. It keeps moving as the reader is left to wonder what will happen and how the “death angels” will stay off the radar. Touching only briefly on the series regulars, this story captures the inner mental workings of a man, his family, and the group who are ready to pull the plug at a time unknown.
Plot points drive the story, as they do with all books in this series. However, the premise of surprise is a theme that is core to the story’s success. The reader is left to wonder and wait with bated breath to better comprehend the tension that builds. White keeps the reader in the middle of it all and provides a stellar bit of storytelling that has no clear path. I am eager to see how the series will keep progressing and what adventures await Dr. Alan Gregory.
Kudos Mr. White, for providing this in-depth look at the mind when terminal diagnoses are in play.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 27, 2012
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 Stephen White's fans were angry about this book. He writes one book at a time and it takes any where from a year to 18 months until the next book comes out. So, those who were Alan Gregory fans weren't too happy about the wait of nearly 3 yrs for him to be the star again. I am so glad that I wasn't so invested in the series that it clouded my opinion. Stephen White is winding down this series after the 20th book. Personally, I cannot wait to see what else he writes about because I think there is so much more to him than Alan Gregory. And I love this series. He is the only author that I have followed faithfully from start to hopefully finish. I would love to hear from others who have read this book and hear what they thought.
July 11, 2007
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.
March 23, 2015
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-belief-but-otherwise-normal-guy (who has no name in the book, we never hear it nor does it come up in any dialogue or descriptions) decides after a heli-skiing accident he has himself and a diving accident a close friend has, that he now has a full blown phobia about having an accident and becoming incapacitated, unable to feed himself, clean himself, or day trade himself.
In conversations with what we imagine is going to be only a side character, Jimmy, our unnamed wealthy phobic discovers the presence of a bizarre, macabre and totally unique "insurance" company: these people, whom he calls the Death Angels (there are no business cards or websites to tell him their real name), will kill you if your life becomes unliveable. Or un-Liveable as it's often referred to, with a capital L.
So in a series of intricately thriller-ish encounters, our unnamed phobic meets with several of the confederates of this rogue killing company, all with elaborate scenes to discover if he's a secret agent of some kind, wired up with their electronic gadgetry or worse, subterfuge and complicated discussions about the philosophy of their business.
Finally he forks over the $one million deposit (there's more funds to come) and signs up. It's all been a little strange up to this point, as there's one meeting with the luscious Lizzie where she tells him the company don't actually want him as a client, but he finagles her through that tricky talk and manages to get himself "in". What a coup! But then he wants to argue the terms of their SOP, because, as he says "I like to do things my way".
Up to this point, I'm irritated but basically with it. He's mercurial, capricious, argumentative, egotistical. But I'm okay with that. I don't like the guy, but I can see how that all hangs together as a personality picture.
Then two things happen. One: a long lost son from a forgotten night of sex (it could not seriously be called passion, happening in the laundry on the washing machine and lasting seconds, as it did) in his youth turns up on his doorstep. A veritable genius at only 14, this kid steals his heart and then shoves it in the blender for maximum pain. That's all okay.
But two: he gets diagnosed with an inoperable brain aneuryism. Oh no! The terms of his agreement with the Death Angels are on the verge of being "activated" - if his health continues to deteriorate, he'll be on their active hit list, and should expect to be killed at any moment.
This is when it stops being merely irritating and becomes ludicrous. Our unnamed phobic then enters into a criss-cross-country charade, trying to outwit and outmanoeuvre the Death Angels so they won't kill him.
Huh?
He's just antied up $one million PLUS to receive this highly exclusive service that only the uber rich and mega discreet could ever afford. He's argued to be allowed "in", and won. But now he's gotten it, and it's happening, he's now running away from it. Riiiight.
Okay, so imagine this: I've invited a cleaning service over to clean my house, but now they are here - I can see the van outside -- I'm bolting the deadbolts and slamming the shutters so they can't get in. Oh yes - I ASKED them here. And I've paid them. But now they are The Enemy and should not be allowed to cross the threshold.
This massive hole in the story completely interfered with my ability to suspend belief and enjoy the rest of the story. I found our unnamed phobic insufferably stupid with this incongruency. It was just ludicrous to me that our unnamed phobic 'hero' would not only go to all this trouble to thwart the Death Angels, whom he had fought to get on the books of as a client, but set himself up as some sort of moral superior to them because he was evading them.
The author did a great job of making a thriller out of the rest of the story, as our protagonists (the luscious Lizzie comes along for the ride at this point) escape a snipers bullet in a tunnel in Colorado and avoid detection as they fly friend Jimmy's borrowed Lear aircraft into New Haven, and all the nutty escapades in between, before and after. This is how we can tell he's such a terrific writer - he turns a sows ear into a silk purse by getting us through this ludicrous lack of logic in the storyline.
It's part medical mystery, part sultry suspense, part action thriller. And a huge chunk of annoying nonsense.
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-belief-but-otherwise-normal-guy (who has no name in the book, we never hear it nor does it come up in any dialogue or descriptions) decides after a heli-skiing accident he has himself and a diving accident a close friend has, that he now has a full blown phobia about having an accident and becoming incapacitated, unable to feed himself, clean himself, or day trade himself.
In conversations with what we imagine is going to be only a side character, Jimmy, our unnamed wealthy phobic discovers the presence of a bizarre, macabre and totally unique "insurance" company: these people, whom he calls the Death Angels (there are no business cards or websites to tell him their real name), will kill you if your life becomes unliveable. Or un-Liveable as it's often referred to, with a capital L.
So in a series of intricately thriller-ish encounters, our unnamed phobic meets with several of the confederates of this rogue killing company, all with elaborate scenes to discover if he's a secret agent of some kind, wired up with their electronic gadgetry or worse, subterfuge and complicated discussions about the philosophy of their business.
Finally he forks over the $one million deposit (there's more funds to come) and signs up. It's all been a little strange up to this point, as there's one meeting with the luscious Lizzie where she tells him the company don't actually want him as a client, but he finagles her through that tricky talk and manages to get himself "in". What a coup! But then he wants to argue the terms of their SOP, because, as he says "I like to do things my way".
Up to this point, I'm irritated but basically with it. He's mercurial, capricious, argumentative, egotistical. But I'm okay with that. I don't like the guy, but I can see how that all hangs together as a personality picture.
Then two things happen. One: a long lost son from a forgotten night of sex (it could not seriously be called passion, happening in the laundry on the washing machine and lasting seconds, as it did) in his youth turns up on his doorstep. A veritable genius at only 14, this kid steals his heart and then shoves it in the blender for maximum pain. That's all okay.
But two: he gets diagnosed with an inoperable brain aneuryism. Oh no! The terms of his agreement with the Death Angels are on the verge of being "activated" - if his health continues to deteriorate, he'll be on their active hit list, and should expect to be killed at any moment.
This is when it stops being merely irritating and becomes ludicrous. Our unnamed phobic then enters into a criss-cross-country charade, trying to outwit and outmanoeuvre the Death Angels so they won't kill him.
Huh?
He's just antied up $one million PLUS to receive this highly exclusive service that only the uber rich and mega discreet could ever afford. He's argued to be allowed "in", and won. But now he's gotten it, and it's happening, he's now running away from it. Riiiight.
Okay, so imagine this: I've invited a cleaning service over to clean my house, but now they are here - I can see the van outside -- I'm bolting the deadbolts and slamming the shutters so they can't get in. Oh yes - I ASKED them here. And I've paid them. But now they are The Enemy and should not be allowed to cross the threshold.
This massive hole in the story completely interfered with my ability to suspend belief and enjoy the rest of the story. I found our unnamed phobic insufferably stupid with this incongruency. It was just ludicrous to me that our unnamed phobic 'hero' would not only go to all this trouble to thwart the Death Angels, whom he had fought to get on the books of as a client, but set himself up as some sort of moral superior to them because he was evading them.
The author did a great job of making a thriller out of the rest of the story, as our protagonists (the luscious Lizzie comes along for the ride at this point) escape a snipers bullet in a tunnel in Colorado and avoid detection as they fly friend Jimmy's borrowed Lear aircraft into New Haven, and all the nutty escapades in between, before and after. This is how we can tell he's such a terrific writer - he turns a sows ear into a silk purse by getting us through this ludicrous lack of logic in the storyline.
It's part medical mystery, part sultry suspense, part action thriller. And a huge chunk of annoying nonsense.
January 28, 2019
I wrote this online with Stephen White before the year 2004 -- so of course I recommend it.
June 8, 2012
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 I thought/expected it might be—good or bad—and most importantly, I walked away from the book truly glad that I’d read it and very satisfied with the entire thing.
The book is Kill Me.
Here’s the premise: This guy, this incredibly rich, successful guy goes on a ski trip with his buddies and has a terrible accident. He’s VERY fortunate to survive with only minor injuries but that accident and the combination of a friend of his recently having another thrill-seeker accident that left him in a vegetative state in a hospital bed prompts him to sincerely tell his friends that if that ever happens to him that he wants one of them to kill him. They hem and haw as guy friends will when a serious topic is forced upon them during play time, but it’s a serious request. So, one of his friends approaches him later and tells him about a secret organization he knows about who is set up to do just what he’s asked. You set the parameters and if you cross the threshold of those parameters, they will kill you.
Our hero, a control freak, jumps at the chance and signs up. He is also hasty and foolish in setting his parameters, which isn’t wise because once payment is made, the contract cannot be cancelled or revoked.
I don’t want to give the whole plot away so I’ll stop there but I’ll tell you that this book is one you should find and read immediately. There were a lot of things that impressed me about it. The storytelling is impeccable. It’s a really great story. It’s interesting, it makes you think; it’s exciting; it’s mysterious. The story alone is worth the read. This is a book where the writing and the structure of the book are amazing as well and they actually play a part in the storytelling. This book is not told in sequential order. It’s not a linear plot. You jump all over the place in time and this is a DANGEROUS writing style because in the hands of a poor writer, or one that doesn’t know where he or she is going in the end, it almost always becomes a distraction and screws up the flow of the story.
In the hands of a good writer though, it can be brilliant. In this case, it is brilliant. Every time you can’t wait to turn the page and see what happens next in a linear context, White moves you to another time and place and once he gets you going, you go from cliffhanger to cliffhanger and can’t even be disappointed about leaving one story arc because you get to find out what happened in the last one. I just can’t even stress how well it’s done. And in this case, the excellent technical writing plays a major role in the excellent storytelling and the combination makes for a brilliant book.
I think the thing that impressed me most was the way this book brought up so many great issues and classic literary themes: man’s inhumanity toward man, the value of life and hope, it’s a morality play, it’s a Greek tragedy—it’s so full it could have easily burst but it never does. And all this in a serial book! All this in the 13th book in a series where, in most cases, it’s nothing more than formula writing, rehashing an old story in a new way. That’s not the case here. This is fresh and new. You can drop in, never having read another book in the series and not miss out on anything. In fact, Dr. Alan Gregory plays only a very minor role in this book—and important one, but a minor one. This isn’t his story.
If this hadn’t been part of a series, it would have been received quite differently. And for all I know it was well received—I truly don’t know. But this book should be MUCH more popular than it is now. There should be a movie—a movie is a no brainer here. Steven Soderbergh needs to direct it. The name of this book should be as easily recognizable as the Dan Brown books that were such a rage a few summers ago. I know a lot of people think that was crap writing, but the story was compelling and it captivated people. This book is superbly written and the story is just as compelling and it has all those elements people love (though nothing religious or spiritual) in a good book and it honestly needs to be more popular than it is now.
The book is Kill Me.
Here’s the premise: This guy, this incredibly rich, successful guy goes on a ski trip with his buddies and has a terrible accident. He’s VERY fortunate to survive with only minor injuries but that accident and the combination of a friend of his recently having another thrill-seeker accident that left him in a vegetative state in a hospital bed prompts him to sincerely tell his friends that if that ever happens to him that he wants one of them to kill him. They hem and haw as guy friends will when a serious topic is forced upon them during play time, but it’s a serious request. So, one of his friends approaches him later and tells him about a secret organization he knows about who is set up to do just what he’s asked. You set the parameters and if you cross the threshold of those parameters, they will kill you.
Our hero, a control freak, jumps at the chance and signs up. He is also hasty and foolish in setting his parameters, which isn’t wise because once payment is made, the contract cannot be cancelled or revoked.
I don’t want to give the whole plot away so I’ll stop there but I’ll tell you that this book is one you should find and read immediately. There were a lot of things that impressed me about it. The storytelling is impeccable. It’s a really great story. It’s interesting, it makes you think; it’s exciting; it’s mysterious. The story alone is worth the read. This is a book where the writing and the structure of the book are amazing as well and they actually play a part in the storytelling. This book is not told in sequential order. It’s not a linear plot. You jump all over the place in time and this is a DANGEROUS writing style because in the hands of a poor writer, or one that doesn’t know where he or she is going in the end, it almost always becomes a distraction and screws up the flow of the story.
In the hands of a good writer though, it can be brilliant. In this case, it is brilliant. Every time you can’t wait to turn the page and see what happens next in a linear context, White moves you to another time and place and once he gets you going, you go from cliffhanger to cliffhanger and can’t even be disappointed about leaving one story arc because you get to find out what happened in the last one. I just can’t even stress how well it’s done. And in this case, the excellent technical writing plays a major role in the excellent storytelling and the combination makes for a brilliant book.
I think the thing that impressed me most was the way this book brought up so many great issues and classic literary themes: man’s inhumanity toward man, the value of life and hope, it’s a morality play, it’s a Greek tragedy—it’s so full it could have easily burst but it never does. And all this in a serial book! All this in the 13th book in a series where, in most cases, it’s nothing more than formula writing, rehashing an old story in a new way. That’s not the case here. This is fresh and new. You can drop in, never having read another book in the series and not miss out on anything. In fact, Dr. Alan Gregory plays only a very minor role in this book—and important one, but a minor one. This isn’t his story.
If this hadn’t been part of a series, it would have been received quite differently. And for all I know it was well received—I truly don’t know. But this book should be MUCH more popular than it is now. There should be a movie—a movie is a no brainer here. Steven Soderbergh needs to direct it. The name of this book should be as easily recognizable as the Dan Brown books that were such a rage a few summers ago. I know a lot of people think that was crap writing, but the story was compelling and it captivated people. This book is superbly written and the story is just as compelling and it has all those elements people love (though nothing religious or spiritual) in a good book and it honestly needs to be more popular than it is now.
May 2, 2020
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 is one of my favorite writers. I'll continue to read my way through his books.
April 9, 2016
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 insurance”. For the tidy sum of a million dollars, he has ensured that if he is stricken by accident or disease he will be killed in a way that makes his death look like an accident. At first he is pleased with his decision. He knows he can’t change his mind, but he is certain that if he can’t live life on his own terms, he has the perfect solution. Perfect, that is, until he is diagnosed with a chronic, potentially fatal condition just as he finds out that he may have more, and different, reasons to live than he thought he had. From that point on, White takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride as this resourceful man tries to evade the equally skilled “death angels” while he makes amends and future plans for others in his life. It’s not necessary to have read any of White’s previous novels, this one stands quite well on its own. I highly recommend it as a rare combination of intelligence and action.
September 3, 2022
Unconventional End of Life Services...
No spoilers. 5 stars. This was an edge-of-your-seat thriller...
After a skiing accident...
Our main character, who I will refer to as MC throughout this review because he was never given a name,...
... voiced his desire to his skiing companions that should he become a vegetable they were to find a way to kill him therefore...
... putting him out of the misery of just existing without hope of recovery. This mandate included his getting a terminal disease...
A person in the group introduced MC to an organization that he could hire to grant his wish to be killed when he was beyond help...
Death Angel, Inc...
... was the organization and they told MC to buy a disposable phone then send his enrollment fees to offshore destinations...
Such as...
The phony charity called Youth In Asia (euthanasia) in Singapore...
An unfortunate event triggers the Death Angel's end-of-life services but MC has changed his mind...
Unfortunately...
Cancelations are not permitted once the process is set in motion...
Meanwhile...
MC is Seeing a therapist and relating the whole story in detail in case something should happen to him...
This was an excellent thriller and the good news is that it is part of a series featuring the therapist. It is not necessary to have read any of the prior novels to enjoy this one as the story stands alone and is very good.
No spoilers. 5 stars. This was an edge-of-your-seat thriller...
After a skiing accident...
Our main character, who I will refer to as MC throughout this review because he was never given a name,...
... voiced his desire to his skiing companions that should he become a vegetable they were to find a way to kill him therefore...
... putting him out of the misery of just existing without hope of recovery. This mandate included his getting a terminal disease...
A person in the group introduced MC to an organization that he could hire to grant his wish to be killed when he was beyond help...
Death Angel, Inc...
... was the organization and they told MC to buy a disposable phone then send his enrollment fees to offshore destinations...
Such as...
The phony charity called Youth In Asia (euthanasia) in Singapore...
An unfortunate event triggers the Death Angel's end-of-life services but MC has changed his mind...
Unfortunately...
Cancelations are not permitted once the process is set in motion...
Meanwhile...
MC is Seeing a therapist and relating the whole story in detail in case something should happen to him...
This was an excellent thriller and the good news is that it is part of a series featuring the therapist. It is not necessary to have read any of the prior novels to enjoy this one as the story stands alone and is very good.
January 2, 2016
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 his own death warrant, one that has a no cancellation clause.
So you know what’s going to happen and it’s easy to anticipate that some event will trigger an abrupt change of mind. And it does, somewhere after page 150 the warrant is activated, the situation dictates action and yes, there is a change of heart. This is the part you have been waiting for and it, the story, kicks up a gear, ramps up the tension and your in.
Suddenly I was involved, devouring the words, chewing up the sentences and gobbling down the chapters. The pages flying, right up until the point where the believability factor, or in this case the complete lack of it for me as a reader, kicked in.
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 his own death warrant, one that has a no cancellation clause.
So you know what’s going to happen and it’s easy to anticipate that some event will trigger an abrupt change of mind. And it does, somewhere after page 150 the warrant is activated, the situation dictates action and yes, there is a change of heart. This is the part you have been waiting for and it, the story, kicks up a gear, ramps up the tension and your in.
Suddenly I was involved, devouring the words, chewing up the sentences and gobbling down the chapters. The pages flying, right up until the point where the believability factor, or in this case the complete lack of it for me as a reader, kicked in.
October 16, 2019
Featuring a man who is an adrenaline junkie. Skiing, diving, living life to the fullest. A friend's son is hospitalized after a tragic accident and is pretty much being kept on machines. It makes him think and after a discussion with the friends, he is approached by one privately and told about an exclusive service that will take care of your death if you became incapacitated or gravely ill. Very secretive steps are taken, and he becomes a client. The service is discreet and guarantees a accidental or natural looking death.
Only his circumstances change, and an unknown son appears on his doorstep. This leaves him with unfinished business when his illness reaches a predetermined stage. So he is fighting to stay alive long enough to settle matters with his son.
That is where Dr. Gregory comes in. Unlike most books in the series, he really isn't very involved other than as a witness/observer. But it works.
Only his circumstances change, and an unknown son appears on his doorstep. This leaves him with unfinished business when his illness reaches a predetermined stage. So he is fighting to stay alive long enough to settle matters with his son.
That is where Dr. Gregory comes in. Unlike most books in the series, he really isn't very involved other than as a witness/observer. But it works.
July 30, 2016
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 fluidly, there are a few suspenseful twists, and the conclusion borders on the poignant.
I enjoyed the book enough that I immediately went to the library and checked out another book in the Gregory series. I never give 5-stars, so a 4-star rating is high on my chart...I'd go as high as a 4.2.
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 fluidly, there are a few suspenseful twists, and the conclusion borders on the poignant.
I enjoyed the book enough that I immediately went to the library and checked out another book in the Gregory series. I never give 5-stars, so a 4-star rating is high on my chart...I'd go as high as a 4.2.
May 22, 2013
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)
August 6, 2024
Wow. Blew me away. I wasn’t sure about this one at first. The title and cover art didn’t appeal to me but I knew this author from the years I lived in Boulder, CO. Reading this was a great reminder to not judge a book by its cover & also its age (published in 2006). It didn’t disappoint. Great from beginning to end. Stephen White is a master storyteller. I’ll be keeping this one and adding it to my Stephen White collection.
August 1, 2024
My parents had taught me that if I ran into something in life that I couldn't do, I should always do something I could.
An intelligent thriller set primarily in Colorful Colorado. Although part of the Alan Gregory Series, Kill Me can be read as a stand-alone novel, as in the case of other side stories: Higher Authority and The Siege.
It's been a while since I've read Stephen White. Re-reading Kill Me makes me interested in revisiting this author's work. This story stayed with me over the years, originally read in 2009, re-read in 2024.
Favorite Passages:
It's the thinking that we don't try to do but that our magical brains do anyway that distinguishes the human animal from the machines we build. We can teach our machines to solve problems and even to ponder the value of various innovative solutions, but we haven't yet figured out how to teach the machines to recognize novel problems that will ultimately require us to use other machines to help us find solutions. For now, at least, that's still the stuff of humanity.
_______
The fog bank hovering a quarter mile from shore over the Pacific and the lush green hills of Santa Barbara spreading out below seemed to start abruptly form nothing and nowhere, as if the huge sleek table at which we were sitting was floating in an infinity pool and all of us in the room were just treading water on the edge of possibility. It was an organic space of light and air and water, a room for beginnings.
_______
My parents had taught me that if I ran into something in life that I couldn't do, I should always do something I could.
_______
The financial arrangements he proceeded to describe sounded odd, but then the whole damn business model was hovering somewhere north of peculiar.
_______
My favorite was the 225K I "donated" to the ever so ironically named Youth in Asia Foundation.
It was in Singapore.
Yeah, and I was on the moon.
_______
I wasn't convinced. Part of me - the part of the iceberg below the surface, the cynical part, the skeptical part, the biggest part - was convinced that he'd come to the Rocky Mountain West on some quest that was nothing more than a psychologically twisted version of tourism, eager to see, finally, his personal family-tree version of Pike's Peak or Mesa Verde or the Royal Gorge, or whatever real-life natural attraction I represented in his curious mind. I was guessing that his visit would last just long enough to take a few snapshots - digital or figurative - than then he'd head back to wherever it was that he lived.
_______
I was as a strange intersection in my life. I had a daughter starting kindergarten and a son searching to find the right college.
_______
Because even if it wasn't honest, it was true.
_______
Some things never change.
And some things change so fast I can't keep my eyes in focus.
_______
Known locally as the Eisenhower Tunnel, the twin bores through the Continental Divide are officially named the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels. The original Eisenhower bore now carries only westbound traffic. The newer, two-lane eastbound passage that Lizzie and I were about to enter as the Edwin C. Johnson Bore, named after a state politician who'd long advocated mountain highways and ambitious tunnels, including this one.
Edwin C. had gotten his wish; the tunnel bearing his name is ambitious, and long. It shoots just shy of two miles through the hard granite wall that divides the North American continent down its geographical center.
An intelligent thriller set primarily in Colorful Colorado. Although part of the Alan Gregory Series, Kill Me can be read as a stand-alone novel, as in the case of other side stories: Higher Authority and The Siege.
It's been a while since I've read Stephen White. Re-reading Kill Me makes me interested in revisiting this author's work. This story stayed with me over the years, originally read in 2009, re-read in 2024.
Favorite Passages:
It's the thinking that we don't try to do but that our magical brains do anyway that distinguishes the human animal from the machines we build. We can teach our machines to solve problems and even to ponder the value of various innovative solutions, but we haven't yet figured out how to teach the machines to recognize novel problems that will ultimately require us to use other machines to help us find solutions. For now, at least, that's still the stuff of humanity.
_______
The fog bank hovering a quarter mile from shore over the Pacific and the lush green hills of Santa Barbara spreading out below seemed to start abruptly form nothing and nowhere, as if the huge sleek table at which we were sitting was floating in an infinity pool and all of us in the room were just treading water on the edge of possibility. It was an organic space of light and air and water, a room for beginnings.
_______
My parents had taught me that if I ran into something in life that I couldn't do, I should always do something I could.
_______
The financial arrangements he proceeded to describe sounded odd, but then the whole damn business model was hovering somewhere north of peculiar.
_______
My favorite was the 225K I "donated" to the ever so ironically named Youth in Asia Foundation.
It was in Singapore.
Yeah, and I was on the moon.
_______
I wasn't convinced. Part of me - the part of the iceberg below the surface, the cynical part, the skeptical part, the biggest part - was convinced that he'd come to the Rocky Mountain West on some quest that was nothing more than a psychologically twisted version of tourism, eager to see, finally, his personal family-tree version of Pike's Peak or Mesa Verde or the Royal Gorge, or whatever real-life natural attraction I represented in his curious mind. I was guessing that his visit would last just long enough to take a few snapshots - digital or figurative - than then he'd head back to wherever it was that he lived.
_______
I was as a strange intersection in my life. I had a daughter starting kindergarten and a son searching to find the right college.
_______
Because even if it wasn't honest, it was true.
_______
Some things never change.
And some things change so fast I can't keep my eyes in focus.
_______
Known locally as the Eisenhower Tunnel, the twin bores through the Continental Divide are officially named the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels. The original Eisenhower bore now carries only westbound traffic. The newer, two-lane eastbound passage that Lizzie and I were about to enter as the Edwin C. Johnson Bore, named after a state politician who'd long advocated mountain highways and ambitious tunnels, including this one.
Edwin C. had gotten his wish; the tunnel bearing his name is ambitious, and long. It shoots just shy of two miles through the hard granite wall that divides the North American continent down its geographical center.
March 27, 2015
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 show for it. Just moments before, they had learned of another friend who was on a different adventure, diving in the Caribbean, who had an accident of his own. Unfortunately, the outcome wasn't as good for Antonio; he ended up in a persistent vegetative state.
So when our anonymous narrator, a wealthy businessman with everything to live for is presented with an option where he can end his life if he were ever to end up incapacitated, he knows exactly what he has to do. For him there is no choice other than to sign up for ending his life if he is unable to live it to its fullest. The "Death Angels" are in place to take care of the details; however, once the choice is made, it is irrevocable. The Death Angels create the appearance of an accidental death. The victim does not know when the end is coming, or how the end is coming. However, the client does define the conditions under which they wish to continue to live or to die.
And of course, he quickly finds himself facing the situation which he thought he was prepared for. His main hesitation about having the contract fulfilled is that he has not made amends with his estranged son, Adam. And thus, he tries to sort things out by working with psychologist Alan Gregory. At the same time, he is trying to outwit the Death Angels so that they do not eliminate him before he is ready to go.
White took a big chance in narrating the book from the point of view of the patient. I've always liked the character of Alan Gregory, so I thought it was unfortunate that we only saw him very momentarily and through the eyes of the other character. However, the switch in narrator did result in seeing Gregory from a new perspective, which built out his character in a different way than in previous books. The narrator is rather arrogant and not particularly likeable; being a control freak, it was hard to believe that he would put his life in the hands of strangers.
The central concept was an interesting one. What would you do if you were presented with the choices that the lead character faced? Would you prefer to end your life rather than to live in a diminished capacity? And if so, would you feel that way when the actual deed is about to be done? Although some of what happens in KILL ME is predictable, White does a great job with building suspense around the narrator attempting to outwit the Death Angels in a series of fast-paced scenes. The conclusion is somewhat contrived, but it's a fitting end for the book.
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 show for it. Just moments before, they had learned of another friend who was on a different adventure, diving in the Caribbean, who had an accident of his own. Unfortunately, the outcome wasn't as good for Antonio; he ended up in a persistent vegetative state.
So when our anonymous narrator, a wealthy businessman with everything to live for is presented with an option where he can end his life if he were ever to end up incapacitated, he knows exactly what he has to do. For him there is no choice other than to sign up for ending his life if he is unable to live it to its fullest. The "Death Angels" are in place to take care of the details; however, once the choice is made, it is irrevocable. The Death Angels create the appearance of an accidental death. The victim does not know when the end is coming, or how the end is coming. However, the client does define the conditions under which they wish to continue to live or to die.
And of course, he quickly finds himself facing the situation which he thought he was prepared for. His main hesitation about having the contract fulfilled is that he has not made amends with his estranged son, Adam. And thus, he tries to sort things out by working with psychologist Alan Gregory. At the same time, he is trying to outwit the Death Angels so that they do not eliminate him before he is ready to go.
White took a big chance in narrating the book from the point of view of the patient. I've always liked the character of Alan Gregory, so I thought it was unfortunate that we only saw him very momentarily and through the eyes of the other character. However, the switch in narrator did result in seeing Gregory from a new perspective, which built out his character in a different way than in previous books. The narrator is rather arrogant and not particularly likeable; being a control freak, it was hard to believe that he would put his life in the hands of strangers.
The central concept was an interesting one. What would you do if you were presented with the choices that the lead character faced? Would you prefer to end your life rather than to live in a diminished capacity? And if so, would you feel that way when the actual deed is about to be done? Although some of what happens in KILL ME is predictable, White does a great job with building suspense around the narrator attempting to outwit the Death Angels in a series of fast-paced scenes. The conclusion is somewhat contrived, but it's a fitting end for the book.
September 22, 2007
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.
July 5, 2016
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.
October 15, 2011
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!
November 16, 2018
A good editor would have finished this story in 50 pages. This book is nothing more than constant rambling of things that had nothing to do with the story. It's a shame because the concept itself is good. I kept skipping pages just to check when will the bloody story actually start. And the good news is, it does, after 250 pages.
March 28, 2011
Note to self: Never ever contract for a hit on yourself.
March 25, 2025
Stars: 1.5
I really hated almost everything about this book. The general idea of the plot is the best part of the book, and it could've turned out decent.
I really hated the writing style of this one where the narrator is essentially talking directly to the reader. I have unwittingly stumbled across a handful of books written in this manner over the past month or so, and I hate it every time. The authors always get snarky and think they are being clever and witty, and I always disagree with their assessment. This is also a major problem when White decided to make the protagonist an insufferable idiot. He should be a genius because he is fabulously wealthy after inventing some form of medical technology, but he acts like a moron at every turn. The protagonist is also a total jerk. He has this cocky arrogant persona that I imagine is supposed to be like Tony Stark. The problem though is Tony Stark is charming. His obvious arrogance can be forgiven because of this. He is basically a loveable jerk. Our protagonist in this book isn't lovable at all. He's just a jerk. He's stupid and constantly rude to people. This doesn't make it enjoyable to read about him.
Basically, none of the three main characters are remotely likeable.
The Death Angel organization is okay in theory but laughable in execution.
A huge portion of this book is the protagonist asking someone, "Why?" and they say, "I can't tell you." and he says, "But why?" and they say, "I can't tell you anything." And then three seconds later he says, "Why?" And they say, "I can't tell you." And this goes on and on for the entire freakin book.
The premise of the story was decent but poorly executed. The bad guys were silly. The protagonists were stupid and insufferable. The writing was repetitive and probably 1/3 of the book is the protagonist asking "Why?" and being told again, "I can't tell you."
I really hated almost everything about this book. The general idea of the plot is the best part of the book, and it could've turned out decent.
I really hated the writing style of this one where the narrator is essentially talking directly to the reader. I have unwittingly stumbled across a handful of books written in this manner over the past month or so, and I hate it every time. The authors always get snarky and think they are being clever and witty, and I always disagree with their assessment. This is also a major problem when White decided to make the protagonist an insufferable idiot. He should be a genius because he is fabulously wealthy after inventing some form of medical technology, but he acts like a moron at every turn. The protagonist is also a total jerk. He has this cocky arrogant persona that I imagine is supposed to be like Tony Stark. The problem though is Tony Stark is charming. His obvious arrogance can be forgiven because of this. He is basically a loveable jerk. Our protagonist in this book isn't lovable at all. He's just a jerk. He's stupid and constantly rude to people. This doesn't make it enjoyable to read about him.
Basically, none of the three main characters are remotely likeable.
The Death Angel organization is okay in theory but laughable in execution.
A huge portion of this book is the protagonist asking someone, "Why?" and they say, "I can't tell you." and he says, "But why?" and they say, "I can't tell you anything." And then three seconds later he says, "Why?" And they say, "I can't tell you." And this goes on and on for the entire freakin book.
The premise of the story was decent but poorly executed. The bad guys were silly. The protagonists were stupid and insufferable. The writing was repetitive and probably 1/3 of the book is the protagonist asking "Why?" and being told again, "I can't tell you."
August 3, 2020
A complete departure from the usual Alan Gregory story. This is a totally engrossing tale from the point of view of Alan's patient, followed by a brief section from Alan's perspective. Terrific.
December 21, 2019
Yes! I had this as an audio book and would catch myself sitting in the car a few extra minutes when I would arrive at destinations. Definitely recommend.
August 24, 2021
dnfed at 90%
October 13, 2015
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 under whatever circumstances the client sets out.
He signs up. Later, he finds out he has an incurable brain aneurysm that could kill him at any time. The parameters he agreed to are now in effect but he wants more time to reconcile with a son he never knew he had and let his family know how much he cares for them. He discovers that not being able to pursue a high-risk life of adventure isn't nearly as important as having closure with those he loves.
With the help of an employee of the group that is trying to kill him, he manages to say good-bye to his family and find his son. The ending is not totally surprising but is totally satisfying.
Dr. Gregory plays a minor role here as the protagonist's therapist and the narrator of an epilogue that pretty much ties everything together.
White took a risk here, telling the entire story in the first person of Gregory's patient and then at the end switching to Gregory's first person narrative. The idea that there is an organization that would kill those who wanted to avoid a lingering or painful death may seem a little far-fetched also. Both worked very well, though at the beginning I resisted, wanting the familiar, but later appreciating the author's inventiveness.
If you've never read any of White's Dr. Gregory series, you could easily start here since no prior knowledge is necessary. This is a suspenseful, well written, seductive story of change and the importance of relationships in life and with approaching death.
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 under whatever circumstances the client sets out.
He signs up. Later, he finds out he has an incurable brain aneurysm that could kill him at any time. The parameters he agreed to are now in effect but he wants more time to reconcile with a son he never knew he had and let his family know how much he cares for them. He discovers that not being able to pursue a high-risk life of adventure isn't nearly as important as having closure with those he loves.
With the help of an employee of the group that is trying to kill him, he manages to say good-bye to his family and find his son. The ending is not totally surprising but is totally satisfying.
Dr. Gregory plays a minor role here as the protagonist's therapist and the narrator of an epilogue that pretty much ties everything together.
White took a risk here, telling the entire story in the first person of Gregory's patient and then at the end switching to Gregory's first person narrative. The idea that there is an organization that would kill those who wanted to avoid a lingering or painful death may seem a little far-fetched also. Both worked very well, though at the beginning I resisted, wanting the familiar, but later appreciating the author's inventiveness.
If you've never read any of White's Dr. Gregory series, you could easily start here since no prior knowledge is necessary. This is a suspenseful, well written, seductive story of change and the importance of relationships in life and with approaching death.
September 9, 2010
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 perameters for what quality of life he wants & when those are exceeded, the company steps in & kills them. Because of the life he lives, this man cannot tolerate the thought of being incapacitated in any way, thinking that, if he can't enjoy his extremem lifestyle, it can't be much of a "life". During all of this process, life continues. He discovers he has a teenage son from his womanizing past & takes a great interest in this son, his wife gives him a 2nd daughter, & he develops a brain aneurism. He quickly reaches his low threshold where the company needs to step in only to discover he was wrong all along. He didn't need extremes to live life, he just needed the people he loved. He tries to evade the company while running to find his tenage son & reconcile. I really found myself thinking alot about life vs. Life & living when I was finished reading. Both poignant & entertaining.
November 8, 2011
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's main character spends most of his money on jet fuel and adventure vacations.
Another problem is the main character's disconnect from his family. Sure, he talks about them a lot, and with nothing but honor and love. He is even faithful to his wife despite temptation. But still, there is no real relationship there. They are just people in the guy's life, people in the narrative, like the paper boy or the guy who spends his Sundays sitting in the local box store people-watching in anyone else's story. His family - with the exception of the Prodigal Son - are made of paper and nothing more.
And still, there were jaw-dropping, breath-catching moments. Predictable, yes. But jaw-dropping nonetheless. I caught my breath for a full 60 seconds when I figured out the book's big reveal about 50 pages before it happened.
Worth reading once, but not worth the second look.
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's main character spends most of his money on jet fuel and adventure vacations.
Another problem is the main character's disconnect from his family. Sure, he talks about them a lot, and with nothing but honor and love. He is even faithful to his wife despite temptation. But still, there is no real relationship there. They are just people in the guy's life, people in the narrative, like the paper boy or the guy who spends his Sundays sitting in the local box store people-watching in anyone else's story. His family - with the exception of the Prodigal Son - are made of paper and nothing more.
And still, there were jaw-dropping, breath-catching moments. Predictable, yes. But jaw-dropping nonetheless. I caught my breath for a full 60 seconds when I figured out the book's big reveal about 50 pages before it happened.
Worth reading once, but not worth the second look.
July 27, 2011
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 strange patients, and Gregory himself becomes a minor character for a change. That was true of this book, and I enjoyed the outragious story a lot.
I enjoyed THE PROGRAM for the same reason.
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 strange patients, and Gregory himself becomes a minor character for a change. That was true of this book, and I enjoyed the outragious story a lot.
I enjoyed THE PROGRAM for the same reason.
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