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Alan Gregory #3
Higher Authority (Alan Gregory Series) by White, Stephen (2010) Audio CD
The sudden death of Utah's Senator Orrin Hatch propels his successor, Lester Horner, first into Hatch's Senate seat and then on to become the first Mormon associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Carried along with Horner is Blythe Oaks, an ambitious and intelligent woman who is also Horner's favorite law clerk and fellow Mormon. But Blythe's reputation - and, by extension, Lester Horner's - is threatened when a female former employee accuses her of sexual harassment and career sabotage.
In Higher Authority White shifts his focus from Dr. Alan Gregory, the hero of Privileged Information and the national bestseller Private Practices, to Alan's fiance, Lauren Crowder. The pool-shooting deputy D.A.'s life is already complicated enough as she picks her way through her relationship with Alan at the same time she is fighting her quiet and dignified battle with multiple sclerosis. But since Blythe's accuser happens to be Lauren's kid sister, aspiring stand-up comic Teresa Crowder, Lauren plunges into the case. And she gets immediate help from an old law school buddy, Robin Torr, whose practice is in Salt Lake City.
When, suddenly, Blythe Oaks is savagely murdered in Washington D.C., the lengths to which someone will go to protect secrets that might prove embarrassing to higher authorities in the church are starkly revealed. And as Crowder and Torr probe more and more deeply into these secrets, with timely help from Alan Gregory and his old friend Detective Sam Purdy of the Boulder, Colorado police, White's tough but determined women find the body count growing and themselves placed in jeopardy by a remorseless killer.
In Higher Authority White shifts his focus from Dr. Alan Gregory, the hero of Privileged Information and the national bestseller Private Practices, to Alan's fiance, Lauren Crowder. The pool-shooting deputy D.A.'s life is already complicated enough as she picks her way through her relationship with Alan at the same time she is fighting her quiet and dignified battle with multiple sclerosis. But since Blythe's accuser happens to be Lauren's kid sister, aspiring stand-up comic Teresa Crowder, Lauren plunges into the case. And she gets immediate help from an old law school buddy, Robin Torr, whose practice is in Salt Lake City.
When, suddenly, Blythe Oaks is savagely murdered in Washington D.C., the lengths to which someone will go to protect secrets that might prove embarrassing to higher authorities in the church are starkly revealed. And as Crowder and Torr probe more and more deeply into these secrets, with timely help from Alan Gregory and his old friend Detective Sam Purdy of the Boulder, Colorado police, White's tough but determined women find the body count growing and themselves placed in jeopardy by a remorseless killer.
Audio CD
First published November 16, 1994
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About the author
Stephen White
299 books570 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 133 reviews
February 19, 2012
A good little murder mystery set in Salt lake City. Sums up the Utah Mormon experience fairly well. Wish there were more books out there like this. I am not an active Mormon now. But I live in Utah. I was raised Mormon. Went on a two year Mormon mission. And even graduated from Mormon owned BYU. So when I say this novel gets it's Mormon history and Mormon culture right, I am speaking from a vast well of experience. Any reviewer on Goodreads who claims the book has it's facts wrong or disagrees it's premiss is just an angry butt-hurt Mormon who doesn't like anyone pointing out the truths and or faults of his/her church.
June 4, 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 a quick pace in this third novel, in which Dr. Alan Gregory takes a back seat and ADA Lauren Crowder is in the spotlight. Lauren is in Utah to support her sister, Teresa, who feels she has been sexually harassed by a member of the LDS Church with some clout. Soon, the accused is murdered and those who are pushing the investigation are targeted. Lauren knows that she will have to ensure the Church leaders cease their retaliation before Teresa is also a victim to their silence treatment. A great story that has White spin things for series fans.
Lauren Crowder has been in NYC for her MS treatments, but travels to Utah when her younger sister, Teresa, calls for help after she was apparently sexually harassed by a prominent Mormon. The accused, Blythe Oakes, has since left for Washington to clerk for the newest Justice of the US Supreme Court, a one-time Church elder. That Blythe is a prominent member of the Mormon Church is not disputed, but her apparent harassment and being a lesbian is something the Church wants silenced immediately. Lauren arrives to do what she can, liaising with Teresa’s attorney.
When news comes that Blythe Oaks has been murdered in DC, it reverberates all the way back to Salt Lake City. Lauren wonders if this is an attempt by the Church to silence any talk of the bad press. When the investigator working for Teresa’s attorney is following up a lead in rural Utah, he’s shot and dies. This has Lauren concerned and Teresa, working as a fledging stand-up comedian, leaves town to protect herself. Laurent reaches out to Dr. Alan Gregory, her fiancé, and Detective Sam Purdy, hoping they can run some covert investigation into the latest murder.
Diving deep into this he LDS Church and the scattered information Lauren has been able to uncover, Alan and Sam work things during a brief bike trip to rural Utah, but focus much of their work in Boulder and away from the ongoing chaos in Salt Lake City. Someone is trying to keep the assault quiet before anything can happen to sully the Church or its leadership. Lauren knows she is in over her head, but blood is thicker than most anything else and she’s not ready to turn away from Teresa, as Alan worries even more. A great story that takes series fans on an alternate journey, while still showing how great Stephen White’s writing can be.
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 (and Lauren Crowder) 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 early novel.
White creates a narrative approach that can be clear and yet meandering, which appears to include when Lauren Crowder is in the protagonist’s seat. The reader learns more about Lauren, from her personal life through to the determination she has as an investigative powerhouse, something that has not been revealed in the past two novels. Wile the story clips along, White offers readers a thorough and revealing look into the Mormon Church, from its publicly known aspects to some of the warts and wrinkle many would prefer the general public not know. White pulls no punches, nor should he, with this book and keeps the reader enveloped in a chilling story from the outset. While some might call this a smear, I prefer to see it as a stunning piece of fiction that looks to heighten the thrills at every turn. Strong characters and a wonderful Lauren perspective keep the reader eager to see where things are headed. With some short appearances by Dr. Alan Gregory and Detective Sam Purdy, their banter stays sharp throughout.
Plot points and an exploration of the LDS Church keep the reader wondering and on edge until the final page. Once more, White is effective in his delivery and spins surprises for all to enjoy. The twists and threatening storylines provide something for everyone, leaving things darker than the previous two novel combined. There is much to synthesise but White does not slow things down at any point, forcing the reader to pay close attention or be lost in the story. It has been a number of years since I started this series for the first time, so much is a surprise for me, which I do not mind at all. I am eager to see how Dr. Gregory and Sam will flavour the next piece in the series, with Lauren back in Boulder.
Kudos Mr. White, delivers a great piece that explores another perspective in this series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Lauren Crowder has been in NYC for her MS treatments, but travels to Utah when her younger sister, Teresa, calls for help after she was apparently sexually harassed by a prominent Mormon. The accused, Blythe Oakes, has since left for Washington to clerk for the newest Justice of the US Supreme Court, a one-time Church elder. That Blythe is a prominent member of the Mormon Church is not disputed, but her apparent harassment and being a lesbian is something the Church wants silenced immediately. Lauren arrives to do what she can, liaising with Teresa’s attorney.
When news comes that Blythe Oaks has been murdered in DC, it reverberates all the way back to Salt Lake City. Lauren wonders if this is an attempt by the Church to silence any talk of the bad press. When the investigator working for Teresa’s attorney is following up a lead in rural Utah, he’s shot and dies. This has Lauren concerned and Teresa, working as a fledging stand-up comedian, leaves town to protect herself. Laurent reaches out to Dr. Alan Gregory, her fiancé, and Detective Sam Purdy, hoping they can run some covert investigation into the latest murder.
Diving deep into this he LDS Church and the scattered information Lauren has been able to uncover, Alan and Sam work things during a brief bike trip to rural Utah, but focus much of their work in Boulder and away from the ongoing chaos in Salt Lake City. Someone is trying to keep the assault quiet before anything can happen to sully the Church or its leadership. Lauren knows she is in over her head, but blood is thicker than most anything else and she’s not ready to turn away from Teresa, as Alan worries even more. A great story that takes series fans on an alternate journey, while still showing how great Stephen White’s writing can be.
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 (and Lauren Crowder) 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 early novel.
White creates a narrative approach that can be clear and yet meandering, which appears to include when Lauren Crowder is in the protagonist’s seat. The reader learns more about Lauren, from her personal life through to the determination she has as an investigative powerhouse, something that has not been revealed in the past two novels. Wile the story clips along, White offers readers a thorough and revealing look into the Mormon Church, from its publicly known aspects to some of the warts and wrinkle many would prefer the general public not know. White pulls no punches, nor should he, with this book and keeps the reader enveloped in a chilling story from the outset. While some might call this a smear, I prefer to see it as a stunning piece of fiction that looks to heighten the thrills at every turn. Strong characters and a wonderful Lauren perspective keep the reader eager to see where things are headed. With some short appearances by Dr. Alan Gregory and Detective Sam Purdy, their banter stays sharp throughout.
Plot points and an exploration of the LDS Church keep the reader wondering and on edge until the final page. Once more, White is effective in his delivery and spins surprises for all to enjoy. The twists and threatening storylines provide something for everyone, leaving things darker than the previous two novel combined. There is much to synthesise but White does not slow things down at any point, forcing the reader to pay close attention or be lost in the story. It has been a number of years since I started this series for the first time, so much is a surprise for me, which I do not mind at all. I am eager to see how Dr. Gregory and Sam will flavour the next piece in the series, with Lauren back in Boulder.
Kudos Mr. White, delivers a great piece that explores another perspective in this series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 18, 2018
Third book in the Dr. Alan Gregory series. Originally published in 1996, the protagonist in this novel is ADA Lauren Crowder. Gregory takes a back seat as Lauren travels to Utah because her little sister Teresa had apparently been sexually harassed. Worse is that the harassment was by a prominent Mormon who's also a Supreme Court clerk. Blythe Oakes who may or may not be a lesbian and definitely a prominent Mormon who's held in high regard by the Mormon church. If Oaks is a lesbian the church could never let this information public. Teresa Crowder is a fledgling stand up comic and a little vague on previous intimate relationships. In a book that goes deep into Mormon traditions author Stephen White spins an intense tale that's dark but also a heart palpitating suspenseful thriller. With bodies piling up and Lauren in constant danger Alan has his hands tied through most of the story. At just over 400 pages, I had a very difficult time putting this tale down. The many supporting characters are very well developed and add a rich element to the plot. The analization of the Mormon church throughout at times is a truly scary window into the Mormon way of life. Lauren makes a very strong protagonist in this book so I hope she also gets another opportunity in future books. Although originating in 1996 this book holds up very well. I especially like the dynamic between Alan and Boulder homicide detective Sam Purdy. Five stars out of a possible five stars. I really enjoyed this third book in the series. Check this series out. Soon !
April 24, 2010
3 1/2 stars. I had to laugh at the beginning sentence of the novel, “Blythe Oaks ran almost every morning.” I'm afraid “Blythe Oaks” immediately made me think of a retirement village, and I had trouble shaking that image. Once I got over that, this was an enjoyable mystery. It is only the second “Alan Gregory” mystery I've read, and I was surprised that it was more about Alan's girlfriend, Lauren, than it was about Alan.
Lauren's sister, Teresa, wants to pursue a sexual harassment suit against a woman who works for a Supreme Court Justice, and before long, it looks like murder might somehow be connected to the lawsuit. Teresa isn't as good at following through as her sister is, and she keeps disappearing when things get tough, leaving Lauren and an old acquaintance, now an attorney in Utah, to look into the case.
It was fascinating to me to read about some of the beliefs and practices of the Mormon Church, and I loved the setting – Utah, New Mexico, mountain biking in Moab and the gorgeous areas around Telluride and Ouray. Of course, there was blood and gore and gruesome nasties happening, but not bad enough to be off-putting for someone who likes to read mysteries. Both the storyline and the character development were good, and I will read more of Stephen White's novels.
Lauren's sister, Teresa, wants to pursue a sexual harassment suit against a woman who works for a Supreme Court Justice, and before long, it looks like murder might somehow be connected to the lawsuit. Teresa isn't as good at following through as her sister is, and she keeps disappearing when things get tough, leaving Lauren and an old acquaintance, now an attorney in Utah, to look into the case.
It was fascinating to me to read about some of the beliefs and practices of the Mormon Church, and I loved the setting – Utah, New Mexico, mountain biking in Moab and the gorgeous areas around Telluride and Ouray. Of course, there was blood and gore and gruesome nasties happening, but not bad enough to be off-putting for someone who likes to read mysteries. Both the storyline and the character development were good, and I will read more of Stephen White's novels.
December 5, 2008
This was an interesting book. It was well researched and a decent insight into 'Mormon Culture' in Utah. It is definitely a work of fiction, and maybe I'm a little too close for comfort. I do believe that corruption and fanaticism occur in the LDS Church, but I think this was a little over-the-top. I guess that's what makes good fiction--enough fact to be believable, and the right amount of drama to make you wonder if it's true.
April 8, 2010
This is one of my favorites in the Alan Gregory series by Stephen White. In this book Alan and his friend Sam Purdy are less in the spot light, with Alan's fiance Lauren being more the major character. Lauren's siter Teresa is a stand-up comedian, and performing in Salt Lake City, and becomes embroiled in a law suite of sexual harrassment again the female clerk of a supreme court judge ( who is the first Mormon to hold a position on the high court). As Lauren begins a lengthy stay in Salt Lake to help her sister's attorney with this law suite, people associated with the case begin dying. There are many "lessons" given to Lauren about the LDS church by various characters in the book, and from other resources it appears that the author was fairly accurate in his depcion of Mormonism. This made the story more interesting to me.
April 30, 2016
Stephen White can always be counted on to turn out a thrilling story with interesting characters and plots twists. In "Higher Authority", he does an expose on the Mormon religion, much in the way that Dan Brown took on the Catholic Church in "The DaVinci Code". But he's careful to make the bad guy an extremist, someone who takes early Mormon teachings a little too literally. This is less a legal thriller than most White novels, as the storyline never actually reaches a court room. But it's a vivid portrayal of the lengths a zealot will go to do what he believes is in his church's best interests. It's also a reminder that most wars and terrorist attacks are carried out in the name of religion, usually an extreme version. I liked this book very much, as it brought out more of the back story of Lauren and Alan and opened my eyes to the power of the Mormon Church.
September 15, 2008
Mystery mixed with the beliefs & deepest secrets of the Morman church,(you think the Catholic church is messed up, you'll be on your knees thanking God you weren't born a Mormon!!!) This started me reading White's,"Allen Gregory" series.
January 25, 2018
This book was not as good as Stephen White’s previous books. It was still suspenseful - however it seemed like it was written in a hurry, without the great care that shone in his previous books
October 28, 2010
Ultimately disappointing, this attempt to feature Lauren Crowder, Alan Gregory's fiancee, often falls flat. Most of the energy in the story comes from Sam Purdy, Gregory's detective friend. The explanation of how the Mormon Church works in Utah was obviously well researched and very interesting and believable.
In this book, Teresa Crowder, Lauren's sister wishes to bring a sexual harassment suit against a well-known member of the Church, Blythe Oakes, and she wants to do it in Salt Lake City. Robin Torr, a classmate of Lauren's, agrees to pursue the suit even though she knows it is an uphill battle. The plot thickens, so to speak, when Mrs. Oakes, Pratt Toomey, a private investigator, and Rachel Baumann, a potential witness are all murdered in similar fashion.
There are numerous sub-plots, Lauren's M.S., Robin's relationship with her husband, Lauren's attraction to a recovering alcoholic, Teresa's penchant for running away, the appointment of a Mormon to the U.S. Supreme Court and others. I think there are too many sub-plots and they drain energy from the main story.
I also think White does an admirable job with the minor characters, some of whom, remind me of people I've run into in the inter-mountain West.
The book started very slowly but did pick up after about 100 pages or so. The ending, while exciting, is hard to accept but it does tie up a number of loose ends.
In this book, Teresa Crowder, Lauren's sister wishes to bring a sexual harassment suit against a well-known member of the Church, Blythe Oakes, and she wants to do it in Salt Lake City. Robin Torr, a classmate of Lauren's, agrees to pursue the suit even though she knows it is an uphill battle. The plot thickens, so to speak, when Mrs. Oakes, Pratt Toomey, a private investigator, and Rachel Baumann, a potential witness are all murdered in similar fashion.
There are numerous sub-plots, Lauren's M.S., Robin's relationship with her husband, Lauren's attraction to a recovering alcoholic, Teresa's penchant for running away, the appointment of a Mormon to the U.S. Supreme Court and others. I think there are too many sub-plots and they drain energy from the main story.
I also think White does an admirable job with the minor characters, some of whom, remind me of people I've run into in the inter-mountain West.
The book started very slowly but did pick up after about 100 pages or so. The ending, while exciting, is hard to accept but it does tie up a number of loose ends.
December 24, 2008
I thought I'd read all of this author's books, so I was happy to discover this older one I had missed.
This is one of Stephen White's better mysteries in the Alan Gregory series. It is not at all necessary to have read any of the others in the series to enjoy this one. It stands alone very well.
This was a little more interesting and exciting than some of the others because it involves several locales: Utah, Washington D.C., Colorado, New Mexico. Also because it deals with the teachings of the mainstream Mormon Church and the way they suppress information that places their church in a bad light.
Moral of the story: Don't piss off the Mormon Church! I'm surprised they didn't send the Danites after Stephen White for writing this novel. ;-)
Of course he had to cover his butt with the prudent caveats on the opening page. He's done his homework, though, and his portrayal of the church is spot on. I went to college in Utah, so I have personal knowledge, and he's not making any of it up.
Overall, an exciting and engaging read.
This is one of Stephen White's better mysteries in the Alan Gregory series. It is not at all necessary to have read any of the others in the series to enjoy this one. It stands alone very well.
This was a little more interesting and exciting than some of the others because it involves several locales: Utah, Washington D.C., Colorado, New Mexico. Also because it deals with the teachings of the mainstream Mormon Church and the way they suppress information that places their church in a bad light.
Moral of the story: Don't piss off the Mormon Church! I'm surprised they didn't send the Danites after Stephen White for writing this novel. ;-)
Of course he had to cover his butt with the prudent caveats on the opening page. He's done his homework, though, and his portrayal of the church is spot on. I went to college in Utah, so I have personal knowledge, and he's not making any of it up.
Overall, an exciting and engaging read.
March 26, 2013
Alan Gregory was a late comer to this book. Lauren, his fiancee, goes to Utah to help her sister lodge a complaint about a woman for sexual harassment. This book gave a lot of insight into the Mormon lifestyle, almost too much. But the story, as I have come to expect from this author, has twists and turns that make it enjoyable and challenging.
I am enjoying the development of these characters. Very enjoyable aspect of these books, with often a murder mystery to help the story along. I am enjoying the fact there are a lot of books in this series for me to enjoy.
Roll on to the next one - Harm's Way.
I am enjoying the development of these characters. Very enjoyable aspect of these books, with often a murder mystery to help the story along. I am enjoying the fact there are a lot of books in this series for me to enjoy.
Roll on to the next one - Harm's Way.
April 6, 2010
This Alan Gregory book dragged on a little too long for me, too much of Lauren Crowder and not enough action with Alan Gregory and Sam Purdy. Some things were a little farfetched to believe. Lauren's sister as a stand up comedian?????? The Mormon Church plays a big role in this mystery. Is all that Stephen White writes about the church made up to tell a suspenseful tale? Or does he reveal some ugly truths about the practices that go on behind closed doors? Only those with a "higher authority" than me will know for sure.
March 7, 2008
Very interesting....this Stephen White (Dr. Alan Gregory) book takes place in Utah as opposed to Boulder, where the majority of the series is set. A unique and fascinating look into Mormonism and the LDS. Throw in another mystery/scandal and you've got a good read.
October 21, 2010
so far this is my favorite of the series. I loved the information about the Mormon culture, and enjoied the perspective of Lauren. Good mystery, though a bit to easy to solve, would have liked a bit more twists and turns and also would have liked more of the Harley story.
March 3, 2008
Mormon mystery. Very scary people.
December 30, 2020
I finished reading Higher Authority by Stephen White. It was like he had written two books about Boulder, Colorado, and the clinical therapist’s impact on life (things he was very familiar with) and felt like he needed something different so he cast around for another setting for this third book. He settled on Utah, the state right next door with its predominate Mormon faith that was in the headlines a lot right then—controversy swirling around the church concerning the Hoffman forgeries, claims of suppression of academic freedom, women’s issues, fundamentalist extremist groups, and so on. Unfortunately, White doesn’t know that much about the Mormon faith, which was easy enough for me as a lifelong member to see. I was jarred by errors and misinterpretations; however, it was interesting to look at my own faith through the eyes of someone outside the faith. I think White made an effort to research the LDS religion, as is noted in his sources at the back of the book, but the majority of them are, again, not written by LDS Church members. The plot and motivation for the murder in the book would not be possible without the Mormon setting and culture (except that it was skewed and seen through the eyes of the “gentiles”). I suppose Catholics reading Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons would have the same level of incredulity about how their religion was portrayed that I had reading this book about mine.
May 22, 2019
About 3 chapters into reading, I decided to check out the reviews. Eh. But I decided to forge on. I learned a lot of trivia about the Mormon religion. Oh wait! This was supposed to be, as it says on the cover "A Dazzling Thriller". I am still waiting. There was only one person I liked. And I really did not like the lawyer character "Lauren". Maybe I am jaded by watching so many lawyer shows but I just could not believe that this prosecutor would not give important info about her sister who was bringing charges against a Mormon women and did not think it important to the case to tell her friend that she asked to help in bringing this case forward. Made no sense. AND, I don't care that her sister, who is bringing this case, used to go off when she was young. Hello, she was now 25, asking her lawyer sister to advocate for her and just head off to a comic gig she got. NO sense of responsibility? WHICH is another thing that is weird. It is like the author tried to cram as much weirdness into this novel as possible. And let's not forget the MS. Am I making sense? No? Good, then you know how I feel about this book.
From the reviews, I gather Mr. White's other books are much better. I have other books I want to read first. On to Robert Crais.
From the reviews, I gather Mr. White's other books are much better. I have other books I want to read first. On to Robert Crais.
March 15, 2019
I recently moved into an apartment building in Denver, CO, that has, among other great features, a small library. While stuck inside during Wednesday’s “bomb cyclone” snowstorm, I perused the shelves and found Higher Authority.
One nice thing about a random book collection is finding an author or series I’d forgotten about. I wish I’d gotten my hands on book #2 in the series, but I decided (for once) not to be persnickety about reading this series in order.
Alan Gregory isn’t the main character in this book, rather it is his girlfriend, attorney Lauren Crowder, who is featured. Lauren travels to Salt Lake City to visit an old friend, Robin Torr, to get legal help for her sister, Teresa. Teresa claims she was sexually assaulted by a prominent person and wants to bring a lawsuit against her. Although they realize this case could gather some notoriety, none of them were expecting the danger they found themselves in.
With locations in Denver, Utah and New Mexico, I was familiar with all of the settings, which added to my enjoyment of the book. I’ll have to track down more books in this series.
Highly recommended for readers of mysteries and suspense.
One nice thing about a random book collection is finding an author or series I’d forgotten about. I wish I’d gotten my hands on book #2 in the series, but I decided (for once) not to be persnickety about reading this series in order.
Alan Gregory isn’t the main character in this book, rather it is his girlfriend, attorney Lauren Crowder, who is featured. Lauren travels to Salt Lake City to visit an old friend, Robin Torr, to get legal help for her sister, Teresa. Teresa claims she was sexually assaulted by a prominent person and wants to bring a lawsuit against her. Although they realize this case could gather some notoriety, none of them were expecting the danger they found themselves in.
With locations in Denver, Utah and New Mexico, I was familiar with all of the settings, which added to my enjoyment of the book. I’ll have to track down more books in this series.
Highly recommended for readers of mysteries and suspense.
August 27, 2018
Told from the perspective of what's her face. I literally have read three in this series, and just finished this one a few minutes ago, and seriously can't even remember her name. Mona? Lorna? Lauren (yeah, I cheated and googled it). Right, so what's her face, the complete non-entity love interest goes limping around trying to save her sister after blowing her off for quite a while because sis is a flake, or so what's her face thinks. She really doesn't even seem to like her sister that much, and who would, she's a comedian who never once cracks a joke. What's her sis is interchangeable with what's her lawyer; all of them earnest little do-gooder hot babes who are theoretically highly respected professionals, though I have no idea why.
Great back story, good plot. The most interesting character so far is the cop. I am being kind of harsh here. I actually liked this book. I just don't understand why the female characters are all so dull.
Great back story, good plot. The most interesting character so far is the cop. I am being kind of harsh here. I actually liked this book. I just don't understand why the female characters are all so dull.
October 30, 2018
Zane Grey's 1912 Western classic, Riders of the Purple Sage, was, among other themes, a scathing indictment of the perceived excesses of male dominated Mormon culture. This novel, Higher Authority, ratchets Zane Grey up quite a few notches.
I don't have a clue how this paperback ended up in my hands. It is quaintly dog-eared and aged (copyright 1994), which leads to some quirks that we find strange today. Remember when you could go to the airport, pay cash, and board right on a plane? Or, at the drop of a hat, go straight to Mexico without retrieving your passport from home? I vaguely remember that, in 1994, that was all theoretically possible.
In spite of the author's obvious antipathy to all things Mormon (perhaps a bit unfair), this is a decent crime thriller. Not great, but decent. Could have lost 50 pages, too, without any loss of continuity or impact.
I don't have a clue how this paperback ended up in my hands. It is quaintly dog-eared and aged (copyright 1994), which leads to some quirks that we find strange today. Remember when you could go to the airport, pay cash, and board right on a plane? Or, at the drop of a hat, go straight to Mexico without retrieving your passport from home? I vaguely remember that, in 1994, that was all theoretically possible.
In spite of the author's obvious antipathy to all things Mormon (perhaps a bit unfair), this is a decent crime thriller. Not great, but decent. Could have lost 50 pages, too, without any loss of continuity or impact.
June 4, 2019
This was a great who do-nit - set with the back drop of Utah & the Mormon Church figured prominently. The Bad Guy felt what he was doing "God's Will" - so if this theme turns you off, then you might want to skip this one.
The action and plot was well thought out and kept me turning pages. It was great to revisit the characters from previous books. This was definitely and action/drama/crime first story - so many of the other issues - relationships etc. take a back seat - which is fine with me.
In the end I felt that using the back drop of one of the fastest growing religious movements in this era - made the story timely (although the story was written in the early 2000's) and showed how this one character twisted his beliefs so that what he was doing seemed right in his eyes and made him feel he was following a righteous path.
Looking forward to continuing this series.
The action and plot was well thought out and kept me turning pages. It was great to revisit the characters from previous books. This was definitely and action/drama/crime first story - so many of the other issues - relationships etc. take a back seat - which is fine with me.
In the end I felt that using the back drop of one of the fastest growing religious movements in this era - made the story timely (although the story was written in the early 2000's) and showed how this one character twisted his beliefs so that what he was doing seemed right in his eyes and made him feel he was following a righteous path.
Looking forward to continuing this series.
July 20, 2021
I appreciated how fast and engaging of a read this was.... but that being said, the climax was a bit of a letdown.
Going into this novel as a Coloradoan, I was anticipating wild hidden conspiracies about Mormonism to surface. That being said, I felt like that build-up towards finding out who the culprit was was amazing and kept me excited. I was thoroughly engaged for probably 80% of the book- only to be disappointed.
I personally felt like the hints throughout the book were alluring... but ultimately lead nowhere. There was no way of guessing who the perpetrator was because there was literally no information on him given to where the reader could guess it was him. The climax felt more like a mode of convenience versus clever manipulation. And for me, that was a huge letdown. I enjoy playing the game with mystery thrillers, but with this one there was no game to play.
Going into this novel as a Coloradoan, I was anticipating wild hidden conspiracies about Mormonism to surface. That being said, I felt like that build-up towards finding out who the culprit was was amazing and kept me excited. I was thoroughly engaged for probably 80% of the book- only to be disappointed.
I personally felt like the hints throughout the book were alluring... but ultimately lead nowhere. There was no way of guessing who the perpetrator was because there was literally no information on him given to where the reader could guess it was him. The climax felt more like a mode of convenience versus clever manipulation. And for me, that was a huge letdown. I enjoy playing the game with mystery thrillers, but with this one there was no game to play.
August 10, 2021
I have read this series a bit out of chronological order. Started with a book somewhere in the middle and read 2 more then went back and started from the beginning.
I prefer the ones that focus on Alan Gregory but some of these that feature another character with him as a component but not main focus are good as well.
I liked the change of scenery in this book although I love the setting of Colorado for most of the others. I’m hoping the next books stays mostly in Colorado. The setting is one of my favorite aspects.
I also like the growing friendship/rivalry between Alan Gregory and Sam Purdy. This story continued to advance that well.
All in all a good story.
I prefer the ones that focus on Alan Gregory but some of these that feature another character with him as a component but not main focus are good as well.
I liked the change of scenery in this book although I love the setting of Colorado for most of the others. I’m hoping the next books stays mostly in Colorado. The setting is one of my favorite aspects.
I also like the growing friendship/rivalry between Alan Gregory and Sam Purdy. This story continued to advance that well.
All in all a good story.
July 30, 2017
Spoiler Alert!!!!
I liked this book! I've read several other Alan Gregory mysteries and this was different but I really liked it. The lead character was Alan's newish girlfriend- lawyer, DA, has MS and is too tough to ask for help from people- Lauren. Her sister is in a lawsuit against another woman. Much of the book is an explanation of mormonism. But very interesting and fits in with the mystery rather well. The previous books I read had at least some element of therapy and psychology in them. That's a big reason why I liked them.
I liked this book! I've read several other Alan Gregory mysteries and this was different but I really liked it. The lead character was Alan's newish girlfriend- lawyer, DA, has MS and is too tough to ask for help from people- Lauren. Her sister is in a lawsuit against another woman. Much of the book is an explanation of mormonism. But very interesting and fits in with the mystery rather well. The previous books I read had at least some element of therapy and psychology in them. That's a big reason why I liked them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2017
I wasn't as enthralled with this 3rd installment of the Alan Gregory series as I had been with prior stories. The novel was based mostly on Lauren Crowder and LDS Religion....However, the writing is still great with a few enjoyable scenes featuring Sam Purdy and Alan Gregory. I am looking forward to reading book #4!
December 21, 2021
I'm working my way through Stephen White's books and I haven't hit a bad one yet. This one was particularly interesting. D.A. Laurne Crowder's sister is sexually harassed by a pillar in the Morman community - a female pillar. People start to get murdered when the charges are brought to light.
September 25, 2025
I read the whole book but almost stopped in the middle but forged on. It was really slow in the middle. It got interesting again when a 3rd person was killed. The background of the church was interesting but it had too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2017
Mormon Church
August 11, 2017
This story brought to light a lot of interesting thoughts on Mormons and their leadership within the church. The downside was that I never came to connect with the characters.
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