What do you think?
Rate this book
Alan Gregory #4
Harm's Way
In this novel of "fascinating psychological suspense" (San Francisco Chronicle), Dr. Alan Gregory follows a trail of harrowing secrets, naked violence, and hidden shame into the haunted heart of a friend he thought he knew. And now, what Alan still doesn't know might kill him.
576 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
6 people are currently reading
706 people want to read
About the author
Stephen White
284 books568 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
June 5, 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 once more with Dr. Alan Gregory in the spotlight. Alan’s neighbour, Peter, has been found murdered. While Alan tries to console Peter’s family, he is called to help create a profile of the killer. However, the larger issue remains about who might have wanted to kill. Kill Peter, as well las others who appear to be linked to the case. A great thriller with all the impact I expect from White and his writing.
It was the news that Peter Arvin had been found dead that shook Dr. Alan Gregory most. A friend and neighbour, Peter was loved by many, especially his wife, Adrienne, and their young son. Found bloodied on stage at a Colorado theatre, the presentation of Peter’s body makes it seem as though he might have been the second victim of a killer who first struck in a similar fashion in Denver. While the crime scene re similar, the rationale remains elusive.
Alan is soon called to help with two significant requests: a psychological profile of the killer for the local police, and a discovery of Peter’s secrets by Adrienne. Both are daunting, but might help reveal why Peter was targeted and what the killer might have wanted from the man many knew as a peaceful carpenter. What Alan discovers shakes him and sends the clinical psychologist into a tailspin. He teams up with his friend, Detective Sam Purdy, as they try to trace the secrets that Peter left to linger. From casinos to various trails, everything points towards Wyoming, where Peter spent his formative years.
As Alan struggles with the changes with the complexities of his new marriage, he must try to find a place for Lauren, both literally and figuratively. Alan juggles the home stresses that pile up next to his latest case, all of which creates a great deal of tension. Still, as he is wont to do, Alan will have to piece together the truths he learns about Peter’s youth and hw this might relate to the murders. It is only after piecing some ragged parts together that the truth emerges from the smoke and a traumatising past that could make sense of it all. A chilling story that will keep the reader hooked until the final reveal.
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 early novel.
White creates a narrative approach that can be clear and yet meandering, serving to pull the reader in and leave them cemented in place. The reader learns more about those who live and work around Dr. Alan Gregory, adding a new depth to the series. The story clips along at a pace Stephen White usually offers readers, which leaves little time to rest. Tackling this serial murderer, White pulls no punches, nor should he, as he educated the reader. Great character development and banter keep the reader attuned to all that is going on, forcing the reader to live an adventure like no other. Great banter between Alan and Detective Sam Purdy help make the book even better!
Plot points keep the reader wondering and on edge while the killer lurks in the shadows. Once more, White is effective in his delivery and spins surprises for all to enjoy, flirting with psychological profiles in this latest novel. The twists and threatening storylines provide a smorgasbord for the reader to dine upon as the truth simmers on the back burner for a time. There is a great deal left to go in this series and I am eager to see where things are headed.
Kudos Mr. White, for a great piece that pulls the past into the present.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
It was the news that Peter Arvin had been found dead that shook Dr. Alan Gregory most. A friend and neighbour, Peter was loved by many, especially his wife, Adrienne, and their young son. Found bloodied on stage at a Colorado theatre, the presentation of Peter’s body makes it seem as though he might have been the second victim of a killer who first struck in a similar fashion in Denver. While the crime scene re similar, the rationale remains elusive.
Alan is soon called to help with two significant requests: a psychological profile of the killer for the local police, and a discovery of Peter’s secrets by Adrienne. Both are daunting, but might help reveal why Peter was targeted and what the killer might have wanted from the man many knew as a peaceful carpenter. What Alan discovers shakes him and sends the clinical psychologist into a tailspin. He teams up with his friend, Detective Sam Purdy, as they try to trace the secrets that Peter left to linger. From casinos to various trails, everything points towards Wyoming, where Peter spent his formative years.
As Alan struggles with the changes with the complexities of his new marriage, he must try to find a place for Lauren, both literally and figuratively. Alan juggles the home stresses that pile up next to his latest case, all of which creates a great deal of tension. Still, as he is wont to do, Alan will have to piece together the truths he learns about Peter’s youth and hw this might relate to the murders. It is only after piecing some ragged parts together that the truth emerges from the smoke and a traumatising past that could make sense of it all. A chilling story that will keep the reader hooked until the final reveal.
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 early novel.
White creates a narrative approach that can be clear and yet meandering, serving to pull the reader in and leave them cemented in place. The reader learns more about those who live and work around Dr. Alan Gregory, adding a new depth to the series. The story clips along at a pace Stephen White usually offers readers, which leaves little time to rest. Tackling this serial murderer, White pulls no punches, nor should he, as he educated the reader. Great character development and banter keep the reader attuned to all that is going on, forcing the reader to live an adventure like no other. Great banter between Alan and Detective Sam Purdy help make the book even better!
Plot points keep the reader wondering and on edge while the killer lurks in the shadows. Once more, White is effective in his delivery and spins surprises for all to enjoy, flirting with psychological profiles in this latest novel. The twists and threatening storylines provide a smorgasbord for the reader to dine upon as the truth simmers on the back burner for a time. There is a great deal left to go in this series and I am eager to see where things are headed.
Kudos Mr. White, for a great piece that pulls the past into the present.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 24, 2017
I was shocked when the author killed someone close to Alan Gregory. He was someone we had gotten to know, and this crime truly hit Alan and his new wife Lauren hard. His death would reverberate through out the rest of the series, and was truly a case of sometimes you really don't know someone's true character even when you are friends with them.
April 10, 2013
First: Why is Stephen White not a bigger name in the mystery writer world? His work definitely rivals better-known authors for many reasons: his plotting, his characters, his way with describing people and places so well that the reader knows them... I've read all of his books, and have always finished the last page with a satisfied sigh. "In Harm's Way" might not be the first book in the series to start with, but after reading it for the second time, I enjoyed it even more.
This book: The usual group of characters appear, in the usual setting of Boulder, Colorado. This time out, psychologist Alan Gregory is dragged into murder and mayhem when homicide detective Sam Purdy asks Alan to profile a gory murder in a local theater. Lacking strong credentials advising the police, Alan can't refuse to help since the victim is his neighbor Peter Arvin.
White sums up his plot through Alan in the first sentence of the first chapter: "You think you know someone." Those words weave throughout the 421 pages, as Alan questions not just the murder, but the actions of the people closest to him, the murderer and himself.
Assisted by his deputy DA wife Lauren Crowder, Peter's widow Adrienne and Purdy, Alan tries to write a psychological profile of a person who might be a serial killer. The theories change, and the mysteries about who Peter Arvin really was trouble the psychologist in unsettling ways.
Stephen White's books are not cozy mysteries, nor or they hard-boiled. "Harm's Way" is perhaps the hardest of White's books to describe, but no less worth reading. While this is a murder mystery, and it provides plenty of action and surprises (Alan gets shot!), White delved a bit deeper into many of his characters. If you're reading White for the first time, you'll discover one of the best writers in this genre. Furthermore, you'll become a hardcore fan when you read any of his other books. As a fan, I enjoyed this re-read; and as always, I finished it with a satisfied sigh.
This book: The usual group of characters appear, in the usual setting of Boulder, Colorado. This time out, psychologist Alan Gregory is dragged into murder and mayhem when homicide detective Sam Purdy asks Alan to profile a gory murder in a local theater. Lacking strong credentials advising the police, Alan can't refuse to help since the victim is his neighbor Peter Arvin.
White sums up his plot through Alan in the first sentence of the first chapter: "You think you know someone." Those words weave throughout the 421 pages, as Alan questions not just the murder, but the actions of the people closest to him, the murderer and himself.
Assisted by his deputy DA wife Lauren Crowder, Peter's widow Adrienne and Purdy, Alan tries to write a psychological profile of a person who might be a serial killer. The theories change, and the mysteries about who Peter Arvin really was trouble the psychologist in unsettling ways.
Stephen White's books are not cozy mysteries, nor or they hard-boiled. "Harm's Way" is perhaps the hardest of White's books to describe, but no less worth reading. While this is a murder mystery, and it provides plenty of action and surprises (Alan gets shot!), White delved a bit deeper into many of his characters. If you're reading White for the first time, you'll discover one of the best writers in this genre. Furthermore, you'll become a hardcore fan when you read any of his other books. As a fan, I enjoyed this re-read; and as always, I finished it with a satisfied sigh.
September 2, 2008
I'm not sure where this fits into the series. It is the earliest book that I have read. In this book Peter (I've heard about him a lot in later books), Alan Gregory's next door neighbor is murdered in a theater.
Alan is brought on to consult the police and to create a profile of the killer as it is believed that this may the work of a serial killer. Previous to Peter's death, another man is found murdered on the stage of a Miss Saigon production in Denver.
I was very interested in the discussion of a major theater production and the work that it takes to pull off a production of that size. Explainations about the props in the wings, the fly's and the back drops took me back to my days in musical's in high school.
The plot of course takes a different turn and ends quite aways away from where you started. All in all, I liked this books as well as his others.
Alan is brought on to consult the police and to create a profile of the killer as it is believed that this may the work of a serial killer. Previous to Peter's death, another man is found murdered on the stage of a Miss Saigon production in Denver.
I was very interested in the discussion of a major theater production and the work that it takes to pull off a production of that size. Explainations about the props in the wings, the fly's and the back drops took me back to my days in musical's in high school.
The plot of course takes a different turn and ends quite aways away from where you started. All in all, I liked this books as well as his others.
January 31, 2018
This was probably my least favorite Alan Gregory book. It dragged and the plot was kind of weak.
All-in-all, the book was just ok for me
All-in-all, the book was just ok for me
January 24, 2008
[...] Having read enough cozies in my life to still be able to count them on one hand, I have come to the probably erroneous conclusion that the main difference between the cozy mystery and the hard-boiled detective novel is that the investigator in the cozy is never in quite as much immediate physical danger as is the hard-boiled chap. Even if the chap in question isn't too hard-boiled.
Such is the case with Boulder, CO psychiatrist Alan Gregory, the hero of Stephen White's open-ended series of mystery/thrillers. regory spends his time getting shot at, beaten about the head, henpecked, and otherwise threatened by a bevy of adversaries and never enjoying it much. The best kind of detective-- an amateur who gets too wrapped up in his cases.
In this case, it's hard to avoid. The victim is Gregory's next door neighbor, a woodcraftsman who was designing sets for a theatre production in town. The murder is similar in some ways to a previous murder in Denver, and so the local police start thinking "serial killer." Gregory's PD pal Sam Purdy hires him on as an amateur profiler, and away we go.
Stephen White is a solid writer of thrillers, easily as good as any of the A-list names working in the genre today. His lack of widespread readership continues to baffle me. Harm's Way is of a piece with the rest of the Alan Gregory novels, and comes just as highly recommended from this camp. *** 1/2
Such is the case with Boulder, CO psychiatrist Alan Gregory, the hero of Stephen White's open-ended series of mystery/thrillers. regory spends his time getting shot at, beaten about the head, henpecked, and otherwise threatened by a bevy of adversaries and never enjoying it much. The best kind of detective-- an amateur who gets too wrapped up in his cases.
In this case, it's hard to avoid. The victim is Gregory's next door neighbor, a woodcraftsman who was designing sets for a theatre production in town. The murder is similar in some ways to a previous murder in Denver, and so the local police start thinking "serial killer." Gregory's PD pal Sam Purdy hires him on as an amateur profiler, and away we go.
Stephen White is a solid writer of thrillers, easily as good as any of the A-list names working in the genre today. His lack of widespread readership continues to baffle me. Harm's Way is of a piece with the rest of the Alan Gregory novels, and comes just as highly recommended from this camp. *** 1/2
September 13, 2017
I didn't get this book. It was supposed to be a thriller, but it wasn't thrilling. The psychotherapist was supposed to be an interesting character but he seemed bland. In fact, I didn't like anyone in the story. Was it the writing? Maybe it was me. Maybe I am just tired of murders that seemed to be cut to size for a publisher's list. That's probably it. Now, the book might have been written by a novel-writing program, but the next step in that direction would be to construct a novel reading program. Think what a happy world that would be, if generic literature and its appreciation were sub-routines in the same application. Then we could possibly include a quality dial and a stylistic ratchet, and a critical review sprinkler machine to complete the operation. Ridiculous? Of course. Off to the compost heap with you!
December 5, 2011
One thing I like about Stephen White is that one always learns a lot through his novels...this one is set in Boulder, Colorado, with visits to Jackson Hole and Denver. Since I've never been there it was interesting to read about those places. Murders aplenty in this one, though the thread between them seemed a bit tenuous to me. Once the murderer of Alan Gregory's neighbor was revealed, it seemed a stretch to make all the connections. Still, it kept me guessing and a couple of those that I suspected were not involved at all.
February 5, 2011
This was not one of Stephen White's best. I liked the setting but just couldn't get into the investigations of the murders. The reoccurring characters that I usually like were flat and uninteresting. Alan and Lauren are married now so they are boring. White kept most of the book in and around Boulder but he did take a trip to Jackson Hole, WY, which is one of my favorite places on the planet. By the time I got to the end, didn't care who did it.
February 9, 2017
3.0 out of 5 - Adequate, if not convoluted story. Not the best of the Alan Gregory series.
I have read a number of Steven White's Alan Gregory series. Harm's Way is an earlier installment (#4). Although not my favorite, it felt good reconnecting with the characters that I've gotten to know in the other novels.
Dr. Alan Gregory is a Boulder, Colorado based psychotherapist. When his friend and neighbor Peter Arvin becomes a victim of a ritual murder, Alan is called in by the police to profile what could be a serial killer operating in Boulder and Denver.
There were a few too many threads going and the connections between them seemed contrived and tenuous at times. More over, the critical clue which led to the unmasking of the killer was withheld from the reader until the end and should have been one of the first areas of investigation by the police.
I have read a number of Steven White's Alan Gregory series. Harm's Way is an earlier installment (#4). Although not my favorite, it felt good reconnecting with the characters that I've gotten to know in the other novels.
Dr. Alan Gregory is a Boulder, Colorado based psychotherapist. When his friend and neighbor Peter Arvin becomes a victim of a ritual murder, Alan is called in by the police to profile what could be a serial killer operating in Boulder and Denver.
There were a few too many threads going and the connections between them seemed contrived and tenuous at times. More over, the critical clue which led to the unmasking of the killer was withheld from the reader until the end and should have been one of the first areas of investigation by the police.
January 2, 2021
This is Stephen White's fourth book and not his best story for me. I suspect he is getting better as he practices writing novels. This story didn’t end quite as dramatically as some of the later books, at least as I remember (this is my second time reading through the series), although there was a good shoot-out, chase scene with several people killed and Alan Gregory getting shot at earlier in the plot line. I was surprised that one of the main characters of the series, Peter Arvin, is killed off as the basis of the story--the gruesome target of a serial killer. Detective Sam Purdy asks Alan to profile the murderer, even though an experienced FBI profiler will be doing so as well. So Alan studies up, makes his report, and unofficially works with Sam to find the killer. I missed Alan's work as a clinical psychologist, which I found more interesting that a profiler's work. He was also asked by Adrienne, Peter's wife, to delve into Peter's life and his relationship with his family that Peter has always been secret about. Ironic that Peter's character is being fleshed out and developed as a dead person and is now a character no longer appearing in the series.
April 15, 2020
Alan Gregory is not dull - for a travel agent he is right up there with that un-shaven guy who tells us about Trivago all the time (well all the time before the Coronavirus Apocalypse; not so much lately). However as a key character in a murder mystery he just goes on and on and on about where he ate, drank and visited. I'm sure Stephen White gets a 'perfect' free martini every time he visits The Cruise Room, and his meal is free at Antica Roma (at least until it went of business), and I'm sure his books are prominently displayed at the Bookend Café. But, it all doesn't interest me. What does interest me is reading a book and then being cheated at the end.
You know what you did Stephen. You did not give us the necessary information to guess who did the dastardly deed. Even though you had 4 chances; Colt, Lisa, the Library Achieves, and Adrienne. Even Grant could have said a word or two. Shame on you!!!
And the killer was in no way the killer considering everything you presented to us!
White gets one star because there is no option for a negative rating.
You know what you did Stephen. You did not give us the necessary information to guess who did the dastardly deed. Even though you had 4 chances; Colt, Lisa, the Library Achieves, and Adrienne. Even Grant could have said a word or two. Shame on you!!!
And the killer was in no way the killer considering everything you presented to us!
White gets one star because there is no option for a negative rating.
February 9, 2019
“This ghost, I assure you, ain’t ___ named Casper.” Of course, no cop could be well spoken or erudite, and they’re duty bound to use idiotic cliches a child would recognize. Totally plausible. All to make Gregory look all the more brilliant and refined. And Gregory is simply White in disguise. Why do so many doctors/lawyers/psychiatrists/psychologists turned novelists write autobiographies ‘in disguise’? Are they really so narcissistic? This therapist’s description of married life would inspire most women to join a convent. Snore!
This depresses me because White, in all fairness, is a talented writer who is no doubt under pressure to grind out this tripe as soon as may be because it sells. Who cares about producing quality literature these days? I guess the guy needs the mullah; I mean, he was only formerly a psychologist by profession, right?
This depresses me because White, in all fairness, is a talented writer who is no doubt under pressure to grind out this tripe as soon as may be because it sells. Who cares about producing quality literature these days? I guess the guy needs the mullah; I mean, he was only formerly a psychologist by profession, right?
April 2, 2024
Psychologist Alan Gregory is asked by his friend Boulder cop Sam Purdy to profile the murderer of their friend, Peter Arvin. The murder is somewhat similar to a recent one in Denver, so they suspect they’re dealing with a serial murder. Okay, a good story. But at the end there are three theater murders and only two are explained. If the third was mentioned at the end, I missed it. And the “woo woo” with the nanny and toddler was too much. There’s an awful lot of Colorado history, geography, restaurants, roads and driving conditions, nearly all of which was irrelevant. I kind of liked the story until the rushed incomplete end.
December 27, 2021
This is my fourth (and last) Stephen White book. While better than the previous three (the last one, “Higher Authority” which I couldn’t finish) it was still nothing all that special. The writing was good enough, very good in places, and the basic story was fine, but I just felt that it was unnecessarily complicated and had too many characters which were at times difficult to keep straight. And while there was some suspense and action here and there, I still felt that the overall pacing of the book was uneven and mostly fairly dull.
September 5, 2019
As always these Alan Gregory books are full of twists and turns and loads of dead ends. In the end at least for this one it seems that the person we have been searching for has been “stage left” the whole time.
It took me a few books to really appreciate the complex characters and even eccentric characters that the author has created. But true to form the main characters have grown and continue to grow more comfortable in themselves and in the world that has been created for them.
It took me a few books to really appreciate the complex characters and even eccentric characters that the author has created. But true to form the main characters have grown and continue to grow more comfortable in themselves and in the world that has been created for them.
February 16, 2020
Bought many books at a local used book sale. This was published in 1996. The story is good, the characters are well developed, it moves well. He is a gifted story teller. The writing is intelligent and amusing. I had read other things by White and am glad to have found this. Got several of his at the sale.
March 4, 2020
I like these mysteries. Also, having lived in and around Boulder, CO most of my life it is fun and nostalgic listening about places that do and do not exist IRL. I'm ever amused/ annoyed at narrators who don't pronounce names as locals do. For example: Nederland is pronounced exactly as it is spelled. The narrator pronounced it "Neederland". Gah.
January 22, 2021
I read the first 3 books in this series over 20 years ago, and really enjoyed them. Then other series got in the way. I picked this one up, and must I was disappointed in it - while some of it was very interesting, there weren't enough clues to be able to begin to guess at the murderer. I will try the next one, however, just in case this was an outlier.
February 27, 2023
I have always enjoyed Steven White, the pages of his novels just fly past.
There were several very exciting parts and because of that, it will keep you guessing until the last few pages. This book want make you more knowledgeable or smart but it was a fascinating ride.
Good Luck and as always, ENJOY!!
There were several very exciting parts and because of that, it will keep you guessing until the last few pages. This book want make you more knowledgeable or smart but it was a fascinating ride.
Good Luck and as always, ENJOY!!
December 21, 2021
This is another in the Alan Gregory series set in Boulder, Colorado. I really like this series and have several more yet to read. In this one Alan's next door neighbor and friend Peter is found tortured on the stage of a theater. He's the second theater murder in the area recently.
May 2, 2023
Too much technical details about the settings of the murders, which wasn't needed - or interesting. It only got really interesting towards the end. disappointing ending - the last page seemed to stop in the middle of a conversation.
November 1, 2023
As a person trained as a clinical psychologist and former college psychology teacher, I enjoy the character of Alan Gregory. Challenging mystery with an unexpected solution. I always like to be fooled by "whodunit". Kristi & Abby Tabby
May 3, 2018
This is the first book I've read by this author. The storyline kept me interested all the way through but I found some of the plots to be a bit confusing.
November 16, 2018
I find the Alan Gregory series terrific. This story had surprises and a great ending. Recommend to all my friends.
September 28, 2020
Complex plot that left several unanswered questions in my mind. Seemed like the author was in a hurry to wrap up the story.
November 20, 2021
I was ready to give this book only 1 star at the halfway point. But then it picked up and was better in the second half.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews