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Alan Gregory #5
Remote Control
New York Times bestselling author Stephen White proves once again that he “writes thrillers of the first order” (Nelson DeMille) in this powerful, unforgettable novel of morality, justice—and cold-blooded murder...
A shocking act of violence plunges clinical psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory into the most challenging and dangerous case of his career. At the heart of a sensational crime are two women trapped by the furies of fame. One is the beautiful daughter of an assassinated U.S. official, whose life is threatened by a mysterious attacker. The other is Alan’s wife—associate district attorney, Lauren Crowder—who has just been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Alan’s desperate search for answers will bring him face-to-face with true a conspiracy fueled by human greed and bound by a deadly secret that someone will kill—and kill again—to keep...
A shocking act of violence plunges clinical psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory into the most challenging and dangerous case of his career. At the heart of a sensational crime are two women trapped by the furies of fame. One is the beautiful daughter of an assassinated U.S. official, whose life is threatened by a mysterious attacker. The other is Alan’s wife—associate district attorney, Lauren Crowder—who has just been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Alan’s desperate search for answers will bring him face-to-face with true a conspiracy fueled by human greed and bound by a deadly secret that someone will kill—and kill again—to keep...
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
80 people are currently reading
702 people want to read
About the author
Stephen White
314 books574 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 105 reviews
June 6, 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 things exciting as Lauren Crowder puts herself in a significant amount of danger. After befriending a legal intern at her firm, Lauren tries to help Emma when she’s being stalked. Lauren ends up firing her weapon at someone someone outside Emma’s house, though she remembers nothing. After being taken into custody, Lauren finds herself in a medical emergency, which has Dr. Alan Gregory in a panic as he tries to protect his wife’s medical secret and get the truth about the shooting. A chilling story that flows with such ease. Stephen White is back with another great piece in this addictive series.
After the assassination of the US Surgeon-General, his daughter, Emma Spire, is forced to pick up the pieces and dodge the notoriety that soon follows. She ends up as a legal student in Boulder, Colorado, where Lauren Crowder takes the young woman under her wing. While she wants to keep a low profile and live simply, Emma seeks to be respected in her own right. She meets a tech-savvy businessman and is soon pulled into the middle of his life and new invention, which seeks to replicate the visuals of the person wearing its hardware. Emma is captured in a precarious position, which causes her grief, though when the recording goes missing, it’s a full-on panic.
Lauren worries for Emma and can sense that something is wrong. Emma admits that she is being stalked by someone with a copy of the recording. When Lauren promises to help her, things go south quickly, especially after a body is found outside Emma’s home in the middle of a blizzard and Lauren realises she has the weapon. When Lauren is arrested, Dr. Alan Gregory is sent into a panic, worried about both his wife and Emma.
As Lauren admits that she is not only uncertain about what happened, but that her MS is getting worse, Alan will have to hire an attorney and get Lauren her medication without spilling the secret diagnosis that his wife is trying to keep off the radar. A wife in jail for potentially trying to kill a man, another who is being stalked and her notoriety about to send the tabloids into the stratosphere, and one man trying to keep it all together to help them both. A chilling story of worry, action, and sleuthing as Stephen White puts his protagonist in the crosshairs throughout this piece.
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’s clear narrative style is peppered with some meandering moments, complementing the larger story and keeping the reader engaged. The reader learns more about Dr. Alan Gregory and Lauren Crowder, pushing their new marriage to the brink with this scintillating situation that can only end poorly, if they are not careful. The narrative builds around both plot lines: the stalking of Emma and Lauren’s incarceration for shooting someone. When things reach their zenith, White is able to spin both tales into an impactful conclusion, in which no one is left without some scars in the aftermath. Dr. Alan Gregory is less a therapist and more a worried husband, trying to use his contacts to help Lauren, which personalises him in this fifth novel. Great banter does enrich the story and keeps the reader curious about the characters who are able to fill the pages of this book.
Plot points keep the reader wondering as White juggles two significant issues throughout this book. The issues of both Emma and Lauren emerge throughout the story, which bounces between timelines, though neither woman is able to completely understand what is happening to them. With surprises around every corner, White keeps the reader on edge as they try to decipher the truths that appear throughout the narrative flow. In a series that has been so impactful, I am eager to see where White will take things next, with strong characters and wonderful plot development.
Kudos Mr. White, for an action-packed read!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After the assassination of the US Surgeon-General, his daughter, Emma Spire, is forced to pick up the pieces and dodge the notoriety that soon follows. She ends up as a legal student in Boulder, Colorado, where Lauren Crowder takes the young woman under her wing. While she wants to keep a low profile and live simply, Emma seeks to be respected in her own right. She meets a tech-savvy businessman and is soon pulled into the middle of his life and new invention, which seeks to replicate the visuals of the person wearing its hardware. Emma is captured in a precarious position, which causes her grief, though when the recording goes missing, it’s a full-on panic.
Lauren worries for Emma and can sense that something is wrong. Emma admits that she is being stalked by someone with a copy of the recording. When Lauren promises to help her, things go south quickly, especially after a body is found outside Emma’s home in the middle of a blizzard and Lauren realises she has the weapon. When Lauren is arrested, Dr. Alan Gregory is sent into a panic, worried about both his wife and Emma.
As Lauren admits that she is not only uncertain about what happened, but that her MS is getting worse, Alan will have to hire an attorney and get Lauren her medication without spilling the secret diagnosis that his wife is trying to keep off the radar. A wife in jail for potentially trying to kill a man, another who is being stalked and her notoriety about to send the tabloids into the stratosphere, and one man trying to keep it all together to help them both. A chilling story of worry, action, and sleuthing as Stephen White puts his protagonist in the crosshairs throughout this piece.
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’s clear narrative style is peppered with some meandering moments, complementing the larger story and keeping the reader engaged. The reader learns more about Dr. Alan Gregory and Lauren Crowder, pushing their new marriage to the brink with this scintillating situation that can only end poorly, if they are not careful. The narrative builds around both plot lines: the stalking of Emma and Lauren’s incarceration for shooting someone. When things reach their zenith, White is able to spin both tales into an impactful conclusion, in which no one is left without some scars in the aftermath. Dr. Alan Gregory is less a therapist and more a worried husband, trying to use his contacts to help Lauren, which personalises him in this fifth novel. Great banter does enrich the story and keeps the reader curious about the characters who are able to fill the pages of this book.
Plot points keep the reader wondering as White juggles two significant issues throughout this book. The issues of both Emma and Lauren emerge throughout the story, which bounces between timelines, though neither woman is able to completely understand what is happening to them. With surprises around every corner, White keeps the reader on edge as they try to decipher the truths that appear throughout the narrative flow. In a series that has been so impactful, I am eager to see where White will take things next, with strong characters and wonderful plot development.
Kudos Mr. White, for an action-packed read!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
March 26, 2025
I cannot even clearly remember when I read this book for the first time, but it must have been on a holiday because I picked it up in a second hand bookshop in England for just 50p.
Very cheap for a book that is as intense and gripping as this one. Re-reading it I realised again that the whole story takes up just a few days - but of course we also read what happened long before those horrible cold days and nights.
Enjoyed it again!
Very cheap for a book that is as intense and gripping as this one. Re-reading it I realised again that the whole story takes up just a few days - but of course we also read what happened long before those horrible cold days and nights.
Enjoyed it again!
July 29, 2014
I have enjoyed all of the Alan Gregory series and this is one of the best. He’s a good story teller but his characters are even better. This is woven around one very cold night in Boulder (I shivered and felt oppressed by the snow storm for most of the book) and artful flashbacks that really help build the tension and turn and twist the plot. Lauren in in custody and hospital for most of the book, kept apart from husband Alan by cops and lawyers; White really makes us feel for her (she can barely see due to a flare up of her MS optic neurititis). But there is also Emma who she is trying to hide and a web of technology and Right to Lifers ominously hovering in the background. Adrienne the four foot ten urologist is again a gem, Sam proves his friendship and there isn’t a dull moment. The end is never as good as the journey but this one is less disappointing than many.
August 27, 2018
Fifth book in the Dr. Alan Gregory series. At times I really enjoyed this tale, but at other times is was bogged down in techno-babble. Alan's wife Lauren plays a critical role in keeping this book interesting. The Lauren arc of this novel was far more interesting than the tale Alan must deal with. Written in 1998, three stars out of a possible five stars. It's not holding up well in the test of time. Although as a fan of the series this one is a must read.
July 30, 2015
The 5th book in the Alan Gregory series by much underrated author Stephen White. I am enjoying this series which is developing well as all the characters develop but this was not as good as some of the previous books in the series. Good descriptive text and excellent character development make this series a well worth while read though and I will continue to make my way through the 20+ books in this series.
March 30, 2008
I've enjoyed most of Stephen White's books. The one before this, Harm's Way was excellent. I couldn't put it down. But I started this one on Christmas day 2007 and I didn't finish it until March, and even then, I was struggling. I don't really recommend this book unless you're like me... Into the series and determined to read all of them.
March 28, 2019
What a comedy of errors and incredibly stupid actions by the main characters.
June 5, 2023
This Dr. Alan Gregory (psychologist) thriller is a psychological tale of complex moral issues, intrigue and murder. The premise was promising--Emma Spire - daughter of assassinated Surgeon General of the USA, is trying to restart her life. It has been two years since her father's death and after a highly publicized relationship with a movie star (who she left at the altar), she is trying to be away from the public eye. She is now in Boulder, Colorado, studying law and working in Dr. Gregory's wife (DA Lauren Crowder's office). These two women become friends.
One night, Lauren tries to ward off a suspicious person from the neighbourhood of Emma and Lauren fires a gun (as a warning) and a man is hit. Lauren is charged and then goes into a medical emergency.
There is a back and forth in the timelines to developing the story and a slew of characters (some not really believable) are introduced into this mix: a 6'8" defense lawyer, said defense's lawyer's ex-wife, who is a PI, various police officers, a biotech genius, a former employee of the Secret Service, who is friends with Emma.
I liked how the book unfolded and would have given it a 4.0 - but it was too unbelievable.
One night, Lauren tries to ward off a suspicious person from the neighbourhood of Emma and Lauren fires a gun (as a warning) and a man is hit. Lauren is charged and then goes into a medical emergency.
There is a back and forth in the timelines to developing the story and a slew of characters (some not really believable) are introduced into this mix: a 6'8" defense lawyer, said defense's lawyer's ex-wife, who is a PI, various police officers, a biotech genius, a former employee of the Secret Service, who is friends with Emma.
I liked how the book unfolded and would have given it a 4.0 - but it was too unbelievable.
February 10, 2021
With Remote Control, author Stephen White is getting into his stride as an excellent writer. This story focuses mostly around DA Lauren Crowder who is trying to protect a new friend, hide the fact that she is having an MLS exacerbation affecting her eyesight, and fears that she has killed someone, which is why she has been thrown into the humiliating prison system and is now at odds with her normal coworkers and associates. She knows way more about how prisoners are dealt with than most people and that only makes her more embarrassed and fearful. A cast of intriguing characters enliven the story, including the introduction of lawyer Cozy Maitlin, who reminds me of Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer. My main complaint is the almost paranoid reaction that Lauren's friend Emma has to the paparazzi and notoriety she has gained as the daughter of a murdered U. S. cabinet official. She seems more unbalanced and unhinged by it than seems real. Some really unexpected twists and turns in this novel. And I was rooting as much for the policemen as the lawyers in their adversarial positions.
April 17, 2022
"It's complicated."
It was like a comedy of errors, almost. And it was irritating seeing Alan and Lauren risk freedom and health for such a selfish, ungrateful damsel in distress. She was awful. One of those people who are very magnetic but with nothing to back it up. Plus, she's one of those people who, when they have a problem, just want someone to wave their hand and fix it. Presented with actually having to do something she just says, no. Just make things better. When she finally does something it's remarkably stupid. Not too mention the technology referenced by the title seemed somewhat misplaced, being rather futuristic. But it was a compelling read, nonetheless.
It was like a comedy of errors, almost. And it was irritating seeing Alan and Lauren risk freedom and health for such a selfish, ungrateful damsel in distress. She was awful. One of those people who are very magnetic but with nothing to back it up. Plus, she's one of those people who, when they have a problem, just want someone to wave their hand and fix it. Presented with actually having to do something she just says, no. Just make things better. When she finally does something it's remarkably stupid. Not too mention the technology referenced by the title seemed somewhat misplaced, being rather futuristic. But it was a compelling read, nonetheless.
May 27, 2018
I remember when I was young I met this author because he was my dad's favourite. We listened to one of his books on tape while we drove the rest of the way to Cincinnati. The content and plot of the book was good. It kept suspense by skipping around in time, and I actually liked that. It was too confusing though and my dad and I were often pausing trying to figure out what just happened. It was hard to figure out the mystery on our own since we were often confused on important action-filled scenes. Maybe if I had read this book in paper it would've been 4 stars but as I heard it, it was 3.
December 17, 2023
I am normally a great fan of the Alan Gregory series. As a person trained as a clinical psychologist and former college teacher I like the idea of a clinician as a mystery solver. The two stars are for the protagonist and his relationship with his wife Laurel. One star for the mystery. Even though all the action takes place in just a few hours, the book is a bloody mess. At the end I no idea who actually killed whom when and I did not care. Disappointing book in the series for me. Kristi & Abby Tabby
March 30, 2022
I did not enjoy the way the timeline was constantly bounced around for no apparent reason. It was annoying to have to look at dates and figure out where you were in the story. I also questioned some of the actions of the characters. No rational person would do them, much less in a snow storm. The story was more about his wife Lauren than Alan Gregory.
June 2, 2025
I don’t remember where I read a recommendation for this author but I guess it was because it was based in Boulder, Colorado. The location was interesting but the characters did a lot of stupid things which really annoyed me. The whole premise for the main conflict didn’t really make much sense.
Not sure if I want to try another book by the author.
Not sure if I want to try another book by the author.
December 11, 2020
4 stars; ending was a bit flat.
This plot has a lot of moving parts. Fame, technology, guns, mental health and murder. An interesting read for sure but the ending for me was rather anticlimactic.
This plot has a lot of moving parts. Fame, technology, guns, mental health and murder. An interesting read for sure but the ending for me was rather anticlimactic.
December 21, 2021
This is another in the fine Alan Gregory series. Alan's wife, DA Lauren Gregory, is arrested for a shooting on in a Boulder blizzard. The facts are few and the questions are many. This is another good one.
October 19, 2024
Bravo Mr White!
Really, a great read. I enjoyed hearing more about Gregory's wife and her challenges. I love the way she was depicted through-out. And, I love how it all came together in the end.
Really, a great read. I enjoyed hearing more about Gregory's wife and her challenges. I love the way she was depicted through-out. And, I love how it all came together in the end.
July 5, 2018
Another great addition to the Alan Gregory series.
August 26, 2018
Boring
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2018
I'm enjoying this series, but found this one to be disjointed.
February 20, 2019
Didn't like as much as others.
June 3, 2019
A good mystery.
July 6, 2019
Loved this book, Stephen White never lets me down. Love his books and love Alan. This book will not disappoint.
August 8, 2019
Ridiculous premise. I'm done with this series.
October 28, 2019
Unnecessary foul language. Didn’t finish it.
October 31, 2019
Great story!
This was a great book. I have read several of Stephen white's novels, and this one did not disappoint! Too good to pass up.
This was a great book. I have read several of Stephen white's novels, and this one did not disappoint! Too good to pass up.
November 10, 2019
Anther installment of the Allen Gregory series. As always the plot was woven cleverly and the action continued from beginning to end. Love how then obvious is not always the answer with this author.
June 17, 2020
I enjoy reading this series, usually keeps me in suspense
April 13, 2021
So glad it's over
This book seemed to drag on forever. Almost quit several times. Thank heavens I finally got to the end. Goodbye!
This book seemed to drag on forever. Almost quit several times. Thank heavens I finally got to the end. Goodbye!
September 5, 2021
Bizarre story line/not coherent
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews