Thursday, July 15, 2010

The Last Lie-Stephen White

The Last Lie
Stephen White
Dutton, Aug 17 2010, $26.99
ISBN 9780525951773

In Boulder, Colorado, psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory and wife Assistant District Attorney Lauren meet new neighbors renowned attorney Mattin Snow and his wife. Alan and Lauren are worried how their adopted son Jonas will react to the sale of his family home, but he conceals his feelings. Meanwhile the day after a welcome to the neighborhood party, a widow claims she was raped at the Gregory house where she was sleeping off to much wine.

Lauren and their friend BPD Detective Sam Purdy and his partner Detective Lucy Davenport investigate. Alan obtains information on the allegation from his peer Hella Zoet who says the victim “The Burning Man Woman” formerly dubbed “The Three Wood Widow” called her to tell her about being acquaintance raped. Soon a witness is dead and Alan fears more will follow.

Though there appears to be major conflicts if interest issues (then again there is Justice Scalia argument otherwise); the latest Dr. Gregory case is an intriguing thriller as he and his wife (with the cops) compete with their respective investigations; each side going down a different not quite parallel path. Action-packed, but character driven, fans of the series will enjoy Gregory back in Colorado after a stint in New England (see The Siege).

Harriet Klausner

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