Privileged Information

by Stephen White Narrated by Dick Hill

Overview

Alan Gregory is a clinical psychologist with a thriving practice in Boulder, Colorado. His life begins to unravel when one of his female patients is found in an apparent suicide and the local paper begins printing accusations from an unnamed source of sexual impropriety between the woman and Dr. Gregory. He launches a psychological and personal quest for the truth that rapidly intensifies when more of his patients die untimely deaths, and Gregory suspects not only that the deaths are related but that another one of his patients may be somehow involved. Lacking facts but roused by suspicion and troubled by seemingly random acts of terror around him, Gregory starts to fear for the safety of the people he loves.

The question of the inviolability of confidential disclosures made to Gregory by his patients - privileged information - becomes crucial as the psychologist pursues an unsettling romance with Lauren Crowder, a lovely deputy district attorney investigating one of the deaths. Bound to silence, Gregory follows the psychological tracks of someone he fears may be a cunning and disturbed killer, while turning to his enigmatic but supportive partner, Diane Estevez, for counsel, and to his tart-tongued female urologist neighbor for support.

The sinister, surprising drama unfolds against Boulder's Rocky Mountain backdrop, in the arresting natural beauty of Aspen, and in the midst of a baroque Halloween costume party in downtown Boulder. Finally, in a lonely mountain lodge enshrouded in menace, the story comes to its breathtaking climax.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The manipulations of a psychotic killer test the limits of the therapeutic relationship in this suspenseful first novel by a clinical psychologist, which was a BOMC selection in cloth. (Nov.)

Library Journal

Psychologist Alan Gregory's troubles begin with the surprising suicide of a woman successfully completing psychotherapy. The situation rapidly deteriorates as the woman's father sues Gregory, alleging that sexual misconduct led to his daughter's death; the State Board begins an investigation; Gregory's patients start to fall away; and then a second woman patient dies in an accident and a third is murdered. The press pillories him and the police call him Dr. Death. Gregory suspects that another patient of his is the missing link but doctor-patient confidentiality prevents his doing anything about it, until it becomes obvious that his new lady love is the next target. The drama is played out against the backdrop of trendy, athletic Boulder, Colorado, where the author is a practicing clinical psychologist. A suspenseful depiction of a modern dilemma, this first novel is recommended. BOMC and Mysterious Book Club selections.-- Patricia Y. Morton, State Lib . of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg

School Library Journal

YA-- A psychological thriller that poses an ethical dilemma. According to police reports, one of psychologist Alan Gregory's patients has committed suicide. A few weeks later the local paper prints information from an anonymous source alleging that sexual misconduct occurred in the deceased's therapy sessions. Gregory's patients cancel appointments, unexplained terrorism randomly occurs, and two more of his female patients die--one in a car accident and another from strangulation. Because of ``privileged information,'' Gregory feels he cannot divulge information about these women, and thus clear his reputation. He begins his own quest to unravel the mystery that is destroying him. It doesn't take long to zero in on the probable suspect. The real question is how these deaths and acts of terror are related and why Gregory is the target. --Margie Jones, Herndon Int., Fairfax, VA

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172436741
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	06/01/2013
Series:	Alan Gregory , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	953,623

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