The Best Revenge

January 20, 2003
Tired of humdrum cases, Alan Gregory welcomes two new patients—FBI agent Kelda James and released death row inmate Tom Clone—in this latest thriller by White (The Program; Warning Signs; etc.) to feature the crime-solving clinical psychologist from Boulder, Colo. Referred to Dr. Gregory by a neurologist treating her for leg pain, Kelda is famous for saving a six-year-old kidnap victim. She also uncovers DNA evidence that overturns the murder conviction of former medical student Tom Clone after he spends 13 years behind bars. She picks Tom up at the prison, treats him to breakfast, drives him to his grandfather's house, pulls a gun on his arresting officers when they harass him and gives Tom her own shrink's number after his grandfather insists he try therapy. In fact, Kelda spends more time with Tom than with her boyfriend, Ira. Still, Tom quickly finds himself in trouble with the law. Two narratives—one Dr. Gregory's, the other Kelda's—come together as her story and Tom's reach a common climax in a mountain hideaway where Kelda, Tom, Ira, the harassing officers, Dr. Gregory and his good friend, Det. Sam Purdy, come together to solve an old crime and prevent a new one. Gregory's role in this novel is to listen to the protagonists and help the reader understand them. He also considers patient confidentiality and front-page news in rambling passages that slow but do not hamper the otherwise fast-paced plot. After a surprise twist, White provides amply plausible explanations for what seem like implausible actions, shedding light on human motivation with personal insights into the psychology of guilt, stress, fear and justice. Major ad/promo; simultaneous release as a Delacorte e-book.

October 1, 2002
New evidence proves that Tom Clone did not commit murder, but after 13 years in prison, he has developed dark tendencies that psychologist Alan Gregory may not be able to conquer.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2002
FBI agent Kelda James, a relative newcomer to the Colorado bureau, made a name for herself as a rookie by finding a kidnapped little girl and killing her abductor. Kelda's latest triumph is the discovery of DNA evidence that ostensibly exonerates death-row inmate Tom Clone, convicted of murdering his girlfriend 13 years prior. Curiosity leads Kelda to pick up the released prisoner herself, and the two of them--the wrongfully incarcerated man and the beautiful, justice-seeking federal agent--develop a curious closeness. Kelda recommends esteemed Boulder psychotherapist Dr. Allan Gregory (star of numerous White novels), who is just coming off a spell of professional burnout, to Tom to help sort out potential outside-life issues, but this only serves to make matters even stranger, for client confidentiality bars Allan from discussing the two with each other or with his best buddy, a local detective. Not everyone is convinced the DNA evidence proves Tom's innocence, and some other evil force looms in an effort to exact revenge. But who is seeking revenge? That's the central mystery here, and White's circular plot is both maddening and exhilarating. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)