In White's winning 18th Alan Gregory thriller (after The Siege), the Boulder, Colo., psychologist gets off on the wrong foot with his new neighbor, TV-star lawyer Mattin Snow, by walking his dogs on Snow's property. In the wake of Snow's housewarming party, to which Alan wasn't invited, an unnamed female guest claims Snow raped her. Before the case can hit the press, the lawyers for both Snow and the victim close ranks and begin to work out a private financial settlement with the victim agreeing not to testify (a parallel to the real-life Kobe Bryant case a few years back, also in Colorado). Gregory becomes entangled in the case ethically when he learns that the victim is the client of a psychologist-in-training whom he's supervising. Series fans will enjoy catching up with the domestic doings of Alan and his wife, Lauren, who are beginning to patch up their marriage following recent infidelities, and their two children. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Dr. Alan Gregory returns to the fore in this popular series about the sensitive but tough Boulder psychologist. After years of insisting that his family remain in their idyllic mountain home despite the drive to town and wife Lauren's infrequent but debilitating bouts with MS-related symptoms Alan begins to consider relocating, especially after new neighbors move in. The husband is an attorney who has made a name for himself on the talk-show circuit on women's rights issues, but Alan can't shake the feeling that this slick talker won't make a good neighbor. His instincts prove to be right after controversy surfaces following the new couple's housewarming party, where one guest stayed at the party a little too long for her own good, apparently becoming the victim of rape. Secrets abound as Alan's best friend, Detective Sam Purdy, is put on the case but isn't talking and Lauren, an attorney in the D.A.'s office, also becomes involved. Even Alan himself, who's desperate to know what's going on, keeps quiet about the fact that the victim is a former patient. With his usual deftness, White mixes psychological thriller with police procedural, all while making room for the characters to develop and interact. Recommend this one to fans of husband-wife duos, including Faye Kellerman's popular (but uneven) Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series.--Wilkens, Mary Frances Copyright 2010 Booklist

In White's (The Siege, Dead Time) latest thriller featuring psychologist Alan Gregory, a housewarming party ends in a suspected rape. The event takes place at the home of Alan's new neighbors, a celebrated lawyer and his socialite wife. This would be cause for some concern at any time, but Alan's interest is piqued by an incident involving him while walking his dogs in the area on the night in question and that another psychologist he supervises may be treating the alleged victim. Alan spends most of the novel trying to piece together what happened and hampered because his wife Lauren and best cop friend, Sam Purdy, have knowledge that they are unable to share with him. Because events are revealed in fragments and there are so many strands that must meld, White must be on top of his game to hold everything together, a challenge that he is able to meet. Verdict The slow reveal of previous incidents is reminiscent of David Ellis's In the Company of Liars, and White keeps the suspense high as always. Not his best work, but still an enjoyable read for thriller fans.-Craig Shufelt, Fort McMurray P.L., Alta. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.