Line of Fire by Stephen White

Stephen White was in my power rotation long before I knew the term ‘power rotation.’  But somewhere along the line his tales became tired. He seemed to be trying too hard to create new adventures for his Boulder, CO based main characters clinical psychologist, Dr. Alan Gregory, and police detective, Sam Purdy…a formula gone stale.  Then like an NBA star in the last two minutes of the Championship Game, White comes through to score with his most provocative Gregory/ Purdy based thriller yet, Line of Fire.

Alan Gregory has practiced clinical psychology for years and lives with his Assistant DA wife, Lauren in a secluded scenic setting on the outskirts of Boulder.  They have a young daughter and have adopted a preteen boy who was the son of their neighbor killed in an accident while traveling in Israel.  Sam Purdy, a Boulder County detective is Alan’s best friend.  Alan has shared both professional and personal crisis with Sam and they share one profoundly dangerous secret.  In a previous story, Sam had murdered a woman in the adjacent county that was threatening to harm Sam’s and Alan’s families then staged the death scene to look like a suicide.  Though they rarely discuss the event, they are each constantly rationalizing the woman’s death and live in fear that new evidence will be discovered to implicate Sam’s involvement and Alan’s knowledge and subsequent cover up of the crime.

Line of Fire opens with Sam asking Alan to help identify a hospital patient who is in a coma in ICU.  They inadvertently discuss their shared secret in the presence of the comatose patient.  The man had suffered injuries from an automobile accident while evacuating ahead of a deadly home destroying forest fire.  The police find illegal drugs in his wrecked car and the DA is contemplating charges pending his recovery.  Unable to identify the ‘John Doe’ patient in a coma, Alan and Sam begin referring to him as Comadose.

Lauren rarely discusses her legal cases with Alan but one day begins sharing information about a cold case in the next county concerning a woman’s supposed suicide.  She consults his professional opinion about the victim’s apparent state of mind given the evidence at the crime scene and reveals that a new witness has come forward.

Meanwhile, Alan’s longtime office partner and friend, Diane is overwrought by the wild fires nearing her home but this is just one trauma in a long string of unfortunate events that has plagued her in recent years. On the verge of emotional breakdown, her professional, marital and personal relationships are all in jeopardy.

The next week a new patient, Amanda makes an appointment with Alan.  Amanda says she is seeking treatment to help her friend who is contemplating suicide.  In a therapy session Amanda reveals her psychological needs are much more self-centered.  Her psychological problems date back to a sexual relationship with her dying older brother when she was 15.  Her so called suicidal friend is actually her employer and she is employed as his concubine.  After several sessions Alan realizes Amanda’s employer is actually Diane’s husband.

Comadose comes out of his coma, recovers from his injuries, and is released from the hospital.  The police are further investigating his case but have not yet arrested him.  He has two prior convictions and can’t afford a third.  Comadose approaches Alan and reveals that he overheard Alan and Sam talking about their illegal involvement in the staged suicide in the next county.  Comadose is looking to blackmail Sam into getting his drug possession charges dropped.  Any hope of Sam and Alan avoiding the consequences of their moral lapse seem to be evaporating.  Everything and everyone dear to Alan seems in jeopardy yet even with all his training he is ill prepared for what happens next.

Line of Fire is Stephen White at his best.  The psychological sparring, the complex relationships between the main characters and the interconnection of various storylines tied together efficiently in the end are what makes the Alan Gregory series a hit.  Line of Fire accomplishes all this and more.  The author even throws in his annoying ‘I love Boulder’ details in ways that only add to the plot.  White has announced he will write one last book in the series putting his well worn fictitious figures to rest.  It’s time for the series to end but if the last installment is anything like Line of Fire, I can hardly wait.