Tom Clone's stay on death row is over, thanks to new evidence uncovered by Kelda James, a young FBI agent whose efforts on Clone's behalf have not exactly endeared her to her colleagues. Referred by that same agent to psychologist Alan Gregory, Clone is struggling to adapt to life outside prison. But others who believe he got off on a technicality don't agree that the former medical student deserves his freedom, and they will go to any lengths to make sure he's punished accordingly for the crime of which he was once accused. There are some surprising plot twists here, but more interesting is Gregory's midlife crisis and his declining interest in his work: as his partner responds when he voices doubts about his efficacy as a therapist, "Those are the bricks we lay. If you've started hating the bricks, maybe it's time to reconsider being a brick layer." Certainly Gregory gets himself into more sinister and frightening scrapes than most shrinks, and this is one of his strangest cases. The Best Revenge is a solid, well-reasoned thriller, set in the marvelously drawn Colorado landscape the author has made his own, with guest appearances by minor figures familiar to readers of this increasingly popular psychological suspense series. --Jane Adams


From Library Journal
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 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
A suspenseful thriller features psychologist Alan Gregory, who is treating both Kelda James, an FBI agent, and Tom Clone, who has just been released after serving 13 years in prison for a murder Kelda has proven that he didn't commit. With both James and Clone revealing their innermost secrets, Gregory becomes the one person who can solve the puzzle of the murders of two women. Narrator Dick Hill reads in a staccato style that's a bit too choppy. However, his character voices are first-rate, and the listener is drawn into the story from the first words. The combination of tension and plot could easily lead to a marathon "listen," which will be rewarded with a surprise ending. S.S.R. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Booklist
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. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
Stephen White’s thrillers are...

“Shocking, leaving the reader breathless.”
--The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

“Psychological suspense at its best.”
--Jeffery Deaver

“Required reading for thriller fans.”
--The Miami Herald

“Fascinating. Superb. Action-packed.”
--Tulsa World

“A can’t-miss read.”
--Larry King

“Constructed with the dexterity of a surgeon and the sensitivity of a psychologist.”
--Jonathan Kellerman

“Thrillers of the first order.”
--Nelson DeMille

“Absorbing, intriguing, chilling.”
--The Denver Post



From the Hardcover edition.


Review
Stephen White?s thrillers are...

?Shocking, leaving the reader breathless.?
--The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

?Psychological suspense at its best.?
--Jeffery Deaver

?Required reading for thriller fans.?
--The Miami Herald

?Fascinating. Superb. Action-packed.?
--Tulsa World

?A can?t-miss read.?
--Larry King

?Constructed with the dexterity of a surgeon and the sensitivity of a psychologist.?
--Jonathan Kellerman

?Thrillers of the first order.?
--Nelson DeMille

?Absorbing, intriguing, chilling.?
--The Denver Post



From the Hardcover edition.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Psychologist Alan Gregory is living through a season of discontent. With a new daughter, a wonderful wife, and a prospering career, he has little to complain about and lots of regrets: past cases that won't let him go, patients who don't get better, and a growing unease with keeping secrets. But Gregory has two new patients who will drag him out of his introspection - and dare him to enter a storm of injustice and revenge." "FBI special agent Kelda James is a hero, a woman who as a rookie agent made a choice, drew her gun, and saved a life, taking another. Now Kelda is hiding from the world a secret pain that is gradually crippling her body - and she has turned to Alan Gregory to help free her from the prison of her pain. Then Kelda refers a patient to Gregory, who is terrifyingly dangerous to them both." Tom Clone served thirteen years on Colorado's death row for a crime he claimed he didn't commit - until an FBI agent dug up evidence that set him free. The agent's name: Kelda James. With both Kelda and Clone telling him their innermost secrets, Alan Gregory becomes the one person who can piece together an extraordinary puzzle - of two unsolved violent deaths of vulnerable women, of a man who may be innocent or may be very lucky, and of the strange, fatal attraction between two people trapped in a horrific plot to get revenge - at any price.

SYNOPSIS

In a riveting new novel of psychological suspense, Stephen White shines a brilliant light on the darkness that hides just beneath the surface of ordinary lives, on the fears that cripple us and the prisons we create --prisons of the body, mind, and spirit.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

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. (Feb. 4) Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

White's recurring hero, Boulder, CO, psychologist Alan Gregory, is having a career crisis. Patients like Kelda James and Tom Clone bring him into the conflict between the law and confidentiality. FBI agent James is a hero, having saved a little girl from a child molester several years before becoming a patient of Alan's. Suffering from leg pains, Kelda sees a neurologist, who recommends counseling to alleviate her distress and help in her overall treatment. Still at work, she gets enough evidence to free Tom from prison for a murder he did not commit. What happens between Tom and Kelda involves kidnapping, torture, and a crooked policeman, all leading to an intriguing and suspenseful climax. Dick Hill, an excellent narrator, has performed previous works by the author. He provides an individual voice to each character and just the right pace. A great companion for library users getting ready for that long road trip.-Steven J. Mayover, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

AudioFile

A suspenseful thriller features psychologist Alan Gregory, who is treating both Kelda James, an FBI agent, and Tom Clone, who has just been released after serving 13 years in prison for a murder Kelda has proven that he didn't commit. With both James and Clone revealing their innermost secrets, Gregory becomes the one person who can solve the puzzle of the murders of two women. Narrator Dick Hill reads in a staccato style that's a bit too choppy. However, his character voices are first-rate, and the listener is drawn into the story from the first words. The combination of tension and plot could easily lead to a marathon "listen," which will be rewarded with a surprise ending. S.S.R. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews