Dead Time » (Unabridged)

Writers often use elements of their own personalities to craft their most-enduring characters, and Stephen White has certain done so in creating fellow-clinical psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory. However, White s electrifying series of crime thrillers aren t likely to be mistaken for autobiographies anytime soon.

After the shocking developments in Dry Ice, Colorado psychologist Alan Gregory is struggling to deal with his newly adopted son and repair his shaky, though generally improving, marriage. But then Alan’s ex-wife, Merideth, reappears, seeking help she feels only Alan can give. Suddenly Alan is pulled into a mystery that reaches back years to a camping trip at the Grand Canyon involving Merideth’s fiancé and five friends whose lives were changed forever when a young woman mysteriously vanished from the Canyon floor.

Enlisting the help of friend and detective Sam Purdy, Alan finds himself pitted against new demons and unseen enemies as he tries to uncover the connection between the unexplained disappearance at the Grand Canyon and Merideth’s missing surrogate. The clock is ticking, and as Alan’s and Sam’s investigations take them from New York City to Los Angeles to the cavernous reaches of the Canyon itself, Alan unearths a series of secrets and deceptions that someone wishes to keep buried at all costs.

Cliff Glaviano - Library Journal

In his 16th novel, White (Missing Persons) deepens his exploration of the psyches of the characters in his crime fiction series involving Colorado psychologist Alan Gregory, his family, and his friends. White's 15-year practice in clinical psychology lends credence to descriptions of his characters' motivations, perceptions, and reactions. Thoughtful listeners will likely find Alan's psychological musings involving and rewarding, especially as a seeming midlife crisis forces him to reassess his relationships. We get the 360° view: Alan's insights into himself and into others' impulses, along with commentary on his failed first marriage and not-so-gentle criticisms from friend Sam Purdy. White combines a fascinating murder mystery with wonderful descriptions of Colorado, Southern California, and New York. Read by Dick Hill, this is a well-engineered, well-directed audiobook that will keep the listener's attention; very highly recommended for adult crime fiction and mystery collections. [White is a New York Times best-selling author; Dead Time is also available as downloadable audio from Audible.com.-Ed.]