Manner of Death

Alan Gregory Series, Book 7

By: Stephen White

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

“Heart-stopping suspense.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

The deaths of six men and women appeared to be bizarre accidents - until Dr. Alan Gregory discovered the chilling link. Years before, each was involved in the psychology and psychiatry training program at the University of Colorado. And each was the victim of an ingeniously planned, brilliantly executed murder. Now only two alumni survive: Dr. Gregory and Dr. Sawyer Sackett, a woman he once loved. And as the past resurfaces in ways as intimate as they are terrifying, Alan and Sawyer are plunged into the private nightmare of a killer who knows about the terrifying power of mind games…

“Pulls readers along like a steam train…. Don’t crack this thing unless there’s nothing else to do, because once you get started nothing else is going to get done.” (Denver Post)

©1999 Stephen W. White. (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Recorded by arrangement with NAL Signet, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.

My first Stephen White book

Dick Hill did a great job and I loved all of the characters especially Dr . Sawyer

Great Gregory!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. This was a very good Alan Gregory book. Very well written and although you already know he's going to survive for the next book the plot was not as predictable as some of the other books. There were moments I thought the heroine was possibly the protagonist. This book had multiple possible endings and the listener doesn't actually find out until almost the end.

What other book might you compare Manner of Death to and why?

The other Alan Gregory books for obvious reasons.

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

Dick Hill's performance was fantastic as always.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend this book. I think this is one of Stephen White's better books. Certainly worth the $ or credit with over 15 hours of listening time. I sometimes find this authors attention to details such as preparation and description of food or brand of clothing with style, cut, fit and color to be a little monotonous but not so much in this book. Although still descriptive not as much as in some of his other books. All in all a very enjoyable listen.

Good enough back story

Good enough back story to make up for a loose disjointed main theme and some characters whose major roles seem to either be stereotypically eccentric or an irritant. The main theme is a patient from Alan Gregory's intern days seems to be killing the staff from the teaching hospital where they'd worked. That includes his first love Dr. Sawyer Sackett another of the interns from the class of 82; the portions of the book relating to them and to that period of time are excellent. As are the pages dedicated to D.B. Cooper and the now mythic story of the 1973 hijacking and his subsequent escape. Added to that is the mystery of his disappearance; then the uncovering of a portion of the money from a riverbank twenty (?) years later; the only bills ever recovered from the ransom.
Unfortunately the main story has a couple of eccentric ex-FBI agents and the ever irritating Lauren Crowder; Alan's wife and Susan Silverman's principle competition as the most unlikable fictional character in existence. Together with the vague, wandering narrative and the lack of a reasonable motive for the killer's obsession drops the book to four stars. It's still worth the credit particularly if you're a reader of listener of the series.

Never disappoint

Dick Hill takes a story and gives it life and depth such that I can visualize the characters and the setting of the story. An unabridged audiobook is many times better than a movie of the book as the movie always changes the story and I’ve found usually ruins the book. Mr White and Mr Hill make a wonderful and entertaining combination. I never tire of listening to their coordinated efforts. The woman who usually reads with Mr Hill is wonderful too. Great!

memory lane

I seem to remember this book when it was read by Michael Kramer. Kramer is a gifted narrator of a particular kind. He can evoke the humor or the mystery in prose. Dick Hill does a Sam Purdy that is a new kind of anchor to this story. I doubt anyone could do that character better, however, Dick Hill is an every man kind of narrator. The prose or the story do not actually move his performance. However, because he has an every man kind of gift, we all have entrance to some good books. This book is one of my favorites of an old series and I enjoy the twists of it.

I was fully engaged

I like Dr White's books anyway AND I found this book especially imaginative right to the end.

Really good oldie..

Listening to "Manner of Death" -- published in 1999 -- now is a delightful reminder of just how good this series was, in the beginning. And how far it fell, before author Stephen White put a merciful end to it a few months ago.

All the characters are here, Lauren with her Multiple Sclerosis in an early stage, neighbor Adrianne, alive, not married yet, no son on the horizon, and of course Officer Sam, with his homespun wisdom, his diets, not to mention his funny accent, so well replicated by narrator Dick Hill, the very fine voice of Alan Gregory.

There's a couple of slimy ex-FBI agents who make you wonder, a sizzling hot former classmate, one of Alan's old flames, who looks for a little while like she might give Lauren a run for her money, there's Emily, the Bouvier, plus a list of characters with walk-on parts who prove interesting... and a plot that holds your attention, minute by minute.

Listening to this book was like a visit with old friends.... I'm sure I'll tune in to it again and again.

Good book

I really liked this book. Very good character description. Almost believable. Dick Hill is a great narrator!

Manner of Dearh/ Stephen White/Dick Hill

The combo of the right book w the Narrator being Dick Hill makes the story feel real. Nearly all books that are narrated by Dick Hill seem possible, alive, on the edge of your seat and the great part of the combo of Dick Hill and
Stephen White as the author the. Stories keep you truly on the edge of your seat waiting for one last twists.,

Boring

Commentator was very flat and boring. He didn't seem interested in the story, so I couldn't develp a true interest. I've read Stephen White before and loved him, but not this one.