Warning Signs: A Novel of Suspense (Alan Gregory) Mass Market Paperback – January 1, 2003

Warning Signs is proof that a writer who works diligently at his or her craft will continue to get better and better. White never relaxes into any sort of personal formula but rather approaches each new book with fresh insights, as if it were his first effort rather than his eight or ninth. Particularly effective in this book is the range of "voices" of the characters. Each one has different phrasing, different cadences; each is fully indicative of a complete person. Even the villains of this piece come across as real, believable beings. And the author, via hero Alan Gregory, acknowledges that there is such a thing as standard, pat "shrink-talk," which he goes to considerable lengths to avoid. A lot of hot-button issues are addressed in Warning Signs, not only the matter of school violence (disaffected teens) but also the very important issue of what it takes to get people in positions of power to listen to what matters to so many who are affected by the decisions of the judicial system, and the often disastrous fallout from those decisions. It has been said many times before that we've arrived at a point in history when more attention is paid to the rights of the criminal than to the rights of the victims. That fact is at the core of this novel and it's well addressed, with the author wisely leaving the resolutions to be made by the readers.Few authors could carry off a novel that switches back and forth between third person and first person narrative, but White succeeds admirably in Warning Signs. It helps to heighten the considerable tension of the book. As well, bits of welcome humor (the description of baby Grace's cold symptoms are truly funny) help to render Alan even more human.One minor quibble: any woman who's done laundry will have the same problem that I did, concerning a bedsheet that figures strongly in the plot. The evidence wouldn't have survived the hot-water wash we all use on whites. But it is only a minor quibble and in no way detracts from the overall fine quality of the book.Most highly recommended.

I am a big Stephen White fan, who waits every year for his latest. Those of you new to Dr. White are in for an incredible treat, as you go back and read from the beginning. His books are intelligent, well-written, with complex plots and complete characters. Warning Signs isn't up to his usual offerings. This one strayed too far from the core characters for me and introduced characters for this story I didn't care about. You get a lot of insight into the psychological elements that motivate people to do bad things, as you would expect from a psychologist-turned-author, but the culprit was revealed too early for me. Dr. White obviously spent a lot of time on research about explosives. His usual attention to detail is there, and there are a couple of curves thrown, but some aren't developed. I didn't get the impression that Dr. White was having a good time with Warning Signs. Overall, I say if you don't know this author read some of the others first. You owe it to yourself---and him---before you read this. He's a superb author. I am sure this book isn't a warning sign that that will change.

Ordered use. It was is fine shape!

White's books always start out fast and keep you racing through the pages until you finally come to the part where things become totally silly. This is no exception and when you arrive at the climactic scene you're faced with a kid who is an unlikely mega-multi-tasker of death and destruction. White's good at building suspense and ending each chapter with a hanger that forces you to keep reading. The silly climax notwithstanding, this is one of White's better books. If you overlook the improbabilities, the coincidences, the elitist yuppified left-wing snarky asides, the ersatz moral concerns, etc., you may actually end up enjoying this book.

This is the first of White's novels I've read and I can't wait to download more. I seemed to be surprised over and over again and I love that in a book. The fact that it takes place in and around Boulder almost made it more enjoyable as I live in Colorado.I wholly recommend this as a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.Would be perfect for a movie plot. kh

Loved the multiple plot twists. I had trouble putting my kindle down while reading this book. The fact that the villain was polite and likeable (at least in the eyes of one character) was interesting and somewhat unique for this genre. Overall this was a terrific, very enjoyable book!

I started reading this series from book one, Priviledged Information, and each installment is better than the one before, which is no simple chore. Warning Signs is fast paced and doesn't disappoint. The author can take several seemingly unrelated stories and weave them together in a way that may not always answer all of the questions, but certainly leaves you wondering. The "bad guy" may do horrible things, but the story is told with the psychological insight that doesn't make the reader hate him.

Stephen White never fails to provide interesting characters. The plots always take such twists that one always is so involved, it's disappointing when the book concludes.