Merritt Strait almost dies after swallowing a jumble of pills. Tall, pretty and seemingly a happy kid, nobody saw it coming. When Alan Gregory is called in to help with her case, his situation is made extremely difficult:

Merritt isn't talking. It is not that she can't talk, she just won't. Gregory eventually comes to the conclusion that she is trying to protect someone, but who?

Author White ties together some interesting plot threads to lead his readers down a clever path. Seems that on the same night that Merritt unexpectedly tried to kill herself, a wealthy executive of a powerful HMO was murdered. On the surface, there would seem to be no link between the two, until Gregory learns more about Merritt's family. Seems she has a little half-sister, Chaney, who is dying from a rare heart ailment. And guess who turned down the experimental procedure which is Chaney's only hope?

While bloody clues begin pointing to Merritt, there are others who are equally angry with Ed Robilio (or Dead Ed, as he becomes endearingly known). Merritt's mother, Brenda Strait, is a tough and determined reporter for a local TV station. She has made a few enemies of her own by exposing fraud among Colorado politicians. She and her second husband, John Trent, are keeping vigil at Chaney's bedside while pushing unsuccessfully to win the experimental and expensive procedure which might save their daughter's life.

Trent, interestingly enough, is also a clinical psychologist, and his own practice has put him in the middle of an ugly custody battle, which may or may not be related to the murder as well. And then there is Merritt's shady friend from school, who along with her boyfriend, seems just a bit too edgy when asked about Merritt's suicide attempt.

Critical Conditions is the sixth Dr. Alan Gregory novel, and while I found him a bit bland to begin with, he definitely grew on me. The angle with the doctor patient privilege is a clever one, especially when Gregory finally wins Merritt's confidence, only to be bound by his oath. Gregory (conveniently) has a police detective best friend who also has a family connection here, so the psychologist/sleuth has access to more than his share of inside information. The plot picks up pace and takes a fair share of surprising turns.

Critical Conditions is not an easy whodunit, but more like who didn't do it! I think most readers (like me) will finish this and look forward to another story with the good psychologist

--Martha Moore