Host by Robin Cook

I have been a fan of Robin cook for a long time , almost 5-6 books span. Then i got hooked to different genre. Though i did read a few medical thrillers , none matched the writing and knowledge of Cook.

When I got a chance to read this book, i was happy and eager to embark on this adventure. This turned out to be better. The plot revolves around healthy patients ending up in a vegetative state and then being moved to a recently constructed fully automatic wing of the hospital with no one knowing the diagnosis or the cure of their various symptoms. When Lynn's boyfriend meets a siMilar fate , she starts noticing the abnormalities and the impossibility of the situation on its own. With help from her best friend , she starts digging into the patient histories and the test results and soon she finds the number of such cases are alarming for a single hospital.

What I have always enjoyed about Cook's books is the way the setup is created, to look like a day out of a diary. The characters do not just stay focussed on the investigation but the routine tells us a lot about them , the general outline of the place , the different departments and services. In a nutshell , the author transports you into the center of action with his simple yet engaging writing.

The climax is a little flat thouh I admit i will need a second look to grasp the reasoning provided in the end.

Overall , I enjoyed the book a lot.

My rating : 3.5/5 

Thoughts on Robin Cook's 'Coma'

             

Image Courtesy:ebay

            This is not going to be a full fledged review.After all,what is the point in reviewing a book which is almost 30 years old and that too a really successful one? 'Coma' marked Dr Robin Cook's first big success as an author and was first published by Signet Books in 1977 (almost a decade before this blogger was born!).It is a medical thriller and traces the journey of Dr Susan Wheeler,a twenty something, attractive third year Medical Student who stumbles upon a couple of bizarre coma cases during the very first clinical posting of her medical studies.Pretty soon,she discovers that almost all those patients/victims had undergone only minor surgical procedures for their respective ailments before becoming comatosed.The inquisitive girl she is, Susan decides to find out the truth behind these mysterious cases and soon finds herself in deep trouble.
              More than the way it is written(there are plenty of scenes which defy logic and even the protagonist Susan is not a very likeable character),it is the central theme of the book which impressed me.The book should have been way ahead of it's time when it first came out.It may be 37 years old now,but never mind,it still manages to entertain!

-nikhimenon

Mortal Fear- Robin Cook

BEST SELLERS: Coma, Chromosome 6, Abduction, Sphinx, Brain

1ST PUBLISHED: 1988

ISBN:978-0-330-30760-4

GENRE: Medical Thriller

SYNOPSIS:

Jason Howard used his career as a doctor to escape a private tragedy; until his own patients started dying from massive heart attacks. When his colleague becomes the next victim, Jason is finally forced to act. A decision that could cost him his life…

Before his death, Doctor Alvin Hayes had been on the verge of a secret medical breakthrough. What was one more murder to the conspirators who had inherited his crown?

EXCERPT:

A moan escaped from his lips; then both hands shot out and gripped the tablecloth, clawing it toward him. The wine glasses fell over. He started to get to his feet but he never made it. With a violent choking cough, he spewed a stream of blood across the table, drenching the cloth and spraying Jason, who jumped backward, knocking over his chair. The blood didn’t stop. It came in successive waves, splattering everything as nearby diners began to scream….There was nothing Jason could do but hold the man as his life flowed out of him.

ARPITA SPEAKS:

When world class molecular biologist Doctor Alvin Hayes died in the arms of Jason Howard, declaring that someone wanted him killed, our protagonist thought that Hayes was perhaps suffering from stress and a nervous breakdown. But with his growing worry about patients dying merely weeks after their physicals and being declared reasonably healthy, as well as signs that seemed to corroborate Hayes’ belief that someone was misusing his discovery, Jason got wondering if Hayes really had been telling the truth about the medical breakthrough he was convinced he had been on the brink of.

The novel focuses on Jason’s attempt to unearth Hayes’ secret in order to bring to light a discovery that could possibly benefit mankind. It reveals how this profession can be a gift- and a burden. It makes one aware of the astounding power of science that can destroy as well as it can heal.

Jason is a protagonist that one cannot help but like from the word go. The touch of innocence in his nature only adds to his charm. The most impressive character is, believe it or not, a cabaret dancer by the name of Carol Donner. Jason’s interaction with her, in certain parts of the story, actually made me giggle! She is, perhaps, the one who makes the read all the more worthwhile.

Although the plot is a little predictable at times, at others it’s pleasantly surprising- or gruesomely horrifying. This might not be one of the best thrillers I have read so far, but it most definitely is enjoyable.

RATING: 3/5

PRICE: Rs.225/-

NUMBER OF PAGES: 364

Chromosome 6- Robin Cook

Author : Robin Cook

Synopsis: (From book cover)

When notorious underworld leader Carlo Franconi is gunned down, his Mafioso competitors become prime suspects. Suspicions are fuelled when Franconi’s body disappears from the city morgue before it can be autopsied- much to the embarrassment of the authorities, but to the amusement of forensic pathologist Jack Stapleton.

A few days later, the mutilated, unidentifiable body of a ‘floater’ arrives on the autopsy table and Jack himself becomes disturbed by the case. While unidentified bodies routinely make their way to medical examiner’s office, what arouses Jack’s curiosity is not so much that the body is missing its head, hands and feet – but also its liver.

Aided by his colleague Dr Laurie Montgomery, he identifies the corpse as the missing mobster. But who actually killed Carlo Franconi? And was the killer also responsible for the theft of the corpse and its grisly disfigurement?

Their search for the truth leads them to the steamy jungle of equatorial Africa, where they discover a sinister cabal whose activities include surgical procedures a step beyond the latest in current technology- and a leap beyond the accepted medical ethics.

Excerpts:

“When I toured that island way back before all this started,” Kevin said, “I remember seeing some caves in that limestone cliff. What I’m thinking is that our creations are going into the caves, maybe even living in them. It’s the only way I can think of to explain why the grid would fail to pick them up.”

Melanie brought up a hand to cover her mouth. Her eyes reflected a flicker of horror and dismay.

Candace saw Melanie’s reaction. “Hey, come on, guys,” she pleaded. “What’s wrong? What are you thinking?”

Melanie lowered her hand. Her eyes were locked on Kevin’s. “What Kevin was referring to when he said he was terrified he’d overstepped the bounds,” she explained in a slow, deliberate voice,” was the fear that he’d created a human.”

Maithili Speaks:

This is one of Robin cook's best work in his genre. I picked up this book trying to explore more into the world of medical fiction and to those who feel this book would go over their head - Robin cook has explained all the terms in a language any layman could understand! 

The story is of a academist Kevin who has stumbled upon a research involving Chromosome 6. With the help of this chromosome and biotechnology he is able to make a double of human by inserting the same gene in a bonobo-an ape family. Little does he know that Chromosome 6 also contains development genes!

The bonobos are created as double and can be used in future for organ transplant without any issues of incompatibility. The bio giant GenSys has set up a huge hospital and facilities for the research with the help of a small Africa country government which is in dire need of foreign currency- so much that it has made a capital punishment for anyone interfering with the Company. 

The project incharge recruits doctors and there is  chain of cuts to be given for each successful double. But the only issue that GenSys is worried about it -secrecy! An hint of this operation and they could get into serious animal right issues.

Kevin notices smoke in the jungles were bonobos are kept and he fears the worst- the bonobos are behaving like cavemen and using fire!!!!!!

Back in New York, Laurie and Jack, two medical examiners are worrying over the strange circumstances in which body of Carlos, a mobster, is found. Their trail leads them to African country where they discover the terrifying overstepping of ethics.

This story is amusing and the whole concept of bonobos turning like cavemen is fascinating. The plot is excellent and fast paced.

Rating: 4 /5

You can download this book from HERE

INTERVENTION- Robin Cook

              

Author: Robin Cook

Best Sellers : Coma, Chromosome 6 and many others

Synopsis:

It's been more than thirty years since New York City medical examiner Jack Stapleton's college graduation and almost as long since he's been in touch with former classmates Shawn Daughtry and James O'Rourke. A post mortem on a young college student who had recently been treated by a chiropractor leads Jack to investigate alternative medicine. What makes some people step outside the medical establishment to seek care from practitioners of Eastern philosophies and even faith healers?

Jack's classmate Shawn Daughtry is now a renowned archaeologist and biblical scholar. He has recently obtained permission for a final dig beneath Saint Peter's in Rome- despite a long-standing grudge against the Catholic Church- and has made a startling discovery with huge ecclesiastical and medical implications.

When James O'Rourke, now Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, gets wind of Shawn's findings, he's desperate to keep them from the public. James has strong political ambitions within the church, but his association with Shawn threatens to undermine them. James turns to his old friend Jack to help protect an explosive secret- one with power to change lives forever.

Excerpts:

"What about the bones?" James asked. " What did you learn from the anthropologist? Are they human? Are they female? Is it more than one person?"

Shawn responded," They are definitely human, without doubt female, and it is only one person."

"And there is suggestion that the individual was multiparous," Jack added. "Infact, significantly multiparous, like more than five, maybe even up to a dozen children."

James felt his pulse hammer at his temples and for a moment he was overheated, thinking of removing his sweater. After taking a sip of wine to relieve his suddenly parched throat, he asked, "What about the age of the individual?"

"That's difficult to ascertain, but the anthropologist was willing to guess over fifty, probably more like eighty plus."

"I see," James said simply. Doing a quick calculation in his head, he realized with yet another start that such an age would have been entirely appropriate for the Blessed Mother, considering Jesus's birth around 4 BC and her death in AD 62. She would have been in her eighties..

Maithili Speak:

I took up this book expecting it to be another medical fiction by Robin Cook. I was in for a surprise when I realised what this book was all about. Unlike some of Robin Cook books which revolved around the medical fraternity, this book got into religion, archaelogy, alternate medicine and the Blessed Virgin Mary!

Jack is a medical investigator who has lost his wife and two daughters in a crash. His son , JJ, from his second wife Laurie , is all of 4 months and suffering from a deadly cancer. Jack considers himself unlucky for his loved ones and guilty for diverting himself in his profession to forget his pain. 

The death of a young student who was getting treated by a chiropractor ( someone who treats ailments by spinal adjustments) makes Jack plunge into alternate medicine and its harmful effects. Soon he realises why people would prefer alternate medicine and also he realises that people won't like to listen about the ill effects and he drops his efforts there.

Shawn Daughtry finds a codex in an antique shop in Egypt and to his utter amazement, it is an original. It contains information about the ossuary of the Blessed Mother which is dug with Saint Peters. Shawn an archaeologist and his wife Sana- an expert in mitochondrial DNA studies, set out to extract the ossuary. Sana wishes to identify the DNA sequence and find a similar code in a woman who would be of  a direct maternal  lineage of Mother Mary! 

James, the Bishop is aware of the work his friend Shawn has started and petrified of the consequences it would have on the masses if the work gets published. He asks for Jack's help to convince Shawn to not do so and when he fails he sends Luke, a man with childish angelic looks and who is dedicated to brotherhood of Virgin Mary, to change Shawn's intentions. Little does he know that Luke is fanatical with his faith..

It is almost at par with Dan Brown's genre.. I loved the build up and the shocking end of the book. .

Rating: 4 on 5. I would have liked a little more on chiropractor angle..

Price: Rs 299 /-