Rating: 
Summary: Not quite what I expected
Review: This was not your typical medical Robin Cook thriller. This one involves the Salem witchcraft era which I found really interesting. At times I thought the book was a little slow, but towards the end I couln't wait to finish it to find out how this all comes out. It's a good read, and I would recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Quick and Fun Read
Review: Book is a quick and fun read, very enjoyable, just enough horror, intrigue, and history. I am a big fan of the Salem Witch Trials and I was amazed at how correct Robin Cook was about the area and the goings on in 1692. I reccommend this book for a fun weekend read. (Coulda been a bit longer maybe)
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book, HORRIBLE MOVIE!!
Review: This was a great book to read. The action never stopped. Every time you thought you knew what was about to happen the story would change direction. There was a made for TV movie that was so different from the book that the producers must not have even read it! If you saw the movie, don't let it bias you towards the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Witches brew
Review: Not one of Cook's best, although the premise of the book is built around a interesting concept. It seems that the Salem witch trials in 1692 were brought about by a fungus commonly found at that time on rye grain. This fungus, when ingested in bread, produced hallucinations and delusions which were interpreted as being possessed. The main character, Kim Stewart, a 27 year old nurse from an affluent and blue blooded Massachusetts family has a skeleton in her closet. One of her ancestors, Elizabeth was convicted of witchcraft and hanged. Investigating her past leads to the discovery of the fungus. Her boyfriend, a brilliant research scientist metabolizes this fungus into a new, designer mood altering super Prozac type drug. His colleagues, anticipating a financial windfall, work diligently to test the drug to get FDA
approval. They speed up the process by guinea pigging the drug themselves, with somewhat predictable consequences. The book starts out strongly with a fascinating concept but fizzles into an unfulfilling conclusion. Too bad, it had potential to be much better.
Rating:
Summary: Beware of TV Movies
Review: Today (10/21/01) there was a TV Movie made of Acceptable Risk...supposedly. If that movie sparked your interest in Robin Cook's wonderful book, I wanted to forewarn you-the TV Movie was more than butchered. I'm convinced that TBS-Superstation didn't even acknowledge the book's storyline. Please don't let that horrid movie affect your purchase of this book! Its worth it. xoxMAGGIExox
Rating:
Summary: Where does reality end and fiction begin?
Review: I hadn't read any books for a long time and had forgotten what a huge fan I was of Robin Cook. I picked this because it combined some of my favorite interests. I was on the edge of my seat for days while I read this book. My responsibilities were put aside so I could see what would happen next. I couldn't put it down! There were a few inconsistencies w/ reality, but mostly I couldn't tell where reality ended and fiction began. I want to run to the university right now to see if there really is a glass jar hidden there. OK. Just kidding. But every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, there was another curveball.
Rating: 
Summary: Blah Witch Project
Review: RE: AUDIO CASSETTE VERSION. Forget that the characters are unappealing, the action implausible, the plot unconvincing - this novel is simply boring; boring in a way that no self-respecting medical thriller/occult horror story ought to be. Even had audio reader Jill Eikenberry (TV's L.A. Law) demonstrated some storytelling ability (she did not), I doubt that any entertainment value could have been salvaged from this weak effort.
Rating:
Summary: A nice diversion that is mildly thought provoking
Review: PROS: Quick read, a bit of mystery
CONS: Not terribly exciting, some out-of-character moments BOTTOM LINE: Better-than-mediocre time killer. BRIEF SYNOPSIS: A neuroscientist discovers a personality-altering miracle drug responsible for the Salem Witch trials while his nurse girlfriend researches her ancestor accused of witchcraft. Acceptable Risk is a fairly enjoyable potboiler that reads quickly. I most enjoyed the Salem Witch Trial story line and how Kim, the descendant of one of the accused, pursued her investigation. Although the ultimate mystery of the 'incontrovertible evidence' was predictable, the ride was fun. The neurosurgeons storyline was a bit weaker. I just don't see a bunch of bright scientists testing an unknown chemical on themselves no matter how enticing the potential payoff might be. But it's a convenient vehicle for Cook to express his opinion of personality-altering drugs. Dr. Edward Armstrong is timid at the start of the story. (Do timid people often park illegally overnight in the Boston suburbs? Both timid characters do so.) But, after taking the mysterious 'Ultra', he begins to change. Bad things begin to happen and it's no surprise why they happen. Overall, Acceptable Risk is a nice diversion that is mildly thought provoking.
Rating:
Summary: Moldy Medical Ethics
Review: This delightful tome from the doctor gives fascinating insight into the Salem witchtrials. The story of a woman discovering her ancestor's role in the trials neatly dovetails with another's desire to develope a lucrative psychotropic drug.
Rating:
Summary: Frightening Pharmaceutical Story
Review: Acceptable Risk was for me both frightening and fascinating. I can easily visualize people taking inadequately tested neuro medications. I was fascinated with the theories about tangible causes of personality alteratons at Salem during the time of witches.
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