Contagion

Rating:
Summary: Another masterpiece!
Review: Robin Cook has the wonderful ability to write about complex medical descriptions in everyday English AND write a compelling book at the same time. I read this book in two days - you can't put it down.

The story centers around suspects a connection between multiple disease breakouts in a New York hospital within a matter of days. Each breakout kills several patients, one or more hospital workers from the same department and then is quickly contained.

Mr. Cook spins a tale wrapped in suspense and the reader finds himself reading in eager anticipation of the next disaster and whether or not Jack Stapleton will be able to avert it before it becomes a nationwide problem. Add to the case a contract taken out on the pathologists life, his semi-reluctant relationship with a woman who has a few suprises of her own, plenty of wonderul desciption and you have an incredible book that will keep you turning pages eagerly and wishing there was more at the end...

Rating:
Summary: Evil Microbes and HMO's Are At It Again
Review: After losing his family to a plane crash and his medical practice to a big HMO, Dr. Stapleton is off to NYC to be medical examiner (Not a Coronor, Dr. Stapleton makes this known).

Are deaths from three diseases unfortunate or the work of a money grubbing HMO?

This was an exciting book which grabs you from the get go. Dr. Stapleton is a wonderful character who you will rapidly grow to like. What an attitude. Jack is able to ignore his bosses and get away with it the way many of us only wish we could do.

Mr. Mantegna (Reader) can really get you into this book. He does a terrific job at bringing all of the characters to life. You like the characters you are supposed to and hate the ones you are supposed to. In many audio books I find that the reader dosn't do a good job at portraying characters in the light which they were meant to be.

I only gave it 4 stars because it was above average but not outstanding. It didn't stop me from getting out of my car when I got to work or make me spend my lunch time sitting in the gloomy parking garage in my car listening like other books have.

If you like Robin Cook or simply like good thrillers, this is a book for you.

Rating:
Summary: A great read!
Review: This was the first Robin Cook book that I had read, and I had a difficult time putting the book down. I think it's a scary thought, but something like this has the possibility of happening in todays world. The book was an easy and an enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: What a waste
Review: In the hands of a better writer, this could have been a great thriller. As it is, all I can say is: Nice plot. Someone ought to write a book about it.

Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Review: Is not easy (I think) for an author to hook up the reader from begin to the end. This is the first Cook's book I read and I will read the others, of course.

Rating:
Summary: Very good ... typical satisfying Robin Cook!
Review: My bad! I read Chromosome 6 before I read Contagion, but I think Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery are excellent recurring characters. I rarely follow series-type stories (my other favorite is Patricia Cornwell with her constant protagonist Kay Scarpetta), but I found myself hooked into the intrigue and unpredictable fun of Jack and Laurie's lives! It's great thriller-conspiracy stuff, like a Grisham or Palmer novel, so I was always on the edge of my seat (if sitting) while reading! I only gave it four stars because I can compare the overall greatness of Contagion to Chromosome 6 which, in my opinion, actually tops the list!

Rating:
Summary: I forced myself to finish this book.
Review: My husband purchased this book before a flight out of Sydney, Australia and now I know that the only reason he finished it was because he was trapped in a plane for 21 hours!! I usually agree with Amazon customer comments but I am baffled...this is one of the most poorly written and unrealistic books I have ever read. The dialogue was infantile - do not waste your time.

Rating:
Summary: What a disappointment
Review: I rally thought this book had a great premise....healthcare conglomerations killing off the patients who used "more than their share" of resources. Okay....that wasn't it! So much of the book was just plain implausbible. I do not believe gang members talk that way. I don't see any real reason for the gang members to be in the story to start with! I think the coincidence of Jack and Therese meeting in the bar is unbelievable. I knew who the killer was about halfway into the book.

I started reading Robin Cook in junior high...Coma and the rest. I think his last several books have been just churning them out, as simplistically as possible.

Rating:
Summary: A definite thriller
Review: This book was completely satisfying. It shows how deadly the small situations can be. It kept me reading hour after hour. The detail that is used and graphication makes the scenery in this book. This is something you won't want to miss out on.

Rating:
Summary: One of Cook's Best!!!
Review: This was a great book, but the implications of how easily an epidemic could be started are frightening. The new characters, Jack Stapleton and Terese Hagan, among others, combined with characters from Cook's previous book, Blindsight (Laurie Montgomery and the cop) make this hard to put down!