Rating: 
Summary: Now I remember why I hated micro
Review: If you think that it is impossible to make an exciting story about food poisoning, you might use this book as evidence. The story linearly follows Dr. Kim Reggis, cardiac surgeon as his daughter acquires a disease associated with a toxin-producing E. coli. His temperment, like much of this book, is so stereotypical, it could have been written by machine. Rude hospital administrators, indifferent emergency physicians, Barbie girlfriend, callous ex-wife, you have 'em all here. I really can't find a single character with whom I can relate, or even like. I have no sense of the guts of any of them. The action is so sedate that a shoving match between the good surgeon and the knuckleheaded ER doctor is about as exciting as it gets. The writing would get a B- in creative writing 101. Find a better page turner to spend a couple of hours with. Maybe I'm being unfair, though. Perhaps this is the best one could do with a villain named O157:H7.
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Summary: This man is not a writer!
Review: Robin Cook knows his subject, and the plot could well be developed into a thrilling movie, but I was continually frustrated by the stilted, wooden quality of his writing. His characters are poorly developed stereotypes who speak in unnatural voices, and instead of showing a character's feelings through subtle behaviour and quirkiness, Cook tells the reader what a character is thinking - a sure sign of amateurism. I finished the book only because I wanted to know more about E. coli, but I couldn't wait for the story to end. This is not good writing.
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Summary: One of Cook's Best Works
Review: Cook does an excellent job of developing his characters in this book. I felt every second of Kim's struggle and I was pulling for a good outcome every step of the way. The book was so good that I finished it within two days. The plot is disturbingly feasible . . . you may never look at red meat the same again.
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Summary: so-so novel
Review: This book could have been better if the ending wasn't lousy. It's like the author cut it short and we don't know what happened in the end (story was not 100% completed like a cliffhanger). It's like Hitchcock movies and you have to figure out what happened to the end of the story. I'm kind of disappointed because this was not as great as other Cook books I have read.
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Summary: Robin Cook's Best Book Ever!!
Review: I feel that Toxin is the best book Robin Cook has ever written. After reading the first couple of chapters, I really got into the book's story and could not put it down. The book was a very suspenseful and thrilling novel.
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Summary: A Toxic Novel
Review: Dr. Cook is a good writer, but for some reason he "mailed it in" with this novel."Toxin" is a diatribe against managed care, the meat industry and the soul-less corporations that corrupt our government. Those are worthy topics. But for some reason the author could not decide whether he was writing a suspense, or a comical farce. No explanation is ever offered for how a paranoid man with zero impulse control and no grasp of social norms and no faith in the local social order ever became a respected surgeon. The reader is left asking "Do I care about Dr. Kim Reggis?" And if you have to ask, then the question is a resounding "No!" Leave "Toxin" in the dump. Marty Bacon
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Summary: GREAT BOOK A MUST READ
Review: I was very hesitant on reading this book because about 5 years ago I saw a show on either 20/20 or 48 hours that had undercover reporters in slaughtrs houses I was si discusted with the finding I didn't eat meat for over 3 years. I recently styarted eating meat again but not that I have read this book I might think twice about that. This is a very graphic book about the meat industry and a very descriptive view on what e coli can do to the body. This book mad me ill I was shocked to find out some of the things n this book now I know its fiction but it's based on fact. While reading this book my Husband and my 1.5 year old gor the stomacxhe flu, making me rethink that and wonderif its food posining. A doctore satys in this book that there is no such thing as the stomache flu and that it is really some form of food posioning. I'm not sure how true that is but it freaked me out. This book is not for those who have a week stomache but I think everyone should read it, it is a real eye opener!! I don'y think I'm going to eat ground beef for a long time and I will be a lot more cautious when cooking now!THIS is a great book I highly sugggest it. GREAT JOB ROBIN COOK
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Summary: Should have left it on the shelf!
Review: This book has been on my shelf for years. I should have left it there. I normally like Robin Cook's books, however this one was awful. He spent the first half of the book whining about managed care and the second half of the book describing the meat industry as if it was something akin to organized crime. There was a total lack of character development throughout the book and the ending was so poor I had to check and make sure the book was not missing any pages. Do yourself a favor and skip reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Work!
Review: This was an amazing book to read. It really makes you stop and think about eating meet though. I highly recommend this to everyone. For those with a weak stomach, you should be warned that it does get very graphic about where meat comes from.
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Summary: A tame version of "The Jungle"
Review: With over 270 reviews on file already, my review will be kept short. For those of you who have read, "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair, this is a tame version on the same topic.
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