- Paperback: 9999 pages
- Publisher: Pan; 8 edition (23 Mar 1989)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330307606
- ISBN-13: 978-0330307604
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11.2 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 678,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm afraid I cannot report anything but how disappointed I am with this Robin Cook effort which comes nowhere near the quality of some of his books that have both gone before and come after it.
Firstly the main gripe I have with it, is that it is a blatant copy of a plot idea he has used in at least two other books of his I've read (Coma and Brain) insomuch as you have a doctor in a hospital discover some strange goings on, this leads him on a dangerous trail of investigation until finally he uncovers some sinister medical goings on. Sorry Robin, you've done it before.
In this version of the story we meet Dr Jason Howard, a conscientious doctor at a Boston hospital. He is instantly concerned when several of his patients develop chronic heart problems and mysteriously die. What makes the problem more sever is that only weeks before all these patients have had health check ups in which Dr Howard passed them with satisfactory results. The only common factor seems to be a fairly unhealthy lifestyle led by all the victims, although post mortem examination reveal the internal organs expected in a 100 year old person.
Another eminent doctor at the hospital invites Dr Howard out for dinner to reveal to him some concerns he is having, however before he can disclose his worries he is struck down by a heart attacks and dies. Dr Howard's investigations take him into the seedy world of strip joints and the salmon spawning grounds of Seattle before he eventually discovers the disturbing and alarming reasons for all that is happening.
Apart from the fact we've heard the story before this time it's just not very well written. There is absolutely no character depth or development so the people in the book are cardboard cut-outs, the evil mind behind it all is so easy to spot it takes all the fun away from the investigation and even for 1988 this books shows some remarkable ignorant opinions about people.
I'll go back to Robin Cook at a later date no doubt, and even in this poor offering he shows he can still write a pacey storyline, but this is definitely not one of his best.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
15 reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
This IS the Weakest Link
30 Sep 2002
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is the most disappointing Robin Cook novel I've read. The novel's protagonist, internest Dr. Jason Howard, is a middle-aged widower who sold his practice and signed a contract with an HMO organization after his wife's death. Unfortunately, this backstory is the most interesting part of the novel. The premise is smart, but the plotting is inexplicably weak. Howard is a nice, hardworking, affable doctor who contends with the plethora of daily outpatients in an HMO-owned facility. Suddenly, a colleague invites him to dinner, says he discovered something incredibly and then dies. The reader is then thrust into the story. The villain is sorrily predictable. Once you read the description of this character in the early part of the book, it's obvious that they're the evil mastermind behind Howard's colleague's demise and the strange course of events that follow. The most interesting character in the novel is Carol Donner, an exotic dancer who had a fling with said dead colleague. She's fascinating, but little is revealed about her and you wonder why she's there at all.
I've been thrilled with the Cook books I've read. If you are too, do yourself a favor and stay away from this one.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
DEATH RATTLES
18 Feb 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Cook once again serves us up a hero who decides to become a private investigator and research things he should leave to the police. At least in this one, the police are one step behind him. Cook gives us his standard sciene gone wrong plot, although fascinating at times and extremely readable. Cook is no great writer, but he manages to hook his audience, and enable us to root for the good guy even though most of the time they act like juveniles.
Readable.
Readable.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Disappointing
2 July 1998
Format:Mass Market Paperback
In 'Mortal Fear' Robin Cook introduces another frightening idea , as in his previous books, -- Killing older patients who will probably require prolonged treatment to make way for younger patients with a better chance of recovery. A scary thought indeed. He introduced a similar line of thought in his previous book - Godplayer, and readers who have read that book can see the similarity, and will probably find this one boring, as I did. Not one of his better books, Mortal Fear, lacks the suspense one looks for in his books. GHP is struck by a psychopath who introduces a Death Hormone releasing factor into old patients causing them to age fast and die within three weeks. I rate this book only average, Cook is capable of better books.
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