Robin M. Cook

This book delves into the alarming reality of food-borne illnesses, focusing specifically on E. coli 0157:H7, a dangerous pathogen present in today's food supply. Dr. Kim Reggis, a renowned cardiac surgeon known for his long work hours, is struggling with the pressures brought on by his hospital's recent merger with the insurance giant AmeriCare. At home, Kim and his ex-wife, Tracy, share custody of their 10-year-old daughter, Becky. When Becky develops stomach cramps and diarrhea after show more eating an undercooked hamburger at her favorite fast-food restaurant, The Onion Ring, Kim and Tracy rush her to the emergency room. The wait is agonizing, stretching to three hours, leaving Kim frustrated with the overburdened healthcare system. Unfortunately, what starts as a minor illness quickly escalates, and Becky dies a horrific death just days later.

Consumed by grief and anger, Kim embarks on a relentless quest to uncover the cause of his daughter's death. After learning from a colleague about the risks of E. coli contamination in beef processing, Kim decides to investigate the industry firsthand. His pursuit leads him to infiltrate the local slaughterhouse to gather evidence and shut it down. In doing so, he attracts the attention of the powerful and ruthless figures who control the billion-dollar beef industry, individuals determined to protect their interests at any cost.

If you are fond of hamburgers, you may want to reconsider before picking up this book—your perception of processed beef could be forever changed. Nevertheless, reading this novel and other materials on the topic is highly recommended. While the story is fictional, its portrayal of food safety issues resonates with real-world concerns. show less

Viral is Robin Cook's 38th medical thriller and it is my favorite from among all of his books. The ending was unexpected and extremely satisfying that I am tempted to begin rereading it ASAP.

The main character, Brian Murphy, and his wife and child travel to Cape Cod for a two week vacation. When wife Emma begins to get flu-like symptoms, they cut their vacation short and return to New York City after one week. On the drive home, Emma begins to convulse. When the family reaches their local show more hospital Emma is given a room in the ICU area. She is diagnosed with eastern equine encephalitis, a/k/a EEE. It is a rare and highly lethal mosquito-borne viral disease that she probably caught during one of their barbeques on the coast. To make matters worse, Brian and Emma's daughter Juliette begins to exhibit alarming physical and behavioral symptoms too. Emma's hospital stay is rather expensive. When Brian receives a $221,000 bill that his insurer refuses to pay, citing dubious clauses in their health insurance policy, he decides to get to the bottom of the hospital's predatory billing practices.

My love of the story is based on my own experience with encephalitis when I was 8 years old and my 35 year history dealing with insurance companies after a catastrophic injury in a car accident. The author gives us the basics on encephalitis, the treatment and etiology of which has changed drastically since I had it 55 years ago. I ended up googling it and discovered even more information that was geared to my experiences over all these years. Cook is known for writing the etiology of whatever disease he writes about in his books. It becomes part of the plot action. Naturally, I was drawn to this particular story.

The writing was superb. The pace was super fast because Brian needed to save the lives of his wife and child. The reader doesn't know how things will turn out, just that there is a sense of urgency. Brian had to fight this battle on three fronts: the disease, the insurer and the hospital. I believe this alone will connect with every reader. All Americans have been put through the ringer with medical matters. The ending was quite different from what we have seen from Cook in the past. I won't elaborate, but I loved it!

Another aspect to the plot is how asian mosquitos came to be located on the U. S. eastern coast. This mosquito has a distinct look: 2 white dots on its wings. Climate change is the reason that this type of mosquito traveled from the tropics, where it is normally located, to the eastern coast of the United States. Later on in the story, the reader sees that this particular mosquito is somewhere else on the planet. I don't want to be a spoiler so I will leave it at that.

The hospital setting was where much of the action took place. Cook shows us what we are all familiar with: hours long waits in the emergency room, seemingly uncaring staff, and, of course, the nasty billing department who call you nonstop trying to collect. The plot goes into hospital billing practices that I was not aware of. It has made me determined to check my bills in the future now that I know how this system works.

I thought the characters were sympathetic. We don't know much about Emma because she becomes ill early in the story. Daughter Juliette is four-years-old and cries constantly. She is catered to quite a bit. I can certainly feel for Brian. Having been through his circumstances more than once in my life, I felt his pain. His emotions ran high throughout the entire story. Although Brian is a problem solver by nature, he just cannot penetrate the medical system to resolve his issues. His line of thinking is insightful for anyone new to this experience. There are 4 other characters of note. His mother, mother-in-law, business assistant and a new friend named Jeanne all help him steer through the mess that healthcare is today. Jeanne, in particular, becomes a major part of the story. She is a child psychologist who lost her husband a year ago via the same situation that Brian now finds himself in.

Viral will make you read your insurance policy and search for medical billing advocates. I loved it and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. show less

4 out of 5 stars!
Robin Cook’s "Bellevue" is a spine-tingling thriller that blends medical aspects with a touch of chilling horror, set against the backdrop of the legendary Bellevue Hospital—an iconic institution brimming with history!

As someone fascinated with the psychiatric side of medicine, especially when layered with history, I couldn't resist putting the audiobook version on my Libby waitlist when I stumbled on it. The eerie atmosphere is captivating! Coupled with the hospital's show more rich architectural descriptions, I was hooked.

Michael Fuller, a first-year surgical resident, steps into the hallowed halls of Bellevue, a path carved out by generations of his family. But his journey isn’t off to a promising start. From the beginning, he is plagued by terrifying visions. After all, who wouldn’t expect to encounter ghosts in an institution with such a murky past? To make matters worse, none of the patients he assists survive their surgeries. It's not a great start to his first-year residency!

Cook weaves an incredibly suspenseful blend of medical detail with a haunting narrative. The brisk pace kept me on my toes, and the eerie backdrop of Bellevue Hospital elevated the tension to new heights. While the premise may seem a bit out there, Cook’s medical background brings a refreshing authenticity to the story.

The characters are richly developed, especially Michael, whose struggle to make sense of the bizarre happenings around him is incredibly relatable. You can feel his desperation as he struggles with the visions haunting him. Cook's writing style shines. There is no complex medical jargon to overwhelm readers.

While the book's length felt just right, I craved a more detailed ending but less detail throughout other parts of the book. There are a few lingering questions I wish had been answered. The author notes at the end are a great touch, especially since Cook recommends a book on the history of Bellevue Hospital that I’m definitely excited to explore one of these days! show less

I did this for my dear Mom, who has been passed since Dec 2007, but who was a die-hard Robin Cook fan from minute one. EVERY YEAR Mr. Cook came out with a book, Mom was there at Waldenbooks [I know, I know...extinct city and...I am seriously "age-ing" myself here], Barnes & Noble [when it wasn't B&N of online fame] and Borders, etc. etc...picking up the newish Best Seller...IN HARDCOVER!. yeah, she was that much of a fan, from back in ye olde COMA days. Mom was a 31 yr Registered Nurse, who show more retired in PACU, which [if you don't know] stands for Post Anesthesia Nursing Care.

I loved watching Mom read these because she wasn't often a lover of ALL THINGS MEDICAL. She used to tell me that "Why do I wanna watch this, I work in THAT every damn day!?" and I saw her point. But there was always something special...sort of otherworldly surreal about Mr. Cook's writing that spoke to her, made her devour his books in a single day, or two. She'd finish and gush, somehow awash herself in the manner the story was told in a reality she envisioned daily. She didn't think Mr. Cook was too far off the real honest truth. There is an authenticity here she couldn't pass on...and now I see why she fed off these novels every publication year. Thanks, Mr. Cook...for showing me a minor way back to memories of my Mom. It brought me a weird joy despite the pure terror at every turn of the page.

Okay...this book effing scared me to bits. Not because everything Mr. Cook writes borders on such stunning realism, but because not too long ago...I was "caught" in the medical system that would consistently give me the literal shivers. It reminded me of how close I came to being sucked into The Void of not just terrible insurance but of the visceral trap sick customers can get stuffed into and without those random people who DO care who work for the conglomerated insurance companies...would rather watch the ill or sick get sicker draining more money into their pockets out of innocent folks like me. And thank God I had a hyper-aware family member who WANTED me to get better and see me back home...no matter what means necessary to get me there.

I wouldn't have read this book IN THERE...the hospital or the rehab/nursing home care facility I was sent to prior to coming home nearly 2.5yrs later. I would not have read this because I think...even around the time this book came out 2013-1014...we were close to such things as iDoc and implanted medical devices existing in this very scenario. It just hits too close to what can happen to the sick or terminally ill who DO NOT have the family members or a legal guardian who DOES care about them and wants what is best. Letting folks fester where they don't belong is never the answer because some of those so-called helpful places can sometimes manifest a sense of "this is the end"...or worse, "This is where I die"...patients can be found to not just become physically sicker but mentally and emotionally sink deeper into a blacker nothingness.

It's scary...and Mr. Cook comes so close...in each of those individual characters/patients who were part of the beta testing of iDoc depicting that restless energy...that instant loss of autonomy...the way insurances and people who don't know what it's remotely like take for granted for the all-mighty dollar...to feel stripped of everything that makes us human and humane. To eventually give yourself up to the inevitable Death knocking at your door because there is no fathomable way to stop it...poor, poor Sal tried and he seriously had the worst outcome of the five deaths connected to George. Jesus...on...a...cross...

I have to say, with any other book, the ending would have upset me, but not here. I want to imagine my own outcome. I like the ending we were given because endings don't always have to be happy or final. Sometimes we simply have to let them be... show less