He just never disappoints! Fortunately, I'm still catching up with his books! ( )

I have read several books by Robin Cook because I find the medical aspects interesting, most of the time. I took this one from the book box at Starbucks because I wanted some escape reading, frankly. Good thing I wasn't looking for something earthshaking medically.

As is often the case with Cook, the hospital system is under attack. The hospital in this case is in bed with a new HMO, and the HMO calls the shots. Meaning no consultations with professionals outside the network, no "unnecessary" admittances to the hospital, encouragement to cut short times with patients, and so on. A litany of issues we have heard about (or experienced) before.

The HMO issues are the background for the mystery here. Certain patients, who come in for minor issues, are dying unexpectedly. Except that their deaths are not entirely unexpected because they have histories of serious illnesses: cancers, diabetes, other longterm issues that can crop up again. Some doctors are concerned and express that concern but others, and the nursing staff, don't see problems. Symptoms are remarkably similar.

When David and Angela Wilson join the teams (Angela as pathologist for the hospital, David as doctor for the HMO), they are excited about the small city, the clean air, the lack of traffic, the potential for a good life, especially for their daughter, who is afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis.

But it isn't long before they both run into issues. Angela faces sexual harrassment from her supervisor while David faces these strange deaths of his patients. He notes that the symptoms are similar to each other and even when he brings in specialists nobody can find a cause. However, because of the previous illnesses, even the specialists are willing to accept the deaths as "normal". David initially has doubts about his ability as a doctor, but finally comes to realize it isn't his doing. It takes some time for him to come to this conclusion, however.

But what really is happening? and why?

Adding to the complications is the grisly discovery in the family's new house.

It's a story. It hangs together. There is the usual cast of evil characters, primarily administrative types. And there is the usual crusading doctor, David, who is a little less than an understanding husband much of the time. In fact, the discussions between husband and wife often jump to defensiveness and accusations rather quickly. I didn't buy the simplified characters, but that is typical for Cook. The overall story takes precedence.

It's good enough for the airplane.
( )

Medical mystery thriller - Like junk food, a Robin Cook is a treat once in a while. ( )

A hospital struggles to make budget after signing a capitation agreement with a HMO. Meanwhile patients begin mysteriously dying as a new doctor struggles to balance patient care with the demands to lower costs and reduce consults & testing.

I found this to be quite suspenseful as is often the case with Robin Cook novels, the plot unfolds nicely as does the escalating problems had by the doctors in the story before coming to a nice finale. ( )

In Fatal Cure, David and Angela Wilson are young doctors who have relocated to Vermont to work in a state of the art medical facility while raising their daughter, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. All is not as happy as it seems in this little small town Nirvana. The hospital is in financial trouble due to a contract with an HMO. Patients are dying unexpectedly, and the people at the hospital don’t care.

This novel is very heavy handed in its approach. It’s more about making political statements than telling a good story. This is something that Robin Cook suffers from. He often has good ideas, but his prose and storytelling is weak, as evidenced in this story. Ultimately the story is really about the current situation with healthcare and medical insurance, and not a tale of intriguing fiction. This was a weak novel, one that I would recommend skipping.

Carl Alves – author of Blood Street ( )