Contagion

by Robin Cook

Book Overview

Robin Cook's most successful New York Times bestseller comes to paperback The underlying theme--how easily could someone start an epidemic--is answered in a pretty chilling way.--Birmingham News. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425155943
• Release Date: December 1996
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.3" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Some HMOs are just Murder?

Manhatten General Hospital seems to be a dangerous place to be hospitalized in. During a ninety-six hour period nine people have succumbed to not one, not two but three extremely rare diseases, especially for New York City. Jack Stapleton is the New York city Medical Examiner who discovered these occurrences in the course of performing autopsies upon the victims and while no one has questioned the natural occurrence of these deadly, highly infectious diseases, Jack eventually comes to the conclusion that these events are too much of a coincidence to be accidental. Contagion was written by a prolific writer named Robin Cook. If you are not familiar with Cook you should be. He is the unquestioned king of the medical mystery/suspense genre, having written well over twenty such books, dating back to the seventies. If you happen to remember the scary movie Coma, that was Robin Cook. With not one but three different extremely rare pathogens killing patients at the New York hospital, Stapleton suspects it's more than just coincidence. But Jack can't seem to get anybody's attention, especially at the Hospital itself where the management even resents and has barred his presence. This leads Jack to suspect there may be a connection between the mysterious microbes responsible for the deaths and the HMO that owns the hospital, Americare, the same HMO that once destroyed his flourishing medical practice. However Jack is unable to convince his friends and co-workers Chet and Laurie or his bosses that these occurrences are being orchestrated, even after a deadly form of Influenza makes an appearance killing many more patients and hospital staff. Could Americare deliberately killing off its sickest patients - those who cost the most money to treat? If not, is there an even more dastardly motive behind the mysterious happenings at Manhattan General, and what about the sudden attempts on Jack's life by members of a black gang who surprisingly rescued by members of another black gang? CONCLUSION Contagion is a fun read, one that, as commonly happens with an intriguing book, I kept finding reasons to to read when I should be doing other things. Though Cook is known to throw in a generous dose of medical terms I forgive him, it is after all a MEDICAL THRILLER! Other than that his writing is fluid and user friendly, though sometimes a little weak when it comes to character development, and his fulminations about the dangers of managed care tend to compete with the plot. Still, to his credit, Cook doesn't try to overwhelm you with his obvious intellect. He writes to be understood and appreciated by the masses. Speaking of the plot, Cook manages to instill a little bi-racial tolerance by having his protagonist (Jack)living in a flat in Harlem and becoming a basketball buddy with Warren, the imposing leader of a black gang. Coincidently another black gang is hired first to scare then to kill Jack and the interplay between good and bad black guys was a nice to

Very good!

One of Robin cook's best book, it's a medical thriller like almost of his books.there are a lot of action and suspense.The story is exciting, you never get bored.It's sometimes boring because Jack Stapleton is .The story: one day one "patient" of Jack has the pest and then three others strange disease appeared. Jack investigates in the Manhattan General hospital. There they don't like him and try to kill him.Jack wants the truth so he continue to investigate.If you want to know more read the book!sometimes, the medical jargon in Robin Cook's novel does not make it difficult reading. Most of the medical terminology is explained sufficiently for the reader to understand the significance of the medical find.This is the first time we hear of Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery. We hear of them again in Chromosome 6 and Vector. Robin tells you in more detail about Jack and Laurie then now the latter on. There is the plane crash that takes the life of Jack's family and how he leaves being a eye doctor to be a legist Doctor.I Highly recommended it!

GREAT!

This book is great! Dr. Cook has a way of spellbinding his readers, and contagion is no exception. Parts of this book may have you slapping yourself on the forehead, while another will have you sweating and your heart racing. The characters in this book are incredibly defined, and Dr. Cook did a great job making this book more than just a high-tech medical book. This book will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat, and try as you may, it is almost impossible to put down. One of Cook's best!

It was a great book.

It was a good book. I am only 13 years old but I thought it was a good. I was a little confused why she killed all the people for her job. Idid not understand why that Richard person changed his mind or why he killed. That is all I will say.

Exciting, informative, suprising

This book is the type that will stay with you for days. I was hesitant about reading it because I don't usually like medical thrillers. But, Cook unfolded an unbelievable tale and kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing who would be the next to go. It is definitely a must read