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New York City cab driver Yuri Davydov is a disgruntled Russian emigre poised to lash out at the adoptive nation he believes has denied him the American Dream. A former technician in the Soviet biological weapons system, Biopreparat, Yuri possesses the knowledge to wreak havoc in his new home. But before he executes his planned piece de resistance of vengeance, he experiments first on his suspicious live-in girlfriend, then on a few poor-tipping fares.... Dr. Jack Stapleton and Dr. Laurie Montgomery (both last seen in Chromosome 6) begin to witness some unusual cases in their capacity as forensic pathologists in the city's medical examiner's a young, healthy black woman dies of respiratory failure, a Greek immigrant succumbs to a sudden, overwhelming pneumonia. At the same time, the pair are pressured from above to focus on a high-profile string of suspicious deaths of prisoners in police custody. When an unexpected breakthrough persuades Jack that these seemingly unrelated deaths are really connected murders, his colleagues and superiors are skeptical. Only Laurie is somewhat convinced. But the question soon becomes whether the pair will solve the puzzle before Yuri unleashes into the streets of New York the ultimate a modern bioweapon. With signature skill, Robin Cook has crafted a page-turning thriller rooted in up-to-the-minute biotechnology. Vector is all-too-plausible fiction at its terrifying best.
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
288 people are currently reading
3585 people want to read
About the author
Robin Cook
189 books5,041 followersLibrarian Note: Not to be confused with British novelist Robin Cook a pseudonym of Robert William Arthur Cook.
Dr. Robin Cook (born May 4, 1940 in New York City, New York) is an American doctor / novelist who writes about medicine, biotechnology, and topics affecting public health.
He is best known for being the author who created the medical-thriller genre by combining medical writing with the thriller genre of writing. His books have been bestsellers on the "New York Times" Bestseller List with several at #1. A number of his books have also been featured in Reader's Digest. Many were also featured in the Literary Guild. Many have been made into motion pictures.
Cook is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Columbia University School of Medicine. He finished his postgraduate medical training at Harvard that included general surgery and ophthalmology. He divides his time between homes in Florida, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts where he lives with his wife Jean. He is currently on leave from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He has successfully combined medical fact with fiction to produce a succession of bestselling books. Cook's medical thrillers are designed, in part, to make the public aware of both the technological possibilities of modern medicine and the ensuing ethical conundrums.
Cook got a taste of the larger world when the Cousteau Society recruited him to run its blood - gas lab in the South of France while he was in medical school. Intrigued by diving, he later called on a connection he made through Jacques Cousteau to become an aquanaut with the US Navy Sealab when he was drafted in the 60's. During his navy career he served on a nuclear submarine for a seventy-five day stay underwater where he wrote his first book! [1]
Cook was a private member of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Board of Trustees, appointed to a six-year term by the President George W. Bush.[2]
[edit] Doctor / Novelist
Dr. Cook's profession as a doctor has provided him with ideas and background for many of his novels. In each of his novels, he strives to write about the issues at the forefront of current medical practice.
To date, he has explored issues such as organ donation, genetic engineering,fertility treatment, medical research funding, managed care, medical malpractice, drug research, drug pricing, specialty hospitals, stem cells, and organ transplantation.[3]
Dr. Cook has been remarked to have an uncanny ability to anticipate national controversy. In an interview with Dr.Cook, Stephen McDonald talked to him about his novel Shock; Cook admits the timing of Shock was fortuitous. "I suppose that you could say that it's the most like Coma in that it deals with an issue that everybody seems to be concerned about," he says, "I wrote this book to address the stem cell issue, which the public really doesn't know much about. Besides entertaining readers, my main goal is to get people interested in some of these issues, because it's the public that ultimately really should decide which way we ought to go in something as that has enormous potential for treating disease and disability but touches up against the ethically problematic abortion issue."[4]
Keeping his lab coat handy helps him turn our fear of doctors into bestsellers. "I joke that if my books stop selling, I can always fall back on brain surgery," he says. "But I am still very interested in being a doctor. If I had to do it over again, I would still study medicine. I think of myself more as a doctor who writes, rather than a writer who happens to be a doctor." After 35 books,he has come up with a diagnosis to explain why his medical thrillers remain so popular. "The main reason is, we all realize we are at risk. We're all going to be patients sometime," he says. "You can write about great white sharks or haunted houses, and you can say I'm not going into the ocean or I'm not going in haunted houses, but you can't say you're n
Dr. Robin Cook (born May 4, 1940 in New York City, New York) is an American doctor / novelist who writes about medicine, biotechnology, and topics affecting public health.
He is best known for being the author who created the medical-thriller genre by combining medical writing with the thriller genre of writing. His books have been bestsellers on the "New York Times" Bestseller List with several at #1. A number of his books have also been featured in Reader's Digest. Many were also featured in the Literary Guild. Many have been made into motion pictures.
Cook is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Columbia University School of Medicine. He finished his postgraduate medical training at Harvard that included general surgery and ophthalmology. He divides his time between homes in Florida, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts where he lives with his wife Jean. He is currently on leave from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He has successfully combined medical fact with fiction to produce a succession of bestselling books. Cook's medical thrillers are designed, in part, to make the public aware of both the technological possibilities of modern medicine and the ensuing ethical conundrums.
Cook got a taste of the larger world when the Cousteau Society recruited him to run its blood - gas lab in the South of France while he was in medical school. Intrigued by diving, he later called on a connection he made through Jacques Cousteau to become an aquanaut with the US Navy Sealab when he was drafted in the 60's. During his navy career he served on a nuclear submarine for a seventy-five day stay underwater where he wrote his first book! [1]
Cook was a private member of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Board of Trustees, appointed to a six-year term by the President George W. Bush.[2]
[edit] Doctor / Novelist
Dr. Cook's profession as a doctor has provided him with ideas and background for many of his novels. In each of his novels, he strives to write about the issues at the forefront of current medical practice.
To date, he has explored issues such as organ donation, genetic engineering,fertility treatment, medical research funding, managed care, medical malpractice, drug research, drug pricing, specialty hospitals, stem cells, and organ transplantation.[3]
Dr. Cook has been remarked to have an uncanny ability to anticipate national controversy. In an interview with Dr.Cook, Stephen McDonald talked to him about his novel Shock; Cook admits the timing of Shock was fortuitous. "I suppose that you could say that it's the most like Coma in that it deals with an issue that everybody seems to be concerned about," he says, "I wrote this book to address the stem cell issue, which the public really doesn't know much about. Besides entertaining readers, my main goal is to get people interested in some of these issues, because it's the public that ultimately really should decide which way we ought to go in something as that has enormous potential for treating disease and disability but touches up against the ethically problematic abortion issue."[4]
Keeping his lab coat handy helps him turn our fear of doctors into bestsellers. "I joke that if my books stop selling, I can always fall back on brain surgery," he says. "But I am still very interested in being a doctor. If I had to do it over again, I would still study medicine. I think of myself more as a doctor who writes, rather than a writer who happens to be a doctor." After 35 books,he has come up with a diagnosis to explain why his medical thrillers remain so popular. "The main reason is, we all realize we are at risk. We're all going to be patients sometime," he says. "You can write about great white sharks or haunted houses, and you can say I'm not going into the ocean or I'm not going in haunted houses, but you can't say you're n
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
August 11, 2017
My first Robin Cook read and I have to say I liked it.
I was interested in the book because it is a bioterrorism, medical thriller. The book started off spectacularly, setting up the plot about a planned bioterrorist attack, starting the thriller part of the book right from the get go. But the thrill element is pushed into the back seat after a while as the author shifts the focus of the story to the preparation and execution of the attack, which was not what I was expecting and hence I was a bit disappointed. Nevertheless, there were numerous moments of intense suspense as all the characters that were cleverly setup cross each orhers paths.
The book was not what I was expecting after reading the summary. But it was a pretty good medical crime thriller in the end.
I was interested in the book because it is a bioterrorism, medical thriller. The book started off spectacularly, setting up the plot about a planned bioterrorist attack, starting the thriller part of the book right from the get go. But the thrill element is pushed into the back seat after a while as the author shifts the focus of the story to the preparation and execution of the attack, which was not what I was expecting and hence I was a bit disappointed. Nevertheless, there were numerous moments of intense suspense as all the characters that were cleverly setup cross each orhers paths.
The book was not what I was expecting after reading the summary. But it was a pretty good medical crime thriller in the end.
November 27, 2019
Eh, ok, perhaps 3.6 stars. Another riveting page-turner medical thriller about bioterrorism. But this time the two protagonists did not save the day. It was Yuri, the Russian bioterrorist who had the last laugh. And what happened to that asshole arms dealer? Are you thoroughly confused? Good, you'll just have to read it to put these pieces together.
September 26, 2020
It’s been about 25 years but I thoroughly enjoyed this Cook novel. I started with COMA I don’t really know when and gobbled them up before just losing touch with them. This was set pre-911 making it eerie all these years later.
Montgomery and Stapleton were as good as I remember them. Biological weapons scare the crap out of me. Especially reading a book about them during a global pandemic.
Montgomery and Stapleton were as good as I remember them. Biological weapons scare the crap out of me. Especially reading a book about them during a global pandemic.
May 16, 2013
Horrendous writing, but who doesn't enjoy the wacky hijinks that ensue when a disgruntled Russian emigre and an vengeful bunch of white supremacists cross paths? Bio-weapons, terrorism by pest control truck- this is the perfect bargain basement book for a lazy day (if you're lucky, you'll find a Robin Cook omnibus for double the fun!).
March 30, 2022
Los libros de Cook por lo general siempre me gustan, este si me gustó pero los malos son tontos y les salen las cosas super bien a lo largo de toda la trama, de vdd?? en fin se lee como todos su libros rápido y atrapa también hay que decirlo
December 9, 2016
Haven't read a Robin Cook book in a long time, so thought I'd give this a go. For a best selling author, I was a bit surprised at the clunky writing and underdeveloped character development. I'm wondering if I reread Coma, I have the same reaction. I liked the exciting story line and the short chapters kept the action moving. A bonus half star for a so satisfying ending.
January 8, 2021
pues me gustó el libro. otra vez se lleva 4 estrellitas como el libro anterior, al menos porque a mí me dejó con una incógnita que seguro la pueden resolver en el siguiente libro en forma de narración, y es ¿qué pasa con Paul? queda muy en el aire la relación que tenían laurie y él.
pero del resto me gustó bastante, la forma como se desenvolvió todo. sorprendente el tema de las armas biológicas y en una realidad tan actual ahora con lo que está sucediendo con el covid-19. no pierde ritmo. recomendable.
pero del resto me gustó bastante, la forma como se desenvolvió todo. sorprendente el tema de las armas biológicas y en una realidad tan actual ahora con lo que está sucediendo con el covid-19. no pierde ritmo. recomendable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2022
Mmm, no, va a ser que no, este libro me ha decepcionado bastante. Igual el problema es que cuando oía Robin Cook esperaba algo más, pero no me han llamado nada la atención los personajes, las conversaciones entre ellos me resultaban muy forzadas, muy vacías y las situaciones totalmente absurdas del tipo: "Una banda armada hasta los dientes ha estado apunto de matarnos a todos!!! - Pero tu no tenías una cita? - Ah, sí!! Nada me apetece más que irme a cenar con mi churri, nos vemos!!!"
El protagonista, medico forense, está siempre un paso por delante de todos, de la policía y, por supuesto, de los malos, que no podían ser más inútiles.
No parece necesario leer los libros anteriores, aunque se hace referencia a algunos casos pasados, por lo que tampoco estaría de más. Yo, por ahora, no me los voy a leer.
El protagonista, medico forense, está siempre un paso por delante de todos, de la policía y, por supuesto, de los malos, que no podían ser más inútiles.
No parece necesario leer los libros anteriores, aunque se hace referencia a algunos casos pasados, por lo que tampoco estaría de más. Yo, por ahora, no me los voy a leer.
April 4, 2022
Después de tantos años sin leerle ha sido un placer volver a hacerlo. Me gusta mucho su estilo. Además, no puedo evitar que me parezca de lo más interesante el contexto médico de sus novelas. Me resulta distinto y enriquecedor.
Vector no sería de sus mejores novelas, pero aun así me ha parecido interesante y me han dado ganas de seguir leyéndole. Cosa que espero hacer muy pronto.
Vector no sería de sus mejores novelas, pero aun así me ha parecido interesante y me han dado ganas de seguir leyéndole. Cosa que espero hacer muy pronto.
February 28, 2022
Am I the only one thinking that these stories are so '90s?
By the way, the book was published in 1999, 2 years before the Amerithrax ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_an... ) incident. Creepy, isn't it?
Anyway... our favourites doctors are up against a neonazi group and a disillusoned russian expat. Since the bad guys are trying to outsmart and outplay each other we reach the happy ending even if our heroes are stucked into a basement turned laboratory turned jail cell. But worry not! Warren, the convenient big, badass and black friend is here to save the day... again.
By the way, the book was published in 1999, 2 years before the Amerithrax ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_an... ) incident. Creepy, isn't it?
Anyway... our favourites doctors are up against a neonazi group and a disillusoned russian expat. Since the bad guys are trying to outsmart and outplay each other we reach the happy ending even if our heroes are stucked into a basement turned laboratory turned jail cell. But worry not! Warren, the convenient big, badass and black friend is here to save the day... again.
May 8, 2025
در دل نیویورک، مرگهایی مشکوک با علائمی عجیب رخ میدهد. دکتر جک استیپلز درمییابد که اینها فقط بیماری نیستند؛ توپخانهای خاموش از سلاحهای میکروبی در حال شلیک است. توطئهای مرگبار از دل آزمایشگاههای شوروی سابق حالا جان انسانها را تهدید میکند.
«وکتور» روایت نبرد پزشکی است در برابر تروریسم زیستی؛ هیجانی سرد، واقعی و تکاندهنده.
«بدترین دشمن انسان همیشه از بیرون نمیآید؛ گاهی درون بدن، درون ذهن یا پشت چهرهای آشنا پنهان میشود.»
«علم، همانقدر که میتواند نجاتبخش باشد، اگر به دست اشتباه بیفتد، به مرگبارترین سلاح دنیا تبدیل میشود.»
«وکتور» روایت نبرد پزشکی است در برابر تروریسم زیستی؛ هیجانی سرد، واقعی و تکاندهنده.
«بدترین دشمن انسان همیشه از بیرون نمیآید؛ گاهی درون بدن، درون ذهن یا پشت چهرهای آشنا پنهان میشود.»
«علم، همانقدر که میتواند نجاتبخش باشد، اگر به دست اشتباه بیفتد، به مرگبارترین سلاح دنیا تبدیل میشود.»
April 1, 2022
Pues la verdad es que me ha decepcionado. Me da que la forma de escribir de Cook ha envejecido muy mal. Un argumento muy bueno pero desarrollado como una de esas películas que emiten en la tele los fines de semana por la tarde.
Los personajes principales no acaban de enganchar y todo se resuelve de forma demasiado fácil. A su favor está que la historia es interesante y además , escrita en los años 90, se puede considerar adelantada a su época. Por desgracia lo que parecería ficción en aquel momento se convirtió luego en una amenaza muy real.
Los personajes principales no acaban de enganchar y todo se resuelve de forma demasiado fácil. A su favor está que la historia es interesante y además , escrita en los años 90, se puede considerar adelantada a su época. Por desgracia lo que parecería ficción en aquel momento se convirtió luego en una amenaza muy real.
January 2, 2018
Not his best but I enjoyed it.
May 29, 2010
I had to read this book as a requirement so it took a lot of the satisfaction out of it but there is almost always something going on. Although, it's not in a high-speed action sort of way but instead makes you use your brain and enjoy the thought and emotion behind what the main characters do. Hits very close to home after the anthrax scares after 9/11.
February 20, 2023
As usual Dr. Cook delivers a well written and believable medical thriller.
(Razor says three paws because it has a cat named Tom-2.)
(Razor says three paws because it has a cat named Tom-2.)
June 24, 2024
My first Robin Cook book and has made me want to read more
September 15, 2020
This was the best Robin Cook I've read in a while. Very interesting book, given the fact that just a year later the US would have a major anthrax scare.
August 4, 2024
Goed boek.
October 13, 2024
Wel zeer interessant om soms ook te beseffen dat de fictie van dit boek ook werkelijkheid kan worden. Een aanval met biochemische wapens is niet gek. Wel spannend maar niet denderend
January 19, 2024
WOW THE TWIST AT THE END!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish!!
January 1, 2025
Mais um Thriller médico do qual sou muito fã.
Os livros deste autor levantam sempre questões éticas e morais no campo da saúde e ambiente hospitalar
Jason Papparis, recebe na sua loja um embrulho. Abre, lá dentro tem uma carta a dizer surpresa e imediatamente uma nuvem de pó se cria e ele iinala-a. Ao longo dos dias, este vai-se sentindo fisicamente mal, até que morre. Dr. Jack Stapleton, patologista forense vai realizar a autopsia. Poderá ter sido vítima de Antraz? Lauren está com o FBI. Têm o cadáver de um neo nazi para autópsiar, um informante. Lauren continua numa relação amorosa conturbada e Jack, enamorado, vai aproximar-se dela. Iuri veio da Rússia, é taxista em Nova Iorque, na Rússia construía armas biológicas. Planeia fazer um ataque aos EUA, sente-se injustiçado por não estar a viver o "sonho americano", tão prometido pelos EUA. Usa a mulher Connie, como cobaia e Connie acaba por morrer, ficando Iuri contente pois o produto que criou é eficaz. Cury e Steve são dois bombeiros, nacionalistas radicais, planeiam fazer um ataque racista, xenófobo, pelo que recorrerm a Iuri. Connie não será autopsiada. O irmão reclama, e Jack ainda consegue chegar à funerária para colher amostras do corpo antes de ser cremado. Morreu com toxina botulinica. Iuri, Cury e Steve começam a ver os seus planos a irem por água a baixo por Jack se andar a intrometer.Conseguirão eles perpetuar o ataque? E os seus egos , vão ajudar ou atrapalhar? Jack corre perigo de vida? E Lauren na sua relação abusiva?
Os livros deste autor levantam sempre questões éticas e morais no campo da saúde e ambiente hospitalar
Jason Papparis, recebe na sua loja um embrulho. Abre, lá dentro tem uma carta a dizer surpresa e imediatamente uma nuvem de pó se cria e ele iinala-a. Ao longo dos dias, este vai-se sentindo fisicamente mal, até que morre. Dr. Jack Stapleton, patologista forense vai realizar a autopsia. Poderá ter sido vítima de Antraz? Lauren está com o FBI. Têm o cadáver de um neo nazi para autópsiar, um informante. Lauren continua numa relação amorosa conturbada e Jack, enamorado, vai aproximar-se dela. Iuri veio da Rússia, é taxista em Nova Iorque, na Rússia construía armas biológicas. Planeia fazer um ataque aos EUA, sente-se injustiçado por não estar a viver o "sonho americano", tão prometido pelos EUA. Usa a mulher Connie, como cobaia e Connie acaba por morrer, ficando Iuri contente pois o produto que criou é eficaz. Cury e Steve são dois bombeiros, nacionalistas radicais, planeiam fazer um ataque racista, xenófobo, pelo que recorrerm a Iuri. Connie não será autopsiada. O irmão reclama, e Jack ainda consegue chegar à funerária para colher amostras do corpo antes de ser cremado. Morreu com toxina botulinica. Iuri, Cury e Steve começam a ver os seus planos a irem por água a baixo por Jack se andar a intrometer.Conseguirão eles perpetuar o ataque? E os seus egos , vão ajudar ou atrapalhar? Jack corre perigo de vida? E Lauren na sua relação abusiva?
May 1, 2025
It was an exciting book that I had a hard time putting down. I wanted to see what happened. A Russian taxi driver in NYC who had worked with vectors in the Soviet Union wanted to make some to kill people in NYC. He met some Aryan group that wanted to kill people in a government building. Would he succeed and would they both get stopped? Jack is the main character and a medical examiner for NYC is checking out a mysterious death.
August 22, 2024
Loved the suspense and the character development in this book! I kept wondering “how is this going to end?” The epilogue is priceless! I did not see that coming which made it all the better!
June 7, 2024
I thought this was a fairly good read (much better than the third in the series). This one is around bioterrorism.
December 1, 2018
Interessanter Roman...die Aufklärung aber durch Zufälle abzusehen..interessant war vor allem, dass die Protagonisten trotz der Aufklärung die Katastrophe verhindert haben.
Mal was anderes war auch das überwiegend aus der Sicht der "Bösewichte" erzählt wurde.
Mal was anderes war auch das überwiegend aus der Sicht der "Bösewichte" erzählt wurde.
February 9, 2021
I came across this book rather unintentionally wherein I was forcefully made to grab this book by the book vendor I purchased it from; and I don’t doubt my book vendor’s choice from that day on because it was such a wonderful read.
As you see, the genre mentioned is Medical Thriller, something that already sets the book apart from the usual genre of thrillers.
When I started reading this book, believe me, I had no expectations from it.
But when I did I got so gripped in the storyline, I wanted to read more.
The story basically revolves around a Russian illegal immigrant called Yuri Davydov who is an unhappy brat wanting to destruct his new home, America!
But it’s only in his mind until he forms acquaintances with two people who share the same motive but for a different reason.
Having had some knowledge about bioweapons, Yuri is set to make something deadly, something that’d cause mass destruction, in other words Bio-terrorism!
Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery, the officers on duty, find things suspicious when the events of death that seemed natural or suicidal seem more and more like connected murders.
Is all of this inter-linked?
Will Yuri succeed in his motive along his two friends?
Vector by Robin Cook is a wonderful thriller packed with mindboggling surprises at the end.
Read it if you want to try your hand on something different, a read that makes you feel satisfied as you finish it.
As you see, the genre mentioned is Medical Thriller, something that already sets the book apart from the usual genre of thrillers.
When I started reading this book, believe me, I had no expectations from it.
But when I did I got so gripped in the storyline, I wanted to read more.
The story basically revolves around a Russian illegal immigrant called Yuri Davydov who is an unhappy brat wanting to destruct his new home, America!
But it’s only in his mind until he forms acquaintances with two people who share the same motive but for a different reason.
Having had some knowledge about bioweapons, Yuri is set to make something deadly, something that’d cause mass destruction, in other words Bio-terrorism!
Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery, the officers on duty, find things suspicious when the events of death that seemed natural or suicidal seem more and more like connected murders.
Is all of this inter-linked?
Will Yuri succeed in his motive along his two friends?
Vector by Robin Cook is a wonderful thriller packed with mindboggling surprises at the end.
Read it if you want to try your hand on something different, a read that makes you feel satisfied as you finish it.
February 13, 2014
This book was phenomenal, as least in my opinion. I love how Cook created his M.E.'s and had them find out details that, if they missed, would have flawed the book. The characters in the novel are lovable (well, minus Yuri, Steve, Curt, and Co.) and quirky in the best possible ways.
What I thoroughly enjoyed were the parts at the hospital. Now, yes, I know I probably sound like a freak there, but hear me out. I enjoy medical lingo, so being able to understand a novel and dive into it is key to me. Normally, I see that medical lingo and me enjoying the novel don't go hand-in-hand, so again...this was amazing.
Conclusion
I'll read this again sometime. Probably not for a while, though, seeing as my book list of to-reads is growing pretty fast. Well that and how annoying Yuri and Co. were. Seriously. They were perhaps the only bad part of the book. I understand the need for an antagonist(s), but they were downright irritating.
What I thoroughly enjoyed were the parts at the hospital. Now, yes, I know I probably sound like a freak there, but hear me out. I enjoy medical lingo, so being able to understand a novel and dive into it is key to me. Normally, I see that medical lingo and me enjoying the novel don't go hand-in-hand, so again...this was amazing.
Conclusion
I'll read this again sometime. Probably not for a while, though, seeing as my book list of to-reads is growing pretty fast. Well that and how annoying Yuri and Co. were. Seriously. They were perhaps the only bad part of the book. I understand the need for an antagonist(s), but they were downright irritating.
January 10, 2018
This is the fourth book in the ‘Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery’ series and I have to say it is probably my least favourite. I am normally all for this series, particularly due to Jack as he is such a great character, but this book missed the mark in the plot line. It did have a promising premise, Jack investigating a couple suspicious deaths due to Anthrax and Botulism, but that was pretty much all of the science, medicine and investigation Jack does. At least half of the book is dedicated to following the Russian at the center of the bio-terrorism (I cannot even remember his name) and his terror plot with a group of white supremacists to take down the system. I honestly did not care for this character and all of the focus on this storyline at the expense of the medical aspect of what should be a ‘medical thriller’.
October 28, 2018
I have read this book atleast 5 times. A proper page turner, where you wont put it down until you finish reading the whole thing. This book dealt with a lot of social issues like racism, immigration, work ethics(the firemen misusing their authority), etc.
The Jack Lou Laurie bits added a bit of comic relief as well.
The Russian emigre's character is very well painted. Despite his intentions I felt a bit sorry for him. To lose his entire family in such terrible circumstances(mother dies in anthrax leakout, brother killed in Afghan war, dad drinks himself to death) made me sad for him.
The ending was so satisfying. All loose ends tied up nicely there!!
The Jack Lou Laurie bits added a bit of comic relief as well.
The Russian emigre's character is very well painted. Despite his intentions I felt a bit sorry for him. To lose his entire family in such terrible circumstances(mother dies in anthrax leakout, brother killed in Afghan war, dad drinks himself to death) made me sad for him.
The ending was so satisfying. All loose ends tied up nicely there!!
November 3, 2022
I may have read this before, some parts of it sounded familiar. Or was there another book with Anthrax spores being delivered by a party invitation? The ending definitely was not familiar.
The entire novel takes place in less than one week; it is very fast paced and I finished it in two days.
The scariest thing about this one is that it was published three years prior to the 2001 anthrax attack in Washington DC. Makes one wonder.
The entire novel takes place in less than one week; it is very fast paced and I finished it in two days.
The scariest thing about this one is that it was published three years prior to the 2001 anthrax attack in Washington DC. Makes one wonder.
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