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From the "master of the medical thriller" (
The New York Times
), Robin Cook, fan favorites Jack and Laurie return in another fast-paced story about a deadly bioweapon that could disrupt the world order as they know it.
When Laurie Montgomery temporarily steps down from her position as Chief Medical Examiner at the OCME to get a break from office politics, she and Jack decide to embark on a weekend getaway. And the timing couldn't be better when they receive a call from Jack's old peer, Robert Neilson MD, about two strange deaths and their potential association with the upswing in Alzheimer's cases in Essex Falls. Deciding this is just what the doctor ordered, Laurie and Jack agree to help, and head upstate.
But Essex Falls is far from the rural idyllic town of their imagination. It's apparent that most of the residents are earnest in their undying wish to return America back to the 1950s. Robert tells them the deaths are of two troublemakers, known to be white extremists, in their late twenties. Prior to their deaths, their behavior had been somewhat bizarre with both complaining of muscle spasms, nausea, and off-the-charts anxiety.
As Jack and Laurie get to work, they are led to believe that a dangerous bioweapon might be at play, which, in the wrong hands, could threaten the lives of the entire town . . . and maybe all of America.
When Laurie Montgomery temporarily steps down from her position as Chief Medical Examiner at the OCME to get a break from office politics, she and Jack decide to embark on a weekend getaway. And the timing couldn't be better when they receive a call from Jack's old peer, Robert Neilson MD, about two strange deaths and their potential association with the upswing in Alzheimer's cases in Essex Falls. Deciding this is just what the doctor ordered, Laurie and Jack agree to help, and head upstate.
But Essex Falls is far from the rural idyllic town of their imagination. It's apparent that most of the residents are earnest in their undying wish to return America back to the 1950s. Robert tells them the deaths are of two troublemakers, known to be white extremists, in their late twenties. Prior to their deaths, their behavior had been somewhat bizarre with both complaining of muscle spasms, nausea, and off-the-charts anxiety.
As Jack and Laurie get to work, they are led to believe that a dangerous bioweapon might be at play, which, in the wrong hands, could threaten the lives of the entire town . . . and maybe all of America.
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First published December 4, 2025
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About the author
Robin Cook
191 books5,081 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 58 reviews
November 19, 2025
Spasm
by Robin Cook is the fifteenth book in the Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery medical thriller series. Jack is a medical examiner and Laurie is the chief medical examiner in New York City. While this book is said to be a thriller, for most of the novel it is a mystery and the investigation of a death and its potential link with an upswing in Alzheimer’s cases in Essex Falls, New York.
Jack and Laurie need a getaway when Jack’s old peer, Dr. Robert Neilson, calls him and asks for help. Jack and Laurie decide to take a week off and go to upstate New York to help him. But Essex Falls isn’t quite the oasis they expected. The death of a troublemaker, known to be part of a local militia, is the first autopsy that’s needed. Prior to his death, he had muscle spasms, nausea, and anxiety. The other case is that of one of the Alzheimer cases that is occurring in individuals younger than normal and the state lab tests of previous cases have shown no Alzheimer.
Cook’s description of Jack and several other characters came through extremely well. Jack is thorough, efficient, has a sarcastic sense of humor, and tends to function by pure reflex without thinking about the consequences. Laurie plays a much smaller role in this tale. Both Jack and Laurie are having trouble balancing work and family commitments. Beyond this, readers get a sense that Laurie is controlling, impatient, and feeling the stresses and strains of the political aspects of her job.
Overall, there is plenty of suspense, along with basketball, swimming, investigations, and detailed autopsies. This story focuses more on the investigation side of deaths versus action until the last part of the book. However, a lot of what he finds out seems to be luck. I wanted the suspense level to be higher than it was in the early part of the book. The author’s writing is vivid and enabled me to easily visualize the people, the town, and the estate where Jack and Laurie are staying. The ending brings the suspense, danger, and foreboding that one expects from a medical crime thriller. The reader knows who the antagonist is early in the book, but it was enjoyable going through the investigation from Jack’s point of view. It’s a story with plenty of layers to keep readers engaged.
Overall, this novel is well-written, thought-provoking, and entertaining. The author’s ability to combine strong characters and complex plots kept me turning the pages. I recommend this book to those that enjoy medical mysteries. This is the fifth book I’ve read by this author, but the third in this series. It worked fine as a standalone novel for me. I’m looking forward to reading the next one as well as previous books in the series.
Putnam – G. P. Putnam’s Sons and Robin Cook provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for December 09, 2025.
-------------------------------------
My 3.8 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Jack and Laurie need a getaway when Jack’s old peer, Dr. Robert Neilson, calls him and asks for help. Jack and Laurie decide to take a week off and go to upstate New York to help him. But Essex Falls isn’t quite the oasis they expected. The death of a troublemaker, known to be part of a local militia, is the first autopsy that’s needed. Prior to his death, he had muscle spasms, nausea, and anxiety. The other case is that of one of the Alzheimer cases that is occurring in individuals younger than normal and the state lab tests of previous cases have shown no Alzheimer.
Cook’s description of Jack and several other characters came through extremely well. Jack is thorough, efficient, has a sarcastic sense of humor, and tends to function by pure reflex without thinking about the consequences. Laurie plays a much smaller role in this tale. Both Jack and Laurie are having trouble balancing work and family commitments. Beyond this, readers get a sense that Laurie is controlling, impatient, and feeling the stresses and strains of the political aspects of her job.
Overall, there is plenty of suspense, along with basketball, swimming, investigations, and detailed autopsies. This story focuses more on the investigation side of deaths versus action until the last part of the book. However, a lot of what he finds out seems to be luck. I wanted the suspense level to be higher than it was in the early part of the book. The author’s writing is vivid and enabled me to easily visualize the people, the town, and the estate where Jack and Laurie are staying. The ending brings the suspense, danger, and foreboding that one expects from a medical crime thriller. The reader knows who the antagonist is early in the book, but it was enjoyable going through the investigation from Jack’s point of view. It’s a story with plenty of layers to keep readers engaged.
Overall, this novel is well-written, thought-provoking, and entertaining. The author’s ability to combine strong characters and complex plots kept me turning the pages. I recommend this book to those that enjoy medical mysteries. This is the fifth book I’ve read by this author, but the third in this series. It worked fine as a standalone novel for me. I’m looking forward to reading the next one as well as previous books in the series.
Putnam – G. P. Putnam’s Sons and Robin Cook provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for December 09, 2025.
-------------------------------------
My 3.8 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
October 30, 2025
Laurie Montgomery and Jack Stapleton are forensic pathologists in New York City. They are invited by a medical school friend of Jacks to the town of Essex Falls in upstate New York to assist in an autopsy on an unusual case. This natural paradise in the Adirondacks has been blighted by the demise of a major shoe factory that was once the main employer and benefactor of the town. With little work available, the population is depressed, and there is a right-wing militia that has formed.
The local militia has invited four members of a European militia to come and train them. There is something suspect about this group, including their place of origin, their commitment to the task, and the amount of time they are spending purportedly building and maintaining a home brewery. The questionable death of a member of the Essex Falls militia and mysterious cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s-like dementia among the residents pose dangerous quandaries for Jack.
This is the 15th installment in this series. I have read only one other. Spasm would work as a stand-alone. It is another fast-paced, engrossing medical mystery by best-selling author Robin Cook, who has been writing such tales since 1977. This story is particularly relevant for our economic, social, and political times and is very scary. The protagonists are likable and well-developed characters, and the theme alarmingly prescient.
Thanks to #NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for the DRC.
The local militia has invited four members of a European militia to come and train them. There is something suspect about this group, including their place of origin, their commitment to the task, and the amount of time they are spending purportedly building and maintaining a home brewery. The questionable death of a member of the Essex Falls militia and mysterious cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s-like dementia among the residents pose dangerous quandaries for Jack.
This is the 15th installment in this series. I have read only one other. Spasm would work as a stand-alone. It is another fast-paced, engrossing medical mystery by best-selling author Robin Cook, who has been writing such tales since 1977. This story is particularly relevant for our economic, social, and political times and is very scary. The protagonists are likable and well-developed characters, and the theme alarmingly prescient.
Thanks to #NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for the DRC.
December 8, 2025
I love medical mysteries and thrillers, so it’s no surprise that this author has been a favorite for a long time – ever since his 1977 best-seller, Coma, in fact. I’ve read two others in the series featuring forensic pathologists Drs. Jack Stapleton and his wife, Laurie Montgomery (this is the 15th) and looked forward to reading another. It was enjoyable, yes, but it’s by far my least favorite of those I’ve read. My sentiments exactly? At one point, Jack expressed them for me by calling himself “stupid but lucky.”
The plot for the most part was intriguing, though wading through endless descriptions of the surroundings and what people were doing and wearing that were unrelated to the story made it drag a bit for me. Essentially, a group of white extremists known as the Diehard Patriots live in a renovated mansion in remote Essex Falls, New York – normally minding their own business except for late-night artillery exercises. Now, it seems they’ve brought in arms “experts” from another country to teach the scraggly group the art of the battle. Inexplicably, the “instructors” have set up a brewery in an outbuilding, but since the local community pretty much leaves the Patriots to themselves, no one seems to question why.
Recent events – specifically, the bizarre deaths of two of the Patriots – has caught the attention of local doctor Robert Neilson. And since he happens to be an old school friend, he calls Jack and asks for help. Besides those two deaths, the small community has been plagued by deaths as a result of early-onset dementia that progresses at an alarming rate. Conveniently, Jack and Laurie feel the need of a break from their busy routine at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City, where Laurie is the chief ME, so they head upstate to Essex Falls. There, they fawn over the property, scenery and opportunities for Jack to practicing his beloved cycling (and trying to figure out where to stash it when he’s out in public so it won’t get stolen). Amid all this, he finds time to wonder what’s up with the increasing number of dementia patients. Other sleuthing around, mostly while Laurie is off with friends, leads to the possibility that all is not as it seems with the Patriots’ visitors and that what’s being concocted in that brewery may be some kind of bioweapon that threatens lives not just in this little backwoods community, but the entire country.
More details, of course, would spoil the adventure for others, so I’ll stop right here. Overall, it’s an intriguing tale, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with the opportunity to get in on the action by way of a pre-release copy.
The plot for the most part was intriguing, though wading through endless descriptions of the surroundings and what people were doing and wearing that were unrelated to the story made it drag a bit for me. Essentially, a group of white extremists known as the Diehard Patriots live in a renovated mansion in remote Essex Falls, New York – normally minding their own business except for late-night artillery exercises. Now, it seems they’ve brought in arms “experts” from another country to teach the scraggly group the art of the battle. Inexplicably, the “instructors” have set up a brewery in an outbuilding, but since the local community pretty much leaves the Patriots to themselves, no one seems to question why.
Recent events – specifically, the bizarre deaths of two of the Patriots – has caught the attention of local doctor Robert Neilson. And since he happens to be an old school friend, he calls Jack and asks for help. Besides those two deaths, the small community has been plagued by deaths as a result of early-onset dementia that progresses at an alarming rate. Conveniently, Jack and Laurie feel the need of a break from their busy routine at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City, where Laurie is the chief ME, so they head upstate to Essex Falls. There, they fawn over the property, scenery and opportunities for Jack to practicing his beloved cycling (and trying to figure out where to stash it when he’s out in public so it won’t get stolen). Amid all this, he finds time to wonder what’s up with the increasing number of dementia patients. Other sleuthing around, mostly while Laurie is off with friends, leads to the possibility that all is not as it seems with the Patriots’ visitors and that what’s being concocted in that brewery may be some kind of bioweapon that threatens lives not just in this little backwoods community, but the entire country.
More details, of course, would spoil the adventure for others, so I’ll stop right here. Overall, it’s an intriguing tale, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with the opportunity to get in on the action by way of a pre-release copy.
January 8, 2026
Disppointing!
For many years I, like others, considered Robin Cook during his early career to be the king of medical thrillers…but then my interest in his books steadily decreased, making Spasm the first book I’ve read of his in at least ten years.
Unfortunately, my disappointment in Spasm is such that it’s likely to be the last of his books I’ll read.
While the medical premise of Spasm starts with promise, my disappointment is due to the following issues…its execution quickly falls apart under wooden dialogue, thin character development, and a plot that relies more on coincidence than credible science. Further, the pacing is uneven—long stretches of exposition are followed by abrupt, unsatisfying resolutions—and the suspense never fully materializes. Most frustrating is how superficial the characters feel; they exist mainly to move the plot forward rather than to engage the reader emotionally.
For me, Spasm lacks the polish, tension, and realism that I used to regularly be able to count on from his earlier works.
For many years I, like others, considered Robin Cook during his early career to be the king of medical thrillers…but then my interest in his books steadily decreased, making Spasm the first book I’ve read of his in at least ten years.
Unfortunately, my disappointment in Spasm is such that it’s likely to be the last of his books I’ll read.
While the medical premise of Spasm starts with promise, my disappointment is due to the following issues…its execution quickly falls apart under wooden dialogue, thin character development, and a plot that relies more on coincidence than credible science. Further, the pacing is uneven—long stretches of exposition are followed by abrupt, unsatisfying resolutions—and the suspense never fully materializes. Most frustrating is how superficial the characters feel; they exist mainly to move the plot forward rather than to engage the reader emotionally.
For me, Spasm lacks the polish, tension, and realism that I used to regularly be able to count on from his earlier works.
November 15, 2025
The prolific and enduring Robin Cook brings back married medical examiners, Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery, in their fifteenth thriller. This time the action takes place outside New York City, as Jack gets invited to rural Essex Falls by an old classmate, now a general practitioner and coroner, to examine some unusual cases: one last looks like an immediate overwhelming pesticide poisoning, and the others are sudden onsets of Alzheimer’s disease, even in younger adults. Laurie accompanies Jack for a mini-vacation, but that vacation mood is stymied with a body snatching and the presence of “Dutch” militiamen training the local white supremist group in the matching mansion across the lake.
It’s not as much a police procedural as usual — Jack is investigating, but mostly his discoveries are luck or accidental (he admits as much later), but the story is interesting. There’s way too much detail shared during the autopsies (no, I don’t need to know the trick to easily removing the brain from the skull), and if you don’t know about prions already, you will after reading “Spasm”. I definitely preferred this latest Cook over his last one (“Bellevue” whose ending I absolutely hated). So, thank you for a much milder forensic mystery this year. 4 stars.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO We do get a weird thing where the eyes of corpses won’t close.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO We get reminded that upstate New York is quite scenic in summer.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam/Penguin Viking and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
It’s not as much a police procedural as usual — Jack is investigating, but mostly his discoveries are luck or accidental (he admits as much later), but the story is interesting. There’s way too much detail shared during the autopsies (no, I don’t need to know the trick to easily removing the brain from the skull), and if you don’t know about prions already, you will after reading “Spasm”. I definitely preferred this latest Cook over his last one (“Bellevue” whose ending I absolutely hated). So, thank you for a much milder forensic mystery this year. 4 stars.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO We do get a weird thing where the eyes of corpses won’t close.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO We get reminded that upstate New York is quite scenic in summer.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam/Penguin Viking and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
December 2, 2025
Every once in a while, I crave a medical thriller, and Robin Cook is one of the go-to authors in this genre. So when I saw this new release, I had to check it out.
While this book is #15 in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series, and I hadn't read the previous books in the series, I had no issues following along.
This story centers on the town, Essex Falls, NY, where two medical mysteries are brewing. Literally.
Seems four Russians have infiltrated the town, pretending to be from the Netherlands. They are supposed to be there to help train the local militia group, the Diehard Patriots. But they have a bigger mission. One that will cost lives.
The series main characters are involved when Jack's friend, the local doctor and medical examiner, Dr. Bob Nielson, calls him for some assistance with a recent case. Given the town's picturesque location, Jack and Laurie head out for a work/mini vacation. And it doesn't take long after they arrive for things to get a whole lot worse.
Jack is clearly very smart, and while he took awhile to put together what might be going on in the town, his instincts paid off. Question is, can.he escape the terror reigning down on this small town?
The only thing I missed from this story was the heart pounding moments typically found in medical thrillers as the deaths pile up. Maybe it would have been more so if he was an actual town resident instead of a visitor. Nevertheless, there was an intense scene towards the end as discoveries were made. How things played out was also a bit of a surprise, but helped to wrap up the storyline.
Overall, an entertaining thriller for those who enjoy this genre.
While this book is #15 in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series, and I hadn't read the previous books in the series, I had no issues following along.
This story centers on the town, Essex Falls, NY, where two medical mysteries are brewing. Literally.
Seems four Russians have infiltrated the town, pretending to be from the Netherlands. They are supposed to be there to help train the local militia group, the Diehard Patriots. But they have a bigger mission. One that will cost lives.
The series main characters are involved when Jack's friend, the local doctor and medical examiner, Dr. Bob Nielson, calls him for some assistance with a recent case. Given the town's picturesque location, Jack and Laurie head out for a work/mini vacation. And it doesn't take long after they arrive for things to get a whole lot worse.
Jack is clearly very smart, and while he took awhile to put together what might be going on in the town, his instincts paid off. Question is, can.he escape the terror reigning down on this small town?
The only thing I missed from this story was the heart pounding moments typically found in medical thrillers as the deaths pile up. Maybe it would have been more so if he was an actual town resident instead of a visitor. Nevertheless, there was an intense scene towards the end as discoveries were made. How things played out was also a bit of a surprise, but helped to wrap up the storyline.
Overall, an entertaining thriller for those who enjoy this genre.
December 27, 2025
An excellent medical thriller in the tradition of Robin Cook's page turners. Evil doers practice releasing a deadly pathogen in a small town's water supply.
September 3, 2025
Spasm is the latest installment in the adventures of Jack Stapleton, medical examiner in the City of New York. When a friend from medical school calls seeking assistance in a small town in upstate New York, he and his wife, Laurie Montgomery, take a few days off and travel to the small town. The story is replete with Jack and his bike, basketball, mysterious Russians, young people dying from a mysterious dementia type disease and a missing corpse prior to being autopsied. Not only is the book interesting but it is also very exciting. My sole reservation is page after page of medical vernacular and descriptions which tended to bore this reader.
I thank NetGalley and Putnam Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.
I thank NetGalley and Putnam Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.
October 27, 2025
⭐️ 2/5 Disappointing and unrealistic
I did not like this book at all. It was obviously written by a very liberal author who seemed determined to use the phrase “right wing extremists” every chance possible, which felt unrealistic and forced given current events. The writing itself felt surprisingly amateur even though this author has a long history of best sellers.
The story was dull and lacked intensity. The bio terror plot could have been so much more exciting if the author had explored the effects in a deeper and more graphic way, with more people experiencing real and intense reactions to the chemicals. Instead, it stayed flat and predictable.
The dialogue felt one dimensional, and the characters were bland. For someone considered the master of the medical thriller, this was a major letdown. It never built the tension or realism the description promised, and I was ready for it to be over long before it ended.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC!
I did not like this book at all. It was obviously written by a very liberal author who seemed determined to use the phrase “right wing extremists” every chance possible, which felt unrealistic and forced given current events. The writing itself felt surprisingly amateur even though this author has a long history of best sellers.
The story was dull and lacked intensity. The bio terror plot could have been so much more exciting if the author had explored the effects in a deeper and more graphic way, with more people experiencing real and intense reactions to the chemicals. Instead, it stayed flat and predictable.
The dialogue felt one dimensional, and the characters were bland. For someone considered the master of the medical thriller, this was a major letdown. It never built the tension or realism the description promised, and I was ready for it to be over long before it ended.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC!
October 10, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for an advance copy of the fifteenth book in a long running medical series, this time taking place in a small town that likes to look to the past for their ideals, and a medical mystery that might spell the end of everything.
My Mom is a Nurse, I capitalize it because I am proud of that fact. Even in retirement she is still the one that everyone in the extended family reaches out to for knowledge in dealing with cuts, scrapes, test results and questions about why doctors want them to do certain things. My mom is also the one who made me interested in medical thrillers. Mom would pass on interesting books, sometimes with the proviso this is all full of shenanigans, but its science fiction so you might like it. From here I started reading Robin Cook, and have been rarely disappointed. I like Cook for his ideas, both medical and his clearly apparat feeling about how medicine has been corrupted in many ways, by insurance companies and for profit companies. Mostly for his stories, though. And this one is no exception. Spasm by Robin Cook is the fifteenth book in the long-running Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery series, about married pathologists who travel to upstate New York for a rest, and find a lot more than they expected.
The Big City is getting the married couple of Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery down, especially with all the office spats and infighting that Laurie has to put up with at work, obstacles that are effecting Laurie's job as Chief Pathologist. An offer comes from a friend of Jack's to travel upstate to the small town of Essex Falls, where the can rest, relax, enjoy the small town atmosphere and maybe consult on some odd cases that seem to be happening in the area. There seems to be a spike in Alzheimer's cases, two of which seem to have come on quickly and destroying the bodies of two people in hours and not years. The two travel north and at first are quite enamoured with the small town, a town that seems to want to harken back to a better time in America. There seems to be no mourning for the two who died, as they were a bit extreme for the area. The more the two investigate, the more they realize something is going on, something not good. And whatever it is is spreading.
A novel that is a little too close to what is going on in America right now, with extremists making plans, odd gangster types working on gossip, a medical system in flux, with people not trusting doctors, and a bit of quackery and grifting happening. Cook really sets the scene well, with a medical mystery that really hits at people, something that many families have had to deal with. Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery are interesting characters, ones who seem to like each other, respect each other opinions and bring different ideas and methodologies to the table. Cook has a nice style, one honed by years of writing, presenting a problem, a few red herrings a little danger, and a very good medical mystery. Plus a little body horror, for those who like it.
Another winning book from an author who has been doing this for a long time, and knows how to deliver. A tad icky, with interesting discourses on Alzheimer's, and the state of America's medical industry. Fans will enjoy, and this is a good book to start with if new to Robin Cook.
My Mom is a Nurse, I capitalize it because I am proud of that fact. Even in retirement she is still the one that everyone in the extended family reaches out to for knowledge in dealing with cuts, scrapes, test results and questions about why doctors want them to do certain things. My mom is also the one who made me interested in medical thrillers. Mom would pass on interesting books, sometimes with the proviso this is all full of shenanigans, but its science fiction so you might like it. From here I started reading Robin Cook, and have been rarely disappointed. I like Cook for his ideas, both medical and his clearly apparat feeling about how medicine has been corrupted in many ways, by insurance companies and for profit companies. Mostly for his stories, though. And this one is no exception. Spasm by Robin Cook is the fifteenth book in the long-running Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery series, about married pathologists who travel to upstate New York for a rest, and find a lot more than they expected.
The Big City is getting the married couple of Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery down, especially with all the office spats and infighting that Laurie has to put up with at work, obstacles that are effecting Laurie's job as Chief Pathologist. An offer comes from a friend of Jack's to travel upstate to the small town of Essex Falls, where the can rest, relax, enjoy the small town atmosphere and maybe consult on some odd cases that seem to be happening in the area. There seems to be a spike in Alzheimer's cases, two of which seem to have come on quickly and destroying the bodies of two people in hours and not years. The two travel north and at first are quite enamoured with the small town, a town that seems to want to harken back to a better time in America. There seems to be no mourning for the two who died, as they were a bit extreme for the area. The more the two investigate, the more they realize something is going on, something not good. And whatever it is is spreading.
A novel that is a little too close to what is going on in America right now, with extremists making plans, odd gangster types working on gossip, a medical system in flux, with people not trusting doctors, and a bit of quackery and grifting happening. Cook really sets the scene well, with a medical mystery that really hits at people, something that many families have had to deal with. Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery are interesting characters, ones who seem to like each other, respect each other opinions and bring different ideas and methodologies to the table. Cook has a nice style, one honed by years of writing, presenting a problem, a few red herrings a little danger, and a very good medical mystery. Plus a little body horror, for those who like it.
Another winning book from an author who has been doing this for a long time, and knows how to deliver. A tad icky, with interesting discourses on Alzheimer's, and the state of America's medical industry. Fans will enjoy, and this is a good book to start with if new to Robin Cook.
December 2, 2025
Thanks to GP Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for this eARC.
Robin Cook’s upcoming novel Spasm (December 2025) is a gripping medical thriller that blends small-town mystery with global stakes, featuring fan favorites Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery (I love these two characters - their personalities, their interests, and their relationship).
Cook situates the story in Essex Falls, a seemingly idyllic town in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, where Jack reconnects with an old medical school classmate, Robert Neilson. What begins as a favor quickly escalates into a chilling investigation: unexplained deaths, a surge in Alzheimer’s cases, and whispers of a deadly bioweapon that could destabilize the world order.
Strengths💪
- Familiar protagonists: Jack and Laurie remain the heart of the series. Their dynamic—Jack’s dogged curiosity paired with Laurie’s sharp intellect—grounds the narrative even as the plot spirals into high-stakes territory.
- Medical authenticity: Cook’s hallmark is his ability to weave cutting-edge science into suspense. Here, the intersection of neurology, pathology, and bioterrorism creates a chillingly plausible scenario.
- Atmosphere: The Adirondack setting contrasts natural beauty with hidden menace, amplifying the tension between surface calm and underlying danger.
- Themes: Beyond the thrills, Spasm probes questions of medical ethics, the fragility of public health systems, and the vulnerability of communities to unseen threats.
Spasm is a page-turner and a thought-provoking exploration of bioterrorism’s human cost. Cook doesn’t just deliver shocks; he asks readers to consider how science, politics, and morality collide when medicine is weaponized.
Fans of Cook's earlier novels will appreciate the continuity of Jack and Laurie’s investigative partnership, while newcomers will find the blend of medical detail and thriller pacing accessible and compelling.
This novel underscores Cook’s enduring strength: transforming real-world medical anxieties into narratives as entertaining as they are unsettling.
Robin Cook’s upcoming novel Spasm (December 2025) is a gripping medical thriller that blends small-town mystery with global stakes, featuring fan favorites Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery (I love these two characters - their personalities, their interests, and their relationship).
Cook situates the story in Essex Falls, a seemingly idyllic town in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, where Jack reconnects with an old medical school classmate, Robert Neilson. What begins as a favor quickly escalates into a chilling investigation: unexplained deaths, a surge in Alzheimer’s cases, and whispers of a deadly bioweapon that could destabilize the world order.
Strengths💪
- Familiar protagonists: Jack and Laurie remain the heart of the series. Their dynamic—Jack’s dogged curiosity paired with Laurie’s sharp intellect—grounds the narrative even as the plot spirals into high-stakes territory.
- Medical authenticity: Cook’s hallmark is his ability to weave cutting-edge science into suspense. Here, the intersection of neurology, pathology, and bioterrorism creates a chillingly plausible scenario.
- Atmosphere: The Adirondack setting contrasts natural beauty with hidden menace, amplifying the tension between surface calm and underlying danger.
- Themes: Beyond the thrills, Spasm probes questions of medical ethics, the fragility of public health systems, and the vulnerability of communities to unseen threats.
Spasm is a page-turner and a thought-provoking exploration of bioterrorism’s human cost. Cook doesn’t just deliver shocks; he asks readers to consider how science, politics, and morality collide when medicine is weaponized.
Fans of Cook's earlier novels will appreciate the continuity of Jack and Laurie’s investigative partnership, while newcomers will find the blend of medical detail and thriller pacing accessible and compelling.
This novel underscores Cook’s enduring strength: transforming real-world medical anxieties into narratives as entertaining as they are unsettling.
December 7, 2025
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
In the 15th book in the Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery Series, Jack receives a phone call from a former medical school classmate, Robert Neilson, begging Jack & Laurie to come lend a professional hand on a series of puzzling cases he has had. Dr Nelson is the sole family practitioner in Essex Falls, an idyllic town tucked away in New York State's Adirondack Mountains, as well as their only coroner. They have recently had an outbreak of rapidly progressive Alzheimer's-like cases, and he has yet to determine the cause or make an definitive diagnosis. This all works out perfectly, because Laurie has temporarily stepped down from her duties as Chief Medical Examiner, and with both kids in camp for the summer, they find themselves uncharacteristically free for a couple of weeks. They arrive in Essex Falls and are immediately charmed by the beauty of the area, and the house they are staying in is even better than they could have imagined. When they report in to start the autopsy however, they are in for a shock.... the body is missing. without a trace. This of course just fuels Jack's love of a good mystery to solve!
As the reader, you know from the beginning who the antagonist is, and it is just a matter of sitting back and waiting to see if they will get caught before the body count rises any higher. The book did spend a lot of time talking about prions, which I was unfamiliar with, and I had to do a little research on so I wasn't completely lost. I think between that and the frequent mentions of the local malitia made this book one of my least favorite. It wasn't bad, just not my favorite. I look forward to Jack & Laurie returning to the city, hopefully in the next book! Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
In the 15th book in the Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery Series, Jack receives a phone call from a former medical school classmate, Robert Neilson, begging Jack & Laurie to come lend a professional hand on a series of puzzling cases he has had. Dr Nelson is the sole family practitioner in Essex Falls, an idyllic town tucked away in New York State's Adirondack Mountains, as well as their only coroner. They have recently had an outbreak of rapidly progressive Alzheimer's-like cases, and he has yet to determine the cause or make an definitive diagnosis. This all works out perfectly, because Laurie has temporarily stepped down from her duties as Chief Medical Examiner, and with both kids in camp for the summer, they find themselves uncharacteristically free for a couple of weeks. They arrive in Essex Falls and are immediately charmed by the beauty of the area, and the house they are staying in is even better than they could have imagined. When they report in to start the autopsy however, they are in for a shock.... the body is missing. without a trace. This of course just fuels Jack's love of a good mystery to solve!
As the reader, you know from the beginning who the antagonist is, and it is just a matter of sitting back and waiting to see if they will get caught before the body count rises any higher. The book did spend a lot of time talking about prions, which I was unfamiliar with, and I had to do a little research on so I wasn't completely lost. I think between that and the frequent mentions of the local malitia made this book one of my least favorite. It wasn't bad, just not my favorite. I look forward to Jack & Laurie returning to the city, hopefully in the next book! Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
December 2, 2025
Spasm Robin Cook
5 stars
As good as ever.
I last read a book by this author about 20 years ago and had no idea he was still writing When I saw this book available on Netgalley I had to request it and I was not disappointed. I always enjoyed the way the author combines his obvious great medical knowledge with an interesting story.
In this one Jack Stapleton and his wife Laurie are looking forward to sometime without their children who are in summer camps and when an old friend , Dr Bob Nielsen,from Jack's medical college, contacts them to ask if they can do an autopsy on a suspicious death they are happy to oblige . Especially since Bob lives in the beautiful small town of Essex Falls a place of outstanding beauty surrounded by mountains, lakes and trees a far cry from New York City.
The victim had been a member of a group of local extremists but when Jack and Laurie arrive they discover that the body has gone missing. Dr Bob is also concerned that he has recently had at least a dozen people dying suddenly of Alzheimer s at very young ages even though subsequent medical tests show no symptoms of the disease.
Once Jack arrives he immediately suspects some form of poisoning or contamination is the cause of the deaths and immediately suspects 4 men from the Netherlands who have recently arrived purportedly to train up the local extremists.
I really enjoyed this story and can actually imagine this scenario happening. I am now going to find more of Mr Cook's previous books as I so enjoyed this one.
Karen Deborah
Netgalley
December 9, 2025
“Spasm,” by Robin Cook, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 368 pages, Dec. 9, 2025.
When Laurie Montgomery Stapleton temporarily steps down from her position as chief medical examiner in New York City, she and her husband Jack, also a medical examiner, decide to embark on a weekend getaway.
Meanwhile in Essex Falls, N.Y. Ethan Jameson, one of the founders of a paramilitary group, the Diehard Patriots, is angry that only two of the four Russians who are observing the group showed up for a night training exercise.
When Ethan leaves for work at a pest control company the next day, there is an odd substance on the door handle of his truck. He cleans it off, only to have a major reaction to a chemical. He goes to Dr. Robert Neilson’s office.
Neilson, who was in medical school with Jack, calls him about two strange deaths and their potential association with the upswing in Alzheimer's cases in Essex Falls. Neilson is also the county coroner. Laurie and Jack agree to help him and head upstate. Before they can do an autopsy, the body disappears.
While the plotting and pacing are good, the dialogue is rather stilted. The ending is not what the reader will expect. This is the 15th in the series.
I rate it four out of five stars.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a review.
When Laurie Montgomery Stapleton temporarily steps down from her position as chief medical examiner in New York City, she and her husband Jack, also a medical examiner, decide to embark on a weekend getaway.
Meanwhile in Essex Falls, N.Y. Ethan Jameson, one of the founders of a paramilitary group, the Diehard Patriots, is angry that only two of the four Russians who are observing the group showed up for a night training exercise.
When Ethan leaves for work at a pest control company the next day, there is an odd substance on the door handle of his truck. He cleans it off, only to have a major reaction to a chemical. He goes to Dr. Robert Neilson’s office.
Neilson, who was in medical school with Jack, calls him about two strange deaths and their potential association with the upswing in Alzheimer's cases in Essex Falls. Neilson is also the county coroner. Laurie and Jack agree to help him and head upstate. Before they can do an autopsy, the body disappears.
While the plotting and pacing are good, the dialogue is rather stilted. The ending is not what the reader will expect. This is the 15th in the series.
I rate it four out of five stars.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a review.
December 9, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam Sons for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by a long time favorite, Robin Cook. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!
NYC Medical Examiner Jack Stapleton gets a call from an old medical school friend, Dr Robert Neilson, about some strange happenings in his small town located in the Adirondacks. His wife, Laurie Montgomery, Chief ME in NYC is ready for a break, so the two head upstate to see if they can assist. But trouble is brewing in Essex Falls with a homegrown militia group with foreign assistance training in the woods. It soon appears that a dangerous bioweapon might be in play as well.
This book is number 15 in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series, which I've read most of, but you could certainly read this as a stand alone. Robin Cook is a master at medical thrillers, typically involving current topics that make the reader feel scared about the real life possibilities of such issues. Such is the case here, with fanatical people with weapons and terrorist infiltration. The possibilities are more than frightening. I liked the Adirondack setting and enjoyed getting reacquainted with these characters. More please!
NYC Medical Examiner Jack Stapleton gets a call from an old medical school friend, Dr Robert Neilson, about some strange happenings in his small town located in the Adirondacks. His wife, Laurie Montgomery, Chief ME in NYC is ready for a break, so the two head upstate to see if they can assist. But trouble is brewing in Essex Falls with a homegrown militia group with foreign assistance training in the woods. It soon appears that a dangerous bioweapon might be in play as well.
This book is number 15 in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series, which I've read most of, but you could certainly read this as a stand alone. Robin Cook is a master at medical thrillers, typically involving current topics that make the reader feel scared about the real life possibilities of such issues. Such is the case here, with fanatical people with weapons and terrorist infiltration. The possibilities are more than frightening. I liked the Adirondack setting and enjoyed getting reacquainted with these characters. More please!
October 4, 2025
Spasm by Robin Cook is the 15th book of the series following Jack Stapleton and his wife Laurie. A former classmate reaches out to Jack to get his opinion on a suspicious death that occurred in his town. He offers a free house on the lake in a peaceful area to sweeten the deal. Jack and his wife, both professionals in their field, decided to make a vacation of it. Once they arrive, they find out several people have passed with quick onsets of Alzheimer's. Not years, but within days, they show symptoms. As they delve deeper into the cause, more suspicious activity arises, prompting Jack to seek answers in this medical thriller.
This is my second time reading a book by Robin Cook, and I am hooked. It is not my usual type of read, but he makes it entertaining and engaging. Spasm specifically moved with a fluidity that never left me bored. I was engulfed all the way until the very last page and can’t wait to read other books in this series. I highly recommend that people give Spasm a try. You won't be disappointed.
Thank you to Netgalley, Robin Cook, Putnam, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for allowing me to read the advanced copy.
This is my second time reading a book by Robin Cook, and I am hooked. It is not my usual type of read, but he makes it entertaining and engaging. Spasm specifically moved with a fluidity that never left me bored. I was engulfed all the way until the very last page and can’t wait to read other books in this series. I highly recommend that people give Spasm a try. You won't be disappointed.
Thank you to Netgalley, Robin Cook, Putnam, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for allowing me to read the advanced copy.
December 13, 2025
Spasm is the latest Jack and Laurie medical thriller from Robin Cook. In this one, the two forensic scientists are asked to visit Essex Falls in upstate New York to assist with an autopsy. Locals are dying of two mysterious diseases. One kills swiftly. The another acts like Alzheimer’s but with younger victims and quicker onset.
In the meantime, a newly formed local alt right militia has invited four foreign nationals to help train their small group. However, the trainers are actually Russians who are in America to test a new bioweapon that they are creating in their garage. Can Jack and Laurie figure out what is causing the mysterious deaths and catch the villains in time to prevent more deaths?
Surprisingly, all of the plot that I describe above is revealed in the beginning of the book. Then Spasm just plods on. There is no dramatic tension at all. I am so disappointed. 3 stars for a good idea that is just wasted by the ineffective pacing and the poor timing of the reveals.
Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with an advanced review copy.
In the meantime, a newly formed local alt right militia has invited four foreign nationals to help train their small group. However, the trainers are actually Russians who are in America to test a new bioweapon that they are creating in their garage. Can Jack and Laurie figure out what is causing the mysterious deaths and catch the villains in time to prevent more deaths?
Surprisingly, all of the plot that I describe above is revealed in the beginning of the book. Then Spasm just plods on. There is no dramatic tension at all. I am so disappointed. 3 stars for a good idea that is just wasted by the ineffective pacing and the poor timing of the reveals.
Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with an advanced review copy.
November 13, 2025
Just ok
As the 15th book in this series unfolded, I found myself questioning if it is time for the author to finish out the series. I enjoyed other books in the series, but this one and the last just weren't in the same class. I found this book to be unrealistic and purposely exaggerated, which didn't make me like it any better.
Jack and Laurie, both NYC medical examiners decide that investigating mysterious deaths is their idea of a great out of town get-away, they head to upstate Essex Falls. They encounter a town time has forgotten due to a bad economy, and the void was filled by right-wing militia members. Yup, the rest goes as you would expect, track down the bad guys and stay alive while doing it. I'm sure there are readers who will enjoy this book, I guess it just wasn't for me.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
As the 15th book in this series unfolded, I found myself questioning if it is time for the author to finish out the series. I enjoyed other books in the series, but this one and the last just weren't in the same class. I found this book to be unrealistic and purposely exaggerated, which didn't make me like it any better.
Jack and Laurie, both NYC medical examiners decide that investigating mysterious deaths is their idea of a great out of town get-away, they head to upstate Essex Falls. They encounter a town time has forgotten due to a bad economy, and the void was filled by right-wing militia members. Yup, the rest goes as you would expect, track down the bad guys and stay alive while doing it. I'm sure there are readers who will enjoy this book, I guess it just wasn't for me.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
January 2, 2026
A vacation turns deadly in this scary medical thriller.
Seeking a reprieve from NYC politics, Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery head to the Adirondack town of Essex Falls to help Jack's old medical school classmate investigate a cluster of rapid onset Alzheimer's cases and the sudden death of a formerly healthy pest control worker. Comfortably situated in a huge historic mansion for their summer getaway, things start to go awry for Jack when one of the bodies they planned to autopsy goes missing from the morgue. Instantly, Jack is pulled into a situation involving white extremist militia and a terrifying prion bio-weapon designed to trigger lethal neurological collapse.
This is definitely a relevant plot that pits forensic science against domestic radicalization and terrorism. While the pacing is slow at first, with a lot of minute and banal detail, the tension builds as the cause of the spasms and the neurological deterioration is revealed. There's a lot of interesting scientific detail about prions and the medical sequelae. The bad guys were very stereotypical Russians, the homegrown terrorists were portrayed as losers for the most part, and the other characters are basically friends of Jack and Laurie that are more or less well known by readers of this series. I read this author because I love books written about medical conditions or diseases and epidemics, etc. Chemical and biological threats are serious possibilities that need to be monitored to safeguard citizens of all countries.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Will Damron, has done all the other books in this series. He has a great style that handles both the clinical jargon and the emotional range of the various characters. He also has the ability to keep in character with the various accents. His performance helps to overcome the slower parts of the book to keep readers engaged.
Seeking a reprieve from NYC politics, Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery head to the Adirondack town of Essex Falls to help Jack's old medical school classmate investigate a cluster of rapid onset Alzheimer's cases and the sudden death of a formerly healthy pest control worker. Comfortably situated in a huge historic mansion for their summer getaway, things start to go awry for Jack when one of the bodies they planned to autopsy goes missing from the morgue. Instantly, Jack is pulled into a situation involving white extremist militia and a terrifying prion bio-weapon designed to trigger lethal neurological collapse.
This is definitely a relevant plot that pits forensic science against domestic radicalization and terrorism. While the pacing is slow at first, with a lot of minute and banal detail, the tension builds as the cause of the spasms and the neurological deterioration is revealed. There's a lot of interesting scientific detail about prions and the medical sequelae. The bad guys were very stereotypical Russians, the homegrown terrorists were portrayed as losers for the most part, and the other characters are basically friends of Jack and Laurie that are more or less well known by readers of this series. I read this author because I love books written about medical conditions or diseases and epidemics, etc. Chemical and biological threats are serious possibilities that need to be monitored to safeguard citizens of all countries.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Will Damron, has done all the other books in this series. He has a great style that handles both the clinical jargon and the emotional range of the various characters. He also has the ability to keep in character with the various accents. His performance helps to overcome the slower parts of the book to keep readers engaged.
October 31, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the publisher of this novel for this ebook in exchange for an honest review! this was actually my first jack stapleton & laurie montgomery novel that i ended up finishing, and i thought this premise was so unique. the concept of bioweapons and how they can interrupt the state of society and how we function together was explored in a really interesting way in this book. i can see how you would want to read the other books featuring these main characters first, as i do think i missed some character development and certain small details that would have made my experience even better, but you definitely don’t have to. overall, if you’re looking for a medical thriller with great characters and a really cool premise, i would give this one a go!
January 3, 2026
If you're in need of a fast paced, plot driven suspense thriller, Robin Cook's Spasm might fit the bill. There are adequate scientific facts to support the author's latest medical threat to humanity and the characters conduct themselves with realistic -if a tad wooden- responses to the mounting dangers surrounding them.
Since this a purely plot driven, the characters are barely fleshed out( even the main pair who have starred in previous iterations), but it hardly matters as the intelligently paced action moves things along nicely. Cook's occasional nods to current events and the social climate also lend real verisimilitude to the story, and his mature vocabulary and usage are refreshing when so many works today default to overreliance on jargon to appear current.
Since this a purely plot driven, the characters are barely fleshed out( even the main pair who have starred in previous iterations), but it hardly matters as the intelligently paced action moves things along nicely. Cook's occasional nods to current events and the social climate also lend real verisimilitude to the story, and his mature vocabulary and usage are refreshing when so many works today default to overreliance on jargon to appear current.
January 7, 2026
Only one 'Good Grief!' so that's an improvement. But still with the exclamation points! All the time! And a very well-thumbed thesaurus.
Jack Stapleton makes me think of the 'Gaston' song from Beauty and the Beast. No one plays basketball likes Jack. No one swims like Jack. No one canoes like Jack. No one rides a bike like Jack (yes, we know he envisions himself as part of the Tour de France peloton).
Along with being obsessed with basketball and Jack's prowess, Robin Cook seems determined to sell the Adirondacks on us, along with its architecture and furnishings. Giant fireplaces seem to be a personal favorite of his.
Also, has anyone referred to a 'cell' or 'phone' as a 'mobile' in the last decade or so? How about used the word 'becalmed' in a sentence?
Jack Stapleton makes me think of the 'Gaston' song from Beauty and the Beast. No one plays basketball likes Jack. No one swims like Jack. No one canoes like Jack. No one rides a bike like Jack (yes, we know he envisions himself as part of the Tour de France peloton).
Along with being obsessed with basketball and Jack's prowess, Robin Cook seems determined to sell the Adirondacks on us, along with its architecture and furnishings. Giant fireplaces seem to be a personal favorite of his.
Also, has anyone referred to a 'cell' or 'phone' as a 'mobile' in the last decade or so? How about used the word 'becalmed' in a sentence?
September 16, 2025
Five Stars for My First Robin Cook
Spasm was my first Robin Cook novel, and now I understand why he’s considered the inventor of the medical thriller. The mix of real science, breakneck suspense, and unsettling ethical questions kept me hooked from start to finish. The premise with a modern day bioweapon felt both fascinating and frighteningly relevant.
What impressed me most was how authentic the medical detail felt without bogging down the story. Cook’s background adds so much credibility, and his short, sharp chapters kept the tension high. Thought-provoking and timely, this won’t be my last Robin Cook. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Spasm was my first Robin Cook novel, and now I understand why he’s considered the inventor of the medical thriller. The mix of real science, breakneck suspense, and unsettling ethical questions kept me hooked from start to finish. The premise with a modern day bioweapon felt both fascinating and frighteningly relevant.
What impressed me most was how authentic the medical detail felt without bogging down the story. Cook’s background adds so much credibility, and his short, sharp chapters kept the tension high. Thought-provoking and timely, this won’t be my last Robin Cook. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 14, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this book.
Spasm is the 15th book in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series, but can also be easily read as a standalone book. Jack and his wife Laurie take up an offer from a med school friend to escape their busy forensic pathology lives in NYC and head a few hours away for a free stay in a huge house on a lake, while providing some professional advice on a couple of suspicious deaths that have occurred in the town. The deaths point to early onset Alzheimer's, but nothing else lines up. Jack's mind starts spinning as he starts his own investigation, and things start moving quickly from there.
Spasm is the 15th book in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series, but can also be easily read as a standalone book. Jack and his wife Laurie take up an offer from a med school friend to escape their busy forensic pathology lives in NYC and head a few hours away for a free stay in a huge house on a lake, while providing some professional advice on a couple of suspicious deaths that have occurred in the town. The deaths point to early onset Alzheimer's, but nothing else lines up. Jack's mind starts spinning as he starts his own investigation, and things start moving quickly from there.
December 4, 2025
As usual Robin Cook does not disappoint with providing us with the compelling medical examiner drama we have all come to crave from him. This was a very engaging story that keeps pulling you back for more. The setting is outside of the NY medical examiners office, and gives a nice reprieve from the normal day-to-day events. It allows us to see the characters in a different way which I really enjoyed. Although it is labeled a thriller, I think it's more or a mystery. There aren't any nail biting, breath holding moments that are required to be called a thriller.
*** This honest review was given in exchange for an ARC provided by the r via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
*** This honest review was given in exchange for an ARC provided by the r via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 11, 2025
Since I read COMA in 1977, Robin Cook has been an auto-read for me. He's also one of my most often recommended authors. His books mix mystery and thriller in equal parts, with medical suspense driving the plotline. Many of his stories seemed to predict the medical emergency headlines that followed. One of the best remarks I've often heard of his books is that you don't have to have a medical degree to understand the plot and the consequences if it's not solved. The characters are not saints in their personal lives, but they have dedicated their lives to saving humankind. Anyone could read these books. They are not gory or doomsday ugly. They are very good reads.
December 19, 2025
Many years ago I read every Robin Cook medical mystery I could get my hands on. I was literally obsessed which is why I was so excited to read this 15th installment in the Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery series. I feel so disappointed, the writing does not feel the same. The intensive medical jargon starting in the second chapter had me so bogged down that I didn't really even care about the rest of the book. The plot had promise but the writing was lackluster at best. I doubt I will try another Cook novel which makes me sad. My thanks to Putnam for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2026
An excellent read for fans of the medical-thriller genre. Readers who enjoy suspense, terrorism plots, and themes of biological warfare will also find much to like here. The sections detailing medical procedures can easily be skimmed without harming one’s understanding of the plot or diminishing the overall experience.
Considering that Robin Cook is already 85 years old and still writing his own novels, the achievement is truly remarkable.
The only element that didn’t quite work for me was the epilogue. It felt unnecessary, and the book would have been just as strong, if not stronger without it.
Considering that Robin Cook is already 85 years old and still writing his own novels, the achievement is truly remarkable.
The only element that didn’t quite work for me was the epilogue. It felt unnecessary, and the book would have been just as strong, if not stronger without it.
November 1, 2025
This is the 15th book in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series. The husband-and-wife team of medical examiners takes a working vacation when they travel to the NY Catskills to visit Jack's doctor friend. The old friend is a small-town doctor with some big city issues and needs Jack's help. This is a well-written book with vivid characters, a beautiful location, and lots of action. Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an ARC.
November 27, 2025
It must be nearly 40 years since I read a Robin cook book - I used to borrow them from my mum all the time until I decided they had got a bit samey. But I have a new appreciation for them and the fact that they are consistently exciting. I found myself very invested in finishing it and finding out what happened. It won’t be 40 years until I read another. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the ARC.
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