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Genezing
Drie aidsonderzoekers staan op het punt een baanbrekend middel op de markt te brengen. Dan overlijdt een van hen onverwacht. Het lijkt zelfmoord, maar televisiejournalist Sara Lowell en haar man, basketballer Michael Silverman, waren bevriend met hem en geloven er niets van.
Hun vermoedens worden bevestigd wanneer er patiënten - onder wie de zoon van een senator - in de kliniek worden vermoord. Een televisiedominee, Sara's vader en een hoge regeringsfunctionaris lijken uit op het dwarsbomen van het onderzoek. De situatie verergert wanneer Michael ziek wordt. Achter de schermen wordt een vuil spel gespeeld met grote bedragen aan onderzoeksgeld, en de kwade genius heeft er alles voor over om anoniem te blijven...
Hun vermoedens worden bevestigd wanneer er patiënten - onder wie de zoon van een senator - in de kliniek worden vermoord. Een televisiedominee, Sara's vader en een hoge regeringsfunctionaris lijken uit op het dwarsbomen van het onderzoek. De situatie verergert wanneer Michael ziek wordt. Achter de schermen wordt een vuil spel gespeeld met grote bedragen aan onderzoeksgeld, en de kwade genius heeft er alles voor over om anoniem te blijven...
445 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1991
3307 people are currently reading
8583 people want to read
About the author
Harlan Coben
247 books43.9k followersHarlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,459 reviews
December 29, 2021
I’m aghast. I’ve forgotten to review a book. A Mister Coben book, I might add! Loved this as much as any of his others, but not so much the medical theme. He loves his all star all American basketball, doesn’t he?!
This was an interesting one, a missing protagonist, a beautiful heartbroken wife/model/business woman at the top of her empire, a cop best friend making sure she’s ok without him.
At the start of this one HC states his apologies for his novice form as this is one of his first. Love this guy’s books. Go to for this reader, I love this feeling, this surety about my faves!
This was an interesting one, a missing protagonist, a beautiful heartbroken wife/model/business woman at the top of her empire, a cop best friend making sure she’s ok without him.
At the start of this one HC states his apologies for his novice form as this is one of his first. Love this guy’s books. Go to for this reader, I love this feeling, this surety about my faves!
November 25, 2023
While crime / suspense is one of my favourite genres, I have not read many of Harlan Coben’s books. This is apparently one of his early books and he warns that it may not be as polished as his later ones. That said, I liked the book for being a relaxing read.
The story will seem a little dated today as it is set at a time when there was a sense of hopelessness around AIDS, and gay people were stigmatized. Dr Harvey Riker & Dr Bruce Grey are partners in the Sidney Pavilion clinic working on a drug for AIDS, and on the verge of a breakthrough. A couple of cured patients are killed and it seems like there are enemies of the clinic out to destroy them. Dr Bruce Grey is found dead in what appears to be a case of suicide, by jumping from his hotel room. None who know him feel he had any reason to end his life, but he has left a suicide note in the hotel room. There are many other characters in the story:
• Ernest Sanders - an evangelist, accused of tax fraud, who is vocal that AIDS is a warning for humankind to return to the right path.
• Sarah Lowell - a newscaster who picks up the story of the clinic, with Donald Parker, a senior newscaster. She is married to Michael Silverman, a basketball player.
• Dr John Lowell - Sarah’s dad, who is sore that his cancer wing is not getting more funding due to most of it going to AIDS research.
• Cassandra – Sarah’s sister, is wayward and a little envious of Sarah. Gets romantically involved with Dr Harvey Riker.
• Dr Eric Blake – a new researcher and partner at the clinic.
• Lieutenant Max Bernstein – investigates the deaths of clinic patients to get to the serial murderer of the clinic patients.
• Senator Stephen Jenkins – his son is gay, though the information is not public and is being treated at the clinic. He is conscious and careful of his image with the electorate.
The pace is very good, and so is the character development. Though some of the murders are unnecessarily brutal, it is still an entertaining & relaxing read. This is written in a style which is somewhat typical of the genre with suggestions to the reader on who could be the culprit, only to spring a surprise later. Aspects of prejudice form a strong part of the story, and while a lot has changed, some of it stays till date. As Harlan Coben does warn in his foreword, the last section has long explanations of the motive and the resolution.
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
The story will seem a little dated today as it is set at a time when there was a sense of hopelessness around AIDS, and gay people were stigmatized. Dr Harvey Riker & Dr Bruce Grey are partners in the Sidney Pavilion clinic working on a drug for AIDS, and on the verge of a breakthrough. A couple of cured patients are killed and it seems like there are enemies of the clinic out to destroy them. Dr Bruce Grey is found dead in what appears to be a case of suicide, by jumping from his hotel room. None who know him feel he had any reason to end his life, but he has left a suicide note in the hotel room. There are many other characters in the story:
• Ernest Sanders - an evangelist, accused of tax fraud, who is vocal that AIDS is a warning for humankind to return to the right path.
• Sarah Lowell - a newscaster who picks up the story of the clinic, with Donald Parker, a senior newscaster. She is married to Michael Silverman, a basketball player.
• Dr John Lowell - Sarah’s dad, who is sore that his cancer wing is not getting more funding due to most of it going to AIDS research.
• Cassandra – Sarah’s sister, is wayward and a little envious of Sarah. Gets romantically involved with Dr Harvey Riker.
• Dr Eric Blake – a new researcher and partner at the clinic.
• Lieutenant Max Bernstein – investigates the deaths of clinic patients to get to the serial murderer of the clinic patients.
• Senator Stephen Jenkins – his son is gay, though the information is not public and is being treated at the clinic. He is conscious and careful of his image with the electorate.
The pace is very good, and so is the character development. Though some of the murders are unnecessarily brutal, it is still an entertaining & relaxing read. This is written in a style which is somewhat typical of the genre with suggestions to the reader on who could be the culprit, only to spring a surprise later. Aspects of prejudice form a strong part of the story, and while a lot has changed, some of it stays till date. As Harlan Coben does warn in his foreword, the last section has long explanations of the motive and the resolution.
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
September 17, 2024
Miracle Cure was first published in 1991 and is one of Harlan Coben's very early books. It does demonstrate what an excellent author he is to become.
The story is set at a time when AIDS was at its peak and takes place in and around a clinic which appears to have developed a cure. A series of murders begin, all related to the clinic, and TV journalist Sara Lowell and her friend Lieutenant Max Bernstein investigate. Who is apparently trying to stop the success of the project and why?
There is a neat little twist at the end which left me feeling I had just read a very good book. In actual fact I found parts of it, especially the politics, heavy going. The violence was pretty brutal too but I skimmed those bits. Nevertheless it was a very readable book which I enjoyed overall.
The story is set at a time when AIDS was at its peak and takes place in and around a clinic which appears to have developed a cure. A series of murders begin, all related to the clinic, and TV journalist Sara Lowell and her friend Lieutenant Max Bernstein investigate. Who is apparently trying to stop the success of the project and why?
There is a neat little twist at the end which left me feeling I had just read a very good book. In actual fact I found parts of it, especially the politics, heavy going. The violence was pretty brutal too but I skimmed those bits. Nevertheless it was a very readable book which I enjoyed overall.
November 10, 2025
Today’s front page news makes a thirty-year old book brand new!
The story, despite its basic ugliness, is simple. A group of dedicated medical doctors and scientists in a private clinic on Manhattan’s upper west side are closing in on a cure for AIDS. The story, topical thirty years ago and even more timely now given the re-emergence and swelling approval of homophobia in the fundamentalist Christian evangelical community, is about a nasty political battle that turns to murder and begins to claim gruesome casualties. The fight is between the left wing’s support for the clinic and their attempt to protect it and care for an embattled homosexual community dealing with the threat of a deadly disease, versus the right-wing community and their attempts to halt the research at any costs and to smear, shut down and destroy the clinic’s ability to deal with what they characterize as God's punishment of an ungodly perversion.
With such a compelling story line and so much grist for meaningful political conversation, MIRACLE CURE ultimately just became too much of everything. – too much blood, guts and gore in the murders (although, to be sure, given Coben’s propensity for that kind of stuff, that shouldn’t have come as any real surprise); the bag of political nasty tricks from both sides of the spectrum was simply too deep, too grimy and too sleazy even by today’s standards; the mega-church pastor was so smarmy (even for this profoundly anti-religion atheist) that he entered the realm of cartoonish stereotypes; and the romance in the novel was, well, cute and too, too saccharine. In short, Coben took everything over the top and what could have been a 4- or 5-star suspense or medical thriller turned into an unmemorable 3-star crime novel.
And, lest I be misunderstood, I’ll admit to any potential readers that it was still a gripping page turner that I happily finished in only two days. But, for my money, it failed against what it could have been and what it should have been.
Paul Weiss
The story, despite its basic ugliness, is simple. A group of dedicated medical doctors and scientists in a private clinic on Manhattan’s upper west side are closing in on a cure for AIDS. The story, topical thirty years ago and even more timely now given the re-emergence and swelling approval of homophobia in the fundamentalist Christian evangelical community, is about a nasty political battle that turns to murder and begins to claim gruesome casualties. The fight is between the left wing’s support for the clinic and their attempt to protect it and care for an embattled homosexual community dealing with the threat of a deadly disease, versus the right-wing community and their attempts to halt the research at any costs and to smear, shut down and destroy the clinic’s ability to deal with what they characterize as God's punishment of an ungodly perversion.
With such a compelling story line and so much grist for meaningful political conversation, MIRACLE CURE ultimately just became too much of everything. – too much blood, guts and gore in the murders (although, to be sure, given Coben’s propensity for that kind of stuff, that shouldn’t have come as any real surprise); the bag of political nasty tricks from both sides of the spectrum was simply too deep, too grimy and too sleazy even by today’s standards; the mega-church pastor was so smarmy (even for this profoundly anti-religion atheist) that he entered the realm of cartoonish stereotypes; and the romance in the novel was, well, cute and too, too saccharine. In short, Coben took everything over the top and what could have been a 4- or 5-star suspense or medical thriller turned into an unmemorable 3-star crime novel.
And, lest I be misunderstood, I’ll admit to any potential readers that it was still a gripping page turner that I happily finished in only two days. But, for my money, it failed against what it could have been and what it should have been.
Paul Weiss
November 10, 2016
This is only my second novel that I have read by Harlan Coben and it won't be my last. I was a little bit apprehensive in reading this one as the author wrote a letter at the beginning of the book warning the reader to put it down or return it if they have not read any of his more recent work. Well that just piqued my interest and I needed to know what my opinion of it would be. I wasn't disappointed it was an enjoyable read that grabbed my attention right away.
It was a fast-paced, quick and easy read with an interesting plot. I was able to guess who done it but it was still a shocking and suspenseful read as the climax was executed very well! Going to have to read one of his more popular titles very soon.
It was a fast-paced, quick and easy read with an interesting plot. I was able to guess who done it but it was still a shocking and suspenseful read as the climax was executed very well! Going to have to read one of his more popular titles very soon.
September 23, 2018
What if there was a cure for the AIDS virus? Dr. Harvey Riker runs the Sidney Pavillion, a secret research clinic in Manhattan where a breakthrough cure for AIDS has been discovered. Several patients who were positive for the virus are now testing negative. But the funding needs to continue if there's any chance of developing a vaccine. The negative stigma of the virus increases the reluctance to put funds into a disease some consider as 100% preventable.
"It's a constant battle, Sara. It never ends. Bigots, homophobes, nieve people."
One of Harvey's colleagues, Dr. Bruce Grey has just returned to the US from vacation when he jumps to his death from an eleven story Hotel. Officials rule it suicide.
Then, one of the patients who has been cured is found murdered. Then another. Why? Lieutenant Max Bernstein must find the common denominator between the murders. Did Dr Bruce Gray commit suicide? Or was it murder?
Miracle Cure is the sixth book I've read by Harlan Coben. It's also the second book that I didn't fully enjoy. I liked the fresh storyline involving a private research facility and a Dr whose dedicated to finding a cure for the AIDS virus. The characters were well rounded, the mystery of surrounding the death of Dr. Grey and the young men wasn't an issue either. But the book was easily 100 pages too long.
I wanted to skip to the ending several times but I persevered in reading it in entirety. The conclusion was a unforeseen surprise but by that time I was just glad I finished it.
"It's a constant battle, Sara. It never ends. Bigots, homophobes, nieve people."
One of Harvey's colleagues, Dr. Bruce Grey has just returned to the US from vacation when he jumps to his death from an eleven story Hotel. Officials rule it suicide.
Then, one of the patients who has been cured is found murdered. Then another. Why? Lieutenant Max Bernstein must find the common denominator between the murders. Did Dr Bruce Gray commit suicide? Or was it murder?
Miracle Cure is the sixth book I've read by Harlan Coben. It's also the second book that I didn't fully enjoy. I liked the fresh storyline involving a private research facility and a Dr whose dedicated to finding a cure for the AIDS virus. The characters were well rounded, the mystery of surrounding the death of Dr. Grey and the young men wasn't an issue either. But the book was easily 100 pages too long.
I wanted to skip to the ending several times but I persevered in reading it in entirety. The conclusion was a unforeseen surprise but by that time I was just glad I finished it.
February 26, 2021
I think this is my first adventure into reading Harlan Coben books and I'm intrigued to read more books by him, however I didn't think this was a great book. Entertaining enough yes but I can see why my copy had a note by him saying this wasn't his best book, think it was his second book published. I'm interested to see how much he improved in later novels. But the book it self had a good amount of suspense and rather interesting plot.
October 26, 2011
Coben is easily one of my favorite authors. The joy of discovery I felt while reading books like NO SECOND CHANCE and THE INNOCENT is something I hope for every time I read a book by a new author. Unfortunately, this early book by Coben is not really worth reading. Coben says as much in the intro when he urges readers to put the book away if they've never read his books before. Why? Because it is so bad, you probably won't finish it.
Knowing how good Coben was, and enjoying his other rereleased early book, PLAY DEAD, I read to the end. The plot revolves around a clinic that may have found a cure for AIDS. Someone is trying to stop them. People die. There is a surprise at the end when you find out who the killer is. Standard thriller plotting.
What isn't standard is the dated, agenda driven plot. AIDS is at the forefront of the novel as Coben argues a debate that was going on 20 years ago, but isn't anymore. I read novels to be entertained, not to read a debate on an issue that as long left the public's eye.
Knowing how good Coben was, and enjoying his other rereleased early book, PLAY DEAD, I read to the end. The plot revolves around a clinic that may have found a cure for AIDS. Someone is trying to stop them. People die. There is a surprise at the end when you find out who the killer is. Standard thriller plotting.
What isn't standard is the dated, agenda driven plot. AIDS is at the forefront of the novel as Coben argues a debate that was going on 20 years ago, but isn't anymore. I read novels to be entertained, not to read a debate on an issue that as long left the public's eye.
June 14, 2017
I listened to the Audio narrated by Scott Brick, who I love. In the author's note at the beginning, Harlan Coben pretty much apologizes for this book. So I thought, OH NO, but I actually liked this one. I like Harlan Coben's books...the only one that didn't fare well in my reviews was the one he actually narrated himself...not good.
This book was definitely dated, but it was published in 1991 after all. This book takes hits of that nature in other reviews. He had some great twists though and it wasn't slow, so 4 stars.
This book was definitely dated, but it was published in 1991 after all. This book takes hits of that nature in other reviews. He had some great twists though and it wasn't slow, so 4 stars.
March 4, 2022
Doctors Harvey Riker and Bruce Grey run a research clinic in New York City. Together they've discovered a cure for AIDS. A handful of patients who had the disease are now HIV negative. Federal funding for the clinic is getting scarce. The doctors are scrambling to find grants that will let them stay open while they continue their research.
TV journalist Sara Lowell and her husband, pro-basketball player Michael Silverman, pray their friend, Dr. Riker, gets the funding he needs. After a brief illness, Michael has been diagnosed as HIV positive and the only way he will survive is with the cure that the clinic has developed. But in a matter of weeks, two of the clinic's success stories have been murdered. When a third patient is found dead, police believe that someone doesn't want the doctors to find a cure.
This is one of Harlan Coben's first book. The story felt very dated. It was published in 1991 but it seems to take place before there were any drugs that would treat HIV infection. The politicians and doctors talk about the fact that HIV was a "gay disease" and would not impact the heterosexual community. Of course, we know that is not true.
This book was a page-turner, but it had a few characters that do some crazy things for no apparent reason. It also had an improbable ending which made my eyes roll. This is not Harlan Coben's best, but it is still an entertaining story. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
TV journalist Sara Lowell and her husband, pro-basketball player Michael Silverman, pray their friend, Dr. Riker, gets the funding he needs. After a brief illness, Michael has been diagnosed as HIV positive and the only way he will survive is with the cure that the clinic has developed. But in a matter of weeks, two of the clinic's success stories have been murdered. When a third patient is found dead, police believe that someone doesn't want the doctors to find a cure.
This is one of Harlan Coben's first book. The story felt very dated. It was published in 1991 but it seems to take place before there were any drugs that would treat HIV infection. The politicians and doctors talk about the fact that HIV was a "gay disease" and would not impact the heterosexual community. Of course, we know that is not true.
This book was a page-turner, but it had a few characters that do some crazy things for no apparent reason. It also had an improbable ending which made my eyes roll. This is not Harlan Coben's best, but it is still an entertaining story. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
July 30, 2011
I loved this one! Thought it was a new release, and didn't realize it was a re-release until I read the letter from Harlan Coben at the very beginning of the book.
Sara and Michael were a celebrity couple..Sara a top reporter for NewsFlash and Michael a top basketball player for the New York Knicks. Their good friend, Dr Harvey Riker, was in charge of the clinic which was looking for a miracle cure to AIDS. But things were going wrong...the patients who were showing up as cured, were being murdered, one by one...The partner of Dr Riker, Dr Bruce Grey, had committed suicide. Politics and religion were getting in the way, and the clinic was in jeopardy of losing the funding grants it relied on so much.
Sara's good friend, Lieutenant Max Bernstein was working to solve the murders before anymore were committed...he was having trouble tying everything together, when suddenly a shattering event took place. Time was running out!!!
The twists and turns in this book kept me guessing, shocked and intrigued until the very last line!!!!
Sara and Michael were a celebrity couple..Sara a top reporter for NewsFlash and Michael a top basketball player for the New York Knicks. Their good friend, Dr Harvey Riker, was in charge of the clinic which was looking for a miracle cure to AIDS. But things were going wrong...the patients who were showing up as cured, were being murdered, one by one...The partner of Dr Riker, Dr Bruce Grey, had committed suicide. Politics and religion were getting in the way, and the clinic was in jeopardy of losing the funding grants it relied on so much.
Sara's good friend, Lieutenant Max Bernstein was working to solve the murders before anymore were committed...he was having trouble tying everything together, when suddenly a shattering event took place. Time was running out!!!
The twists and turns in this book kept me guessing, shocked and intrigued until the very last line!!!!
January 25, 2023
Different story for him but very good.
June 10, 2022
Oh, the difference of time!
I first read this while studying at uni in the early 90s and I remember being intrigued. So, while waiting for another read I thought I’d squeeze in a reread. How I wish I hadn’t!
2.5 stars for a read that now seems patronising. Purely the passing of time has rendered it frustrating. The ethical aspect is highly relevant, but the rest…well, I should have left it back in my student days.
I first read this while studying at uni in the early 90s and I remember being intrigued. So, while waiting for another read I thought I’d squeeze in a reread. How I wish I hadn’t!
2.5 stars for a read that now seems patronising. Purely the passing of time has rendered it frustrating. The ethical aspect is highly relevant, but the rest…well, I should have left it back in my student days.
September 2, 2021
I've been putting this book off for the longest time, the reason being I've read a lot of not so good reviews, and as many others, my copy has a short letter by Harlan Coben himself ( when it was rereleased) saying not to read it until reading some of his later works, I guess apparently this wasn't one of Coben's favorites, HAHA! I also know that he did the same thing with his other earlier book,
which I also enjoyed! Mr. Coben, you'll probably never see this review, but if by any chance you do, I want you to know that I really enjoyed Miracle Cure, I found it well thought out and intriguing, different from your other books, sure, but still enjoyable, we all have to start somewhere.
Miracle Cure revolves around what used to be one of the most deadly and controversial diseases in our life time, AIDS. In a New York medical clinic, highly respected Dr. Harvey Riker has dedicating his life to eradicating AIDS for some time, and has developed a possible cure. But when the cure seems to be working on the patients that have tested positive for AIDS, they start getting better, but then one by one, they start dying. It seems the patients are being targeted by a deadly Serial Killer.
NYPD Detective Max Bernstein is investigating the killings, trying to determine if they're connected or if they're just random. At the same time, couple TV Journalist Sara Lowell and Basketball star Michael Silverman's lives are caught up in the storm when Michael has been diagnosed with the disease, and their lives and many other lives are about to become tangled up in a deep dark conspiracy.
Not quite a 5-star rating in my opinion, but still entertaining and great setting and plot!
which I also enjoyed! Mr. Coben, you'll probably never see this review, but if by any chance you do, I want you to know that I really enjoyed Miracle Cure, I found it well thought out and intriguing, different from your other books, sure, but still enjoyable, we all have to start somewhere.Miracle Cure revolves around what used to be one of the most deadly and controversial diseases in our life time, AIDS. In a New York medical clinic, highly respected Dr. Harvey Riker has dedicating his life to eradicating AIDS for some time, and has developed a possible cure. But when the cure seems to be working on the patients that have tested positive for AIDS, they start getting better, but then one by one, they start dying. It seems the patients are being targeted by a deadly Serial Killer.
NYPD Detective Max Bernstein is investigating the killings, trying to determine if they're connected or if they're just random. At the same time, couple TV Journalist Sara Lowell and Basketball star Michael Silverman's lives are caught up in the storm when Michael has been diagnosed with the disease, and their lives and many other lives are about to become tangled up in a deep dark conspiracy.
Not quite a 5-star rating in my opinion, but still entertaining and great setting and plot!
June 19, 2012
So, I guess three stars is a little at odds with the title of the review, and it reflects my initial puzzlement with the book. Coben says in his intro that it's a very early book, and a bit rough in places... so why publish?
I didn't really finish it, I skipped through the last 20% to check what happened, and that's pretty serious. The book's characters aren't terribly real, the plot twist is a little hackneyed, the writing is average and some of the political stuff is self-indulgent...
But. And it's a big one.
But, we briefly lived in a world where a new author got a couple of books (at best), or just two chances from the major publishers to hit the big time. And it's worth reading this book (even if you have to skim through bits of it) to see that even the superstars of the current publishing firmament took a while to get into their stride.
Fortunately, the ebook self-publishing revolution has dismantled that two-strikes-and-you're-out deal, as you can now just switch to Kindle Direct Publishing and CreateSpace and have as many goes as it takes to write a good book. It doesn't reduce the value of this in reminding us that it can take a little time for even the most talented genre writers to get the hang of it.
I didn't really finish it, I skipped through the last 20% to check what happened, and that's pretty serious. The book's characters aren't terribly real, the plot twist is a little hackneyed, the writing is average and some of the political stuff is self-indulgent...
But. And it's a big one.
But, we briefly lived in a world where a new author got a couple of books (at best), or just two chances from the major publishers to hit the big time. And it's worth reading this book (even if you have to skim through bits of it) to see that even the superstars of the current publishing firmament took a while to get into their stride.
Fortunately, the ebook self-publishing revolution has dismantled that two-strikes-and-you're-out deal, as you can now just switch to Kindle Direct Publishing and CreateSpace and have as many goes as it takes to write a good book. It doesn't reduce the value of this in reminding us that it can take a little time for even the most talented genre writers to get the hang of it.
February 23, 2022
Zespół lekarzy jest bliski odkrycia leku na HIV – taka wiadomość byłaby światową sensacją, a badany specyfik, gdyby okazał się skuteczny, zmieniłby świat medycyny na zawsze. Harvey Riker i Bruce Grey stoją u progu wiecznej sławy – wyniki ich pacjentów wskazują, że udało im się pokonać wirusa. Niestety, ktoś postanowił zaszkodzić badaniom i zabić pacjentów. Nie ma wyników – nie ma dowodów. Tylko kto za tym wszystkim stoi? Komu może zależeć na tym, aby nadal nie było leku na HIV?
Thriller medyczny to to nie jest, tak tylko ostrzegam poszukujących po tytule :) Sama trochę się nastawiłam, ale właściwie nie jestem jakoś wyjątkowo rozczarowana. Podobało mi się rozwiązanie sprawy, bo szczerze mówiąc miałam obawy, że skończy się wszystko jakimś totalnie nierealnym happy endem, a skończyło się takim mniej nierealnym, więc spoko.
6/10
Thriller medyczny to to nie jest, tak tylko ostrzegam poszukujących po tytule :) Sama trochę się nastawiłam, ale właściwie nie jestem jakoś wyjątkowo rozczarowana. Podobało mi się rozwiązanie sprawy, bo szczerze mówiąc miałam obawy, że skończy się wszystko jakimś totalnie nierealnym happy endem, a skończyło się takim mniej nierealnym, więc spoko.
6/10
November 23, 2023
This author is quickly becoming a one click author for me. I enjoy his stories and would have enjoyed this one without the preface that set a low expectation.
Although, I guessed the who done it, I did question my guess. The story move with a great pace that kept me listening.
I will read more by this author. The narrator is one of my favorites and did an excellent job here.
Although, I guessed the who done it, I did question my guess. The story move with a great pace that kept me listening.
I will read more by this author. The narrator is one of my favorites and did an excellent job here.
January 23, 2021
Early and average for Coben. His first book was much better. Now I’ve read every one.
This one was a good premise but it wasn’t executed well in my opinion. He sure had the politicians and religious leaders right though. Nothing has changed in their regard in all of these years.
This one was a good premise but it wasn’t executed well in my opinion. He sure had the politicians and religious leaders right though. Nothing has changed in their regard in all of these years.
October 25, 2011
When an author is just starting out, rejected manuscripts are expected. When the day arrives when an author makes it big, and publishes one bestseller after another, publishers sometimes go back to earlier works that were initially rejected and publish them. Sometimes these earlier works are gems, and we are pleased that they can finally reach a mass audience.
But sometimes the reason that early works were not published is because they were awful. They were the necessary homework required of an author to learn his craft.
Miracle Cure is such a book. Juvenile in tone, oafish in style, this book contains implausible plot points by the dozens. I winced as I read the consistently lame dialog between the husband and wife who were the heroes. Almost everyone in the book is conveniently related to, or friends of, everyone else, with the exception of the serial killer. And, had it turned out that the serial killer was on the same basketball team as the hero at Livingston High, I would not have been the least surprised, such was the tone of the story.
As I read, I began to notice an exceptionally high occurrence of typos. Since I read the book on an iPad, it was easy to highlight them as I found them. I found 20 in a 75 page span. Seems excessive, doesn't it? All of them could have been caught by the most primitive spell checker.
To his credit, Coben did warn me in "A Note from the Author" not to read the book if it was my first Coben book, that it was written in his easy twenties and it was "flawed." I wish he had re-written it, now that he knows what he is doing, and published that.
This book should never have been published. A sloppily-written, poorly-edited book, rushed to print to cash in on the reputation of one of today's best writers, it is hardly likely to enhance his reputation.
I grieve, because Harlan Coben is one of my favorite authors.
But sometimes the reason that early works were not published is because they were awful. They were the necessary homework required of an author to learn his craft.
Miracle Cure is such a book. Juvenile in tone, oafish in style, this book contains implausible plot points by the dozens. I winced as I read the consistently lame dialog between the husband and wife who were the heroes. Almost everyone in the book is conveniently related to, or friends of, everyone else, with the exception of the serial killer. And, had it turned out that the serial killer was on the same basketball team as the hero at Livingston High, I would not have been the least surprised, such was the tone of the story.
As I read, I began to notice an exceptionally high occurrence of typos. Since I read the book on an iPad, it was easy to highlight them as I found them. I found 20 in a 75 page span. Seems excessive, doesn't it? All of them could have been caught by the most primitive spell checker.
To his credit, Coben did warn me in "A Note from the Author" not to read the book if it was my first Coben book, that it was written in his easy twenties and it was "flawed." I wish he had re-written it, now that he knows what he is doing, and published that.
This book should never have been published. A sloppily-written, poorly-edited book, rushed to print to cash in on the reputation of one of today's best writers, it is hardly likely to enhance his reputation.
I grieve, because Harlan Coben is one of my favorite authors.
December 27, 2020
Originally published in 1991, so far Miracle Cure is the oldest book I’ve read from Harlan Coben. I was a little hesitant to read this since so many reviewers say it’s not up to the standard of his later books. However, I ended up being pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. I think that’s partially because I read it right after Fool Me Once which has been my least favorite Coben to date. So even though there are aspects of the writing in this book that aren’t the strongest, I was totally swept away by the story.
I will say that there are aspects of this book that are frustrating to read because of the subject matter and time period. The story deals with doctors believing that they’ve found the cure to AIDS but their cured patients are being murdered, potentially to cover up the cure. So you do get the opinions from some characters that are extremely homophobic, like how gay people are bringing AIDS upon themselves and it’s god trying to wipe them out. The characters who hold those opinions are called out within the story for being bigots and the gay characters/people fighting homophobia are seen to be the heroes… but it can be pretty heavy to read.
I definitely wouldn’t recommend someone begin their journey reading Harlan Coben with this book. There’s a lot of ridiculous, over the top stuff in here. He’s improved a lot as a storyteller over the years. But for me it was fun to go back and see some of his earlier work. This was super stressful and fast-paced, which was fun for a thriller.
I will say that there are aspects of this book that are frustrating to read because of the subject matter and time period. The story deals with doctors believing that they’ve found the cure to AIDS but their cured patients are being murdered, potentially to cover up the cure. So you do get the opinions from some characters that are extremely homophobic, like how gay people are bringing AIDS upon themselves and it’s god trying to wipe them out. The characters who hold those opinions are called out within the story for being bigots and the gay characters/people fighting homophobia are seen to be the heroes… but it can be pretty heavy to read.
I definitely wouldn’t recommend someone begin their journey reading Harlan Coben with this book. There’s a lot of ridiculous, over the top stuff in here. He’s improved a lot as a storyteller over the years. But for me it was fun to go back and see some of his earlier work. This was super stressful and fast-paced, which was fun for a thriller.
October 16, 2011
A doctor is working on finding a cure for Aids. His patients are getting better but are being killed by a serial killer. This book brought up some major problems the world has now and one of them is money and where it should be allocated. If you are working on a cancer cure and you lose millions of grant money to Aids research you might question the decisions that are made. This is the quote I liked from this book: "You see: focus can be a dangerous thing. your view of the world narrows. You grow obsessed. Blinded. You see everything in terms of your obsession and nothing else. You cannot accept defeat. You cannot understand why everyone else does not share your passion. Don't get me wrong. Concentration and focus are good and necessary. But when they slide unchecked, they can distort your perspective. In the ultimate pursuit of knowledge, you can easily become ignorant." I think this can happen with anything you are focusing on from knowledge, work, love, sex, hobbies, and it's so important to be able to focus to achieve and to change the world for the better, but it is also important not to be obsessive compulsive and have a narrow and one sided view and let your passions rule your life. I thought it was a great quote.
April 1, 2012
I beggan reading Harlan Coben with his breakout book Tell No One. Wow! I found a new author whom I followed with each successive stand alone book he wrote. Then one day, very out of character for me, I read Long Lost,the newest book in the Myron Bolitar series. I have since began the series from the first book and look forward to each title in the series. Recently I came across a Coben book, Miracle Cure, which was written over 20 years ago and had not read. While I enjoyed it, it lacked the sarcasm that I have come to love from his characters like Myron, Win and Esperanza. Still it was a good book which told the story of a tv reporter, her basketball husband, their friend a doctor involved in aids research and some higher ups in the governement. It was a thriller from beginning to end and I was on the seat of my pants. While it may suffer from the years gone by and Aids is not what it was then, the book did have merit and I would recommend eading it.
September 6, 2020
Coben's second published book. The writing skills were there making it a very easy read. The problem is it wasn't very interesting, quite like a Lifetime Movie script. Coben would, of course, become one of our best action oriented novelists. But he wasn't there yet when he wrote this. The tale is not believable and is not very logical. Recommended only to die hard Coben fans.
December 1, 2012
A very good novel from a young Harlan Coben. Maybe not his best work because he does improve but certainly a great read.
February 5, 2013
While the author may feel this is one of his good works, I disagree. Gratuitous violence does not a good novel make. 2 of 10 stars
December 9, 2019
Okay, most of you know I'm a massive Harlan Coben fan. He's my most-read author and definitely one my all time favourites. I own nearly all his books and I've read most of them (still 4 to go, I believe...). I've seen The Five and Safe on Netflix and I can't wait for The Stranger to be released! I usually love all his work, but this time it felt a bit 'meh'.
Which isn't all that surprising, if I'm being honest. This is one of his first books and while reading it, I could see why he's added a letter saying that if this is the first Coben book you're reading, please please please read some of his later work first. I couldn't agree more. If you've never read anything by this author: please don't start with this book. Or 'Play Dead' for that matter. Don't get me wrong; the premise is good, the plotting is superb and the characters are interesting. The writing... well, let me just say that he definitely evolved as an author. Where his later books are mindblowingly good, his first ones are just a bit... well... not fantastic. Plus, there was more sex (or talk of sex) than I bargained for and I'm glad he doesn't use that as a plot device any longer.
The story itself, however, was interesting. Three doctors believe they've found a cure for aids (it takes place in the '90s, just fyi). But then one of them gets killed. Him, and three of their patients meet their maker way too soon. As a reader, you have no idea who's behind the killings and I was dying to find out. Of course, there's lots of people trying to bring down the doctors and the clinic, because homophobia was massive during those days (it still is, but that's a whole other discussion). There's a tv reverend, a senator, a doctor and a NIH official. They all have their own reasons for wanting to take down the clinic. The question is; are they capable of murder?
There were a few plot lines that were unnecessary in my opinion. It once again highlights the fact that this is one of his first books and he was still trying to figure out his way as a writer. For instance: two of the main characters are tv journalist Sara Lowell and her basketball star husband Michael Silverman. Michael gets sick (he's got hepatitis), but after some blood tests by the two remaining doctors of the clinic, it turns out he's got aids (no surprise there), given to him by way f a blood transfusion after an accident two years ago. One: Sara only acts as a journalist in the first 150 pages of the book. After that it wouldn't have mattered if she'd been a model or a writer or a waitress at a restaurant. The only thing that's important about her is the fact that she has a bad leg and has to use a cane but she's so hot that everyone refers to her as "the beautiful woman" or "gorgeous Sara Lowell" or whatever. Two: Michael decides he wants to help the community by sharing his story. So he goes on live television and the only thing he says is "I have aids". That's it. No explanation. No telling the public how it happened and telling everyone they should be vigilant because this clearly isn's something only gay people or drug users can contract. Also, they only mention his tv appearance twice? Then they dig out his stepdad from somewhere, who tells everyone that Michael is definitely gay (which he isn't). Michael doesn't respond. No one does. This just doesn't work for me. Where's the personal aspect of the story?
Listen to me: Harlan Coben is such an amazing writer, his stories ALWAYS surprise me (this one did as well, by the way. I wasn't expecting it to end the way it did). But DO NOT start with this book. He's got so many amazing books that are WAY better than this one. Only read this one once you've gotten to know him through his books. When you know what kind of writer he turns out the be, how his writing and plotting evolves. Read this when you (like me) have read almost everything the guy has ever written. I could read through the gaps, I could see past the mistakes and the irregularities and the plotholes and random plotlines. If you don't know him, you might dislike him after reading this and I don't want that to happen because he deserves better.
So. If you want to start reading his work? I'd say start with 'The Woods' (my personal favourite) or 'No Second Chance' or 'Tell No One' or 'Just One Look' or 'Caught' or 'Don't Let Go'. And if you want to read some of his older work? Start with the Myron Bolitar series, book 1 is 'Deal Breaker'.
That's it. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. Mar out.
Which isn't all that surprising, if I'm being honest. This is one of his first books and while reading it, I could see why he's added a letter saying that if this is the first Coben book you're reading, please please please read some of his later work first. I couldn't agree more. If you've never read anything by this author: please don't start with this book. Or 'Play Dead' for that matter. Don't get me wrong; the premise is good, the plotting is superb and the characters are interesting. The writing... well, let me just say that he definitely evolved as an author. Where his later books are mindblowingly good, his first ones are just a bit... well... not fantastic. Plus, there was more sex (or talk of sex) than I bargained for and I'm glad he doesn't use that as a plot device any longer.
The story itself, however, was interesting. Three doctors believe they've found a cure for aids (it takes place in the '90s, just fyi). But then one of them gets killed. Him, and three of their patients meet their maker way too soon. As a reader, you have no idea who's behind the killings and I was dying to find out. Of course, there's lots of people trying to bring down the doctors and the clinic, because homophobia was massive during those days (it still is, but that's a whole other discussion). There's a tv reverend, a senator, a doctor and a NIH official. They all have their own reasons for wanting to take down the clinic. The question is; are they capable of murder?
There were a few plot lines that were unnecessary in my opinion. It once again highlights the fact that this is one of his first books and he was still trying to figure out his way as a writer. For instance: two of the main characters are tv journalist Sara Lowell and her basketball star husband Michael Silverman. Michael gets sick (he's got hepatitis), but after some blood tests by the two remaining doctors of the clinic, it turns out he's got aids (no surprise there), given to him by way f a blood transfusion after an accident two years ago. One: Sara only acts as a journalist in the first 150 pages of the book. After that it wouldn't have mattered if she'd been a model or a writer or a waitress at a restaurant. The only thing that's important about her is the fact that she has a bad leg and has to use a cane but she's so hot that everyone refers to her as "the beautiful woman" or "gorgeous Sara Lowell" or whatever. Two: Michael decides he wants to help the community by sharing his story. So he goes on live television and the only thing he says is "I have aids". That's it. No explanation. No telling the public how it happened and telling everyone they should be vigilant because this clearly isn's something only gay people or drug users can contract. Also, they only mention his tv appearance twice? Then they dig out his stepdad from somewhere, who tells everyone that Michael is definitely gay (which he isn't). Michael doesn't respond. No one does. This just doesn't work for me. Where's the personal aspect of the story?
Listen to me: Harlan Coben is such an amazing writer, his stories ALWAYS surprise me (this one did as well, by the way. I wasn't expecting it to end the way it did). But DO NOT start with this book. He's got so many amazing books that are WAY better than this one. Only read this one once you've gotten to know him through his books. When you know what kind of writer he turns out the be, how his writing and plotting evolves. Read this when you (like me) have read almost everything the guy has ever written. I could read through the gaps, I could see past the mistakes and the irregularities and the plotholes and random plotlines. If you don't know him, you might dislike him after reading this and I don't want that to happen because he deserves better.
So. If you want to start reading his work? I'd say start with 'The Woods' (my personal favourite) or 'No Second Chance' or 'Tell No One' or 'Just One Look' or 'Caught' or 'Don't Let Go'. And if you want to read some of his older work? Start with the Myron Bolitar series, book 1 is 'Deal Breaker'.
That's it. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. Mar out.
January 26, 2013
I have started reading all of Harlan Coben books...aiming to be like the biggest fan ever ! Because seriously, his books are simply amazing...they take me to a totally different world...a world of lies and deception...WITH JUSTIFICATION! Coben's characters never deceive without reason..they always have an excellent reason for lying...for deceiving..for disappearing...and even for murdering!
'Miracle Cure' is Coben's second book after 'Play Dead' but it is my 8th or something...and to be fair, I have read this after books like 'Tell No One' and 'Gone For Good' so my review for the book may be a little biased. Nonetheless, it is an amazing book dealing with an excellent topic. This book is about a subject that was hot in its times, 1990s..it is a story about AIDS.
The basic plot - There's a group of doctors who are striving day and night towards the treatment of AIDS, and now they are this close to finding the cure. What they need is funds towards this cause. The biggies and politicians are unwilling to direct money towards AIDS because of the whole biasness. There's a couple involved - a journalist and a basketball player - and now people are getting killed one after the other.
Controversies...lies...deception..murders..they just follow as the pages keep turning. What I really liked in the book besides the plot, of course, are the dialogues that the two sides exchange. The group that badly wants to cure AIDS explains very nicely why it is necessary to remove this evil from the society. On the other hand, the politicians who look down upon AIDS and the people who suffer from them provide an excellent counter argument. I do not agree with the argument, but I definitely appreciate Coben's writing style which makes the reader empathize with both parties.
Amidst all my work, I finished this book in three days..honestly speaking, I have given this book 4 stars and not 5 because I have read other Harlan Coben books and they are far far better. But for someone who has no other Coben book for comparison, he will enjoy this book for sure!
'Miracle Cure' is Coben's second book after 'Play Dead' but it is my 8th or something...and to be fair, I have read this after books like 'Tell No One' and 'Gone For Good' so my review for the book may be a little biased. Nonetheless, it is an amazing book dealing with an excellent topic. This book is about a subject that was hot in its times, 1990s..it is a story about AIDS.
The basic plot - There's a group of doctors who are striving day and night towards the treatment of AIDS, and now they are this close to finding the cure. What they need is funds towards this cause. The biggies and politicians are unwilling to direct money towards AIDS because of the whole biasness. There's a couple involved - a journalist and a basketball player - and now people are getting killed one after the other.
Controversies...lies...deception..murders..they just follow as the pages keep turning. What I really liked in the book besides the plot, of course, are the dialogues that the two sides exchange. The group that badly wants to cure AIDS explains very nicely why it is necessary to remove this evil from the society. On the other hand, the politicians who look down upon AIDS and the people who suffer from them provide an excellent counter argument. I do not agree with the argument, but I definitely appreciate Coben's writing style which makes the reader empathize with both parties.
Amidst all my work, I finished this book in three days..honestly speaking, I have given this book 4 stars and not 5 because I have read other Harlan Coben books and they are far far better. But for someone who has no other Coben book for comparison, he will enjoy this book for sure!
September 28, 2024
O matko, jak mi się ta książka nie podobała. Kiedyś dawno temu miałam w rękach dwie książki Cobena - nie pamiętam tytułów, ale wiem, że jedną skończyłam i bardzo mi się podobała, drugą zostawiłam chyba w połowie i od tego czasu nie było nic. Ta pozycja to bardzo nieudana próba powrotu do autora - jeszcze nie skreślam, być może z inną mi się poszczęści, ale tutaj nie porwał mnie ani styl pisania (dla mnie bardzo męczący), ani fabuła (która powinna zostać w latach 90-tych, źle się to zestarzało jak dla mnie), ani nadmiar bohaterów, bo do żadnego się nie przywiązałam i nikomu nie kibicowałam. Wcale nie pomogła też ta wzmianka we wstępie, w której sam autor mówi, że nie jest zadowolony z tej książki i po latach mu się nie podoba - jakby, serio? Po co tak na wstępie zniechęcać czytelnika?
October 31, 2015
I'm on a mission to read all of Harlan's stand alone novels in order and this one is actually worst than his first.
The novel's voice seems to grate instead of flow smoothly. Also I didn't like the plot it honestly reminded me of an episode of Scooby Doo. The characters seem like Harlan heard the characters from his first book were way too perfect so he gave these some flaws.
I like that Harlan gave a comprehensive overview of HIV and AIDS. I love learning while being entertained. Although it was a little disturbing to read about the opinions people had when AIDS was first discovered but Harlan Coben captured it perfectly. Unfortunately. Luckily times have changed.
The novel's voice seems to grate instead of flow smoothly. Also I didn't like the plot it honestly reminded me of an episode of Scooby Doo. The characters seem like Harlan heard the characters from his first book were way too perfect so he gave these some flaws.
I like that Harlan gave a comprehensive overview of HIV and AIDS. I love learning while being entertained. Although it was a little disturbing to read about the opinions people had when AIDS was first discovered but Harlan Coben captured it perfectly. Unfortunately. Luckily times have changed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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