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Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery #3
Chromosome 6
Behind the headlines on cloning--Dr. Robin Cook blends fact with fiction in one of his most terrifying bestsellers...Chromosome 6 is a prophetic thriller that challenges the medical ethics of genetic manipulation and cloning in the jungles of equatorial Africa, where one mistake could bridge the gap between man and ape--and forever change the genetic map of our existence...
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
513 people are currently reading
5936 people want to read
About the author
Robin Cook
181 books5,098 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 454 reviews
July 20, 2023
I picked up a Robin Cook book for the sole reason he was a big name author when I was a kid. Crichton was usually mentioned in the same breath as Cook, and I like Crichton, so I figured he was worth a shot.
It was fine. The characters felt real enough. The story idea was interesting. The sense of humour could use some work. I felt like the two stories that ran concurrently detracted from one-another. The two doctors are trying to solve a mystery that is revealed to the reader very early on through the characters on the African continent, but the characters in Africa have a more interesting story. Maybe I would have been more interested in the New York doctors if I didn't know the answers for which they searched. I don't know exactly what it was about Chromosome 6, but something wasn't there. I just thought it was fine.
One thing that kinda was da bomb was that it really gave a 90's vibe to the reader. That could've just been the misuse of the word 'literally' that happened literally once too often.
Will I read another Robin Cook? As if!
Well, I might. It wasn't all that and a bag of chips, though. Certainly not a Crichton.
It was fine. The characters felt real enough. The story idea was interesting. The sense of humour could use some work. I felt like the two stories that ran concurrently detracted from one-another. The two doctors are trying to solve a mystery that is revealed to the reader very early on through the characters on the African continent, but the characters in Africa have a more interesting story. Maybe I would have been more interested in the New York doctors if I didn't know the answers for which they searched. I don't know exactly what it was about Chromosome 6, but something wasn't there. I just thought it was fine.
One thing that kinda was da bomb was that it really gave a 90's vibe to the reader. That could've just been the misuse of the word 'literally' that happened literally once too often.
Will I read another Robin Cook? As if!
Well, I might. It wasn't all that and a bag of chips, though. Certainly not a Crichton.
July 5, 2023
Chromosome 6 is the third medical thriller series of Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery. The author Robin Cook is a physician and writer. For those who believe that science and technology can radically change the world for good, this is sort of an eye-opener. The story line starts a bit slow, then becomes quite intriguing in the middle and then leads up to a rather unsatisfactory finish.
Cook develops two parallel and intersecting plots about scientists in Equatorial Guinea who are frantically exploring the ethics of genetic engineering and medical examiners in New York who are stubbornly working on to determine the cause of death of a mysterious mobster-corpse. I found Cook's characters are well-developed, his plot is original, and his narrative both humorous and suspenseful. I particularly liked Kevin Marshall, the molecular biologist. His character development was great.
Meanwhile there are some cons too. All the given statements in the story are scientifically very sound except for the part where a medical examiner from New York would make a trip across the world to Africa sounds absurd to me. Who even paid for his friends to travel with him all the way sounds ridiculous too :P
Finally, as the story jumps from New York and Africa, an adventure and mystery unfolds and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. However, as mentioned earlier the ending was quite unreal because the prologue ended abruptly.
Cook develops two parallel and intersecting plots about scientists in Equatorial Guinea who are frantically exploring the ethics of genetic engineering and medical examiners in New York who are stubbornly working on to determine the cause of death of a mysterious mobster-corpse. I found Cook's characters are well-developed, his plot is original, and his narrative both humorous and suspenseful. I particularly liked Kevin Marshall, the molecular biologist. His character development was great.
Meanwhile there are some cons too. All the given statements in the story are scientifically very sound except for the part where a medical examiner from New York would make a trip across the world to Africa sounds absurd to me. Who even paid for his friends to travel with him all the way sounds ridiculous too :P
Finally, as the story jumps from New York and Africa, an adventure and mystery unfolds and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. However, as mentioned earlier the ending was quite unreal because the prologue ended abruptly.
February 26, 2019
Interesting topic, exciting storyline. Not my favorite by Cook though. It was okay.
April 12, 2014
Read this in a day, slowish start but picked up. I didn't connect to the characters though, except for Warren. I love his friendship with Jack.
The ending was incredibly unsatisfactory though. Maybe the numerous unanswered questions are answered in a later Robin Cook novel?
++(SPOILER ALERT AHEAD)++
You never learn what happened with GenSys, or Kevin, Melanie or Candace. Like... cool, they don't die. But what DO they do? Did Kevin end up hooking up with one of them? (Both?) What happens when Taylor Cabot learns the truth, as he surely had by the time the book ended (hell, the epilogue takes place a week later), What happened to Siegfried & Beltram & the others left behind, do they start over or face prosecution somewhere? AAAHHH, SO MUCH IS LEFT UNANSWERED!!!!!
The ending was incredibly unsatisfactory though. Maybe the numerous unanswered questions are answered in a later Robin Cook novel?
++(SPOILER ALERT AHEAD)++
You never learn what happened with GenSys, or Kevin, Melanie or Candace. Like... cool, they don't die. But what DO they do? Did Kevin end up hooking up with one of them? (Both?) What happens when Taylor Cabot learns the truth, as he surely had by the time the book ended (hell, the epilogue takes place a week later), What happened to Siegfried & Beltram & the others left behind, do they start over or face prosecution somewhere? AAAHHH, SO MUCH IS LEFT UNANSWERED!!!!!
July 6, 2010
This book has its pros and cons.
Pros: To anyone who loves the applications of biotechnology to medical fields, and its ethical implications, this book provides a good plot personally, I feel it leaves the reader with the idea that the ethics of such research and practical genetic applications are very real.
Cons: The plot. I mean, in the beginning, I liked how the plot builds in both storylines, and I liked how the story progressed. But the whole idea that a medical examiner from New York would make a trip across the world to Africa, and even inviting his friends outside of his jobscope, who were not even main players in the main plot (and they just happily tagged along), just sounds really juvenile and surreal to me. I didn't buy it. The whole trip of the 'New York team' to Africa and interactions with each other just didn't sit well with me. I think in this book Robin Cook attempted to write a story about real issues existing in our world today, but used unreal characters in the later part of the story. The prologue also ended abruptly.
Pros: To anyone who loves the applications of biotechnology to medical fields, and its ethical implications, this book provides a good plot personally, I feel it leaves the reader with the idea that the ethics of such research and practical genetic applications are very real.
Cons: The plot. I mean, in the beginning, I liked how the plot builds in both storylines, and I liked how the story progressed. But the whole idea that a medical examiner from New York would make a trip across the world to Africa, and even inviting his friends outside of his jobscope, who were not even main players in the main plot (and they just happily tagged along), just sounds really juvenile and surreal to me. I didn't buy it. The whole trip of the 'New York team' to Africa and interactions with each other just didn't sit well with me. I think in this book Robin Cook attempted to write a story about real issues existing in our world today, but used unreal characters in the later part of the story. The prologue also ended abruptly.
February 29, 2024
I read Chromosome 6 for the first time way back in 2005. I re-read this book after 17 years as I always felt nostalgic about this book from my childhood. I had all but forgotten the story except I had a vague recollection of the book being about bonobos and the story oscillating between New York city and the country named Equatorial Guinea in West Africa.
The author brought to life the jungles of Equatorial Guinea with his vivid descriptions of the lush greenery, the watercourses and the teeming wildlife. The adventures with the hippopotami and crocodiles were wonderful to read. I loved the trio of Kevin, Melanie and Candace. I seemed to enjoy the Equatorial Guinea part a little more than New York city one.
I wished that a bit more science part was included in the book instead of the many action scenes.
The author brought to life the jungles of Equatorial Guinea with his vivid descriptions of the lush greenery, the watercourses and the teeming wildlife. The adventures with the hippopotami and crocodiles were wonderful to read. I loved the trio of Kevin, Melanie and Candace. I seemed to enjoy the Equatorial Guinea part a little more than New York city one.
I wished that a bit more science part was included in the book instead of the many action scenes.
June 5, 2013
The book starts off with a promising premise of a doctor worrying about his ethically horrifying invention in a darker, deserted part of Africa. Parallel to it, the two famous pathologists - Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery - work on an intriguing, but almost clueless murder of a mobster. These two parallel story lines unfold neatly, intertwining the characters in the process.
Though the investigation of the two pathologists was awesome, it also faltered the pace of the story. Cook stuffed an excruciating amount of failed attempts at finding clues to further the investigation.
Kevin had the best character development. So did Jack, Laurie and Lou.
On the other hand, some characters seemed forced in the story. I tried really hard, but couldn't find a reason for Candace to exist, except to constantly agree with Melanie and act as a wonder object for the bonobos.
Also, why the hell would Warren and Natalie land themselves in the whole mess without any motivation?
However, the most infuriating character development was of Melanie. If I were Kevin, I would have shot her at some point. Her teenage-ish, stubborn 'bravery' landed her (and her buddies) on hot waters several times. But when the need arose, she cried out like a baby.
The most disappointing part, however, is the climax. It seemed like the author lost interest in the novel by the time he reached the end, and wrapped it up hastily. The protagonists seemed to breezed through Cogo, where I had expected a lot of action to happen, given the presence of the bonobos. Also, fates of a lot of characters went unexplained; to the extent where I had a feeling that the novel was missing several pages in the end. And it was an e-book.
Robin Cook's novels are always double-edged swords for me. Whenever I begin one, I am sure I will come across several gripping plot elements. Accompanying that excitement, however, is a fear that the storyline will falter somewhere for no reason at all.
I had better hopes for this novel, but it was only slightly better than my previously read disaster 'Mutation'.
Though the investigation of the two pathologists was awesome, it also faltered the pace of the story. Cook stuffed an excruciating amount of failed attempts at finding clues to further the investigation.
Kevin had the best character development. So did Jack, Laurie and Lou.
On the other hand, some characters seemed forced in the story. I tried really hard, but couldn't find a reason for Candace to exist, except to constantly agree with Melanie and act as a wonder object for the bonobos.
Also, why the hell would Warren and Natalie land themselves in the whole mess without any motivation?
However, the most infuriating character development was of Melanie. If I were Kevin, I would have shot her at some point. Her teenage-ish, stubborn 'bravery' landed her (and her buddies) on hot waters several times. But when the need arose, she cried out like a baby.
The most disappointing part, however, is the climax. It seemed like the author lost interest in the novel by the time he reached the end, and wrapped it up hastily. The protagonists seemed to breezed through Cogo, where I had expected a lot of action to happen, given the presence of the bonobos. Also, fates of a lot of characters went unexplained; to the extent where I had a feeling that the novel was missing several pages in the end. And it was an e-book.
Robin Cook's novels are always double-edged swords for me. Whenever I begin one, I am sure I will come across several gripping plot elements. Accompanying that excitement, however, is a fear that the storyline will falter somewhere for no reason at all.
I had better hopes for this novel, but it was only slightly better than my previously read disaster 'Mutation'.
December 8, 2020
Este aspecto biogenético del libro me ha encantado. soy amante de la biología y sus ramas, y ver en un principio toda la explicación que se nos dio aquí sobre este cromosoma 6, lo que se hacían con él y lo que eso significa me pareció muy bueno. aunque de todo lo que se investigó me faltó más conclusión con respecto de los que estaban detrás del proyecto de los protohumanos. or el resto sigue siendo uno más que caen para leer junto con los dos anteriores de la saga de stapleton & Montgomery. a por el siguiente.
October 8, 2022
Z kostnicy szpitala, w którym pracuje Laurie Montgomery, giną zwłoki Carla Franconiego, osobistości świata przestępczego. W jakim celu ktoś miałby kraść zwłoki? Czy to jakaś dziwna zemsta oponentów? Kto tam nadąży za tymi mafijnymi porachunkami. Do Jacka Stapletona trafia równie dziwny przypadek – trup nie ma głowy i kończyn, co jest oczywistą metodą na utrudnienie identyfikacji, ale dlaczego zniszczono również wątrobę? Jaki to ma związek z pracą ogromnego molocha GenSys i co dzieje się w laboratoriach zbudowanych w Gwinei Równikowej, że strzegą ich zastępy uzbrojonych po zęby żołnierzy?
Inżynieria genetyczna na pewno jest dziedziną fascynującą, jednak w thrillerach medycznych wolę te bardziej standardowe tematy, stara dobra dżuma jest w sam raz :) „Chromosom 6” mnie trochę wymęczył, ponieważ rozwiązanie poznajemy bardzo szybko, a historia wlecze się jak ślimak do samego końca.
5/10
Inżynieria genetyczna na pewno jest dziedziną fascynującą, jednak w thrillerach medycznych wolę te bardziej standardowe tematy, stara dobra dżuma jest w sam raz :) „Chromosom 6” mnie trochę wymęczył, ponieważ rozwiązanie poznajemy bardzo szybko, a historia wlecze się jak ślimak do samego końca.
5/10
September 5, 2020
This was my first book by Robin Cook and I really enjoyed it! It is very suspenseful and draws you in well with his style of writing. The book is set between New York City and Equatorial Guinea, following along a story via the perspective of various characters. At first, it took me a little while to get into the book and understand the different characters involved, but I eventually caught on and really enjoyed the story. If you like the idea of a thriller mixed with biomedicine + genetics, then I can highly suggest this read.
November 1, 2018
Robin Cook, se está convirtiendo en uno de mis favoritos de este género (aunque no he leído a otros jajajaja), tiene una manera de narrar, buenísima, que hace que todo fluya y que te metas en la historia que te cuenta, eso queda bien claro, me gusta y lo seguiré leyendo
Sin embargo, en este libro en particular, más que ser un Thriller, me pareció más una historia de ficción de película mala de Hollywood.
La historia no es mala, para nada, pero siento que a pesar de tener todos esos temas médicos y científicos que usa mucho Cook, se fue hasta el quinto patio con esta historia tan fantástica, no digo que lo que aquí expone, no pudiera suceder, está visto, que la ficción escrita de años atrás nos alcanzó, pero al final, insisto, sus libros se supone son Thrillers, no ficción y eso de entrada me descoloca.
Porque dentro de toda su ficción, nos cuenta historias de mafiosos, sicarios de tercer mundo, inversionistas millonarios metidos en negocios en África, en fin que estaba medio loca la historia.
Ahora, como yo soy de las que considero que hay que darle su justo valor a las cosas, tengo que decirles, que si me gusto, solo fue el hecho de haberse salido del género lo que me descoloco.
Obviamente la historia de los protagonistas sigue en la misma línea, eso sí.
Si deciden leer la serie que abarca estos libros, pues habrá que leer este, ahora, les aclaro, los libros no TIENEN que leerse en su orden, aunque la historia de los protagonistas si tiene una secuencia, la realidad es que tampoco es de relevancia.
Sin embargo, en este libro en particular, más que ser un Thriller, me pareció más una historia de ficción de película mala de Hollywood.
La historia no es mala, para nada, pero siento que a pesar de tener todos esos temas médicos y científicos que usa mucho Cook, se fue hasta el quinto patio con esta historia tan fantástica, no digo que lo que aquí expone, no pudiera suceder, está visto, que la ficción escrita de años atrás nos alcanzó, pero al final, insisto, sus libros se supone son Thrillers, no ficción y eso de entrada me descoloca.
Porque dentro de toda su ficción, nos cuenta historias de mafiosos, sicarios de tercer mundo, inversionistas millonarios metidos en negocios en África, en fin que estaba medio loca la historia.
Ahora, como yo soy de las que considero que hay que darle su justo valor a las cosas, tengo que decirles, que si me gusto, solo fue el hecho de haberse salido del género lo que me descoloco.
Obviamente la historia de los protagonistas sigue en la misma línea, eso sí.
Si deciden leer la serie que abarca estos libros, pues habrá que leer este, ahora, les aclaro, los libros no TIENEN que leerse en su orden, aunque la historia de los protagonistas si tiene una secuencia, la realidad es que tampoco es de relevancia.
July 31, 2019
This had my on the edge the whole time with a story of murder, mafia, DNA manipulation, jungle adventure, etc. HOWEVER, what the hell happened to the ending? It was like riding a roller coaster and then the damn thing broke down near the end. I still like this author and will read more, but this ending, or lack thereof was like he realized it was getting a bit long and decided to end the story as economically as possible. Thus, my 3 stars vs. 4.
May 9, 2012
Summary:Chromosome 6 takes place in two totally different main settings. There is a medical office in New York City, but there is also a medical research center, Gensys, in the town of Cogo, Equatorial Guinea, Africa. In this research facility, the scientist are expierimenting with the extraction of the short arm of chromosome six. After extracting the short arm of chromosome six, they would insert it into a bonobo, a ape-like creature that is like humans (DNA wise). This process is used for organ transplants (the bonobos were isolated on a island). The body will not reject the organs if there is a part of the original owner in it, in theory. This idea ends up working, but there is a huge ethnic and religion problem with this topic so it is kept in Africa and kept quiet. Although in Africa, there is still clients in America. One of these clients was Carlo Franconi. Franconi later dies, but there is a problem. The researchers realize that if the autopsy shows that there was a transplant of the liver in this patient but the test show up the same, then they may catch on to something. While this is going on, there is also another problem in Africa. On the isolated island, the bonobos were making and using fire. Kevin, one of the researchers, realizes this problem and investigates it. Little did he know that he was getting himself into a lot of trouble. Kevin believed that the short arm of chromosome 6 had human developmental traits. This would really jeopardize the company of Gensys.
Like/Dislike: I thought that this book was good because I am really starting to like the books with biology and chemistry. Robin Cook does a good job on this book because realistically this kind of things could happen in the future with the advancement in technology recently. I would recommend this book to almost anyone who is interested in future science or science in general. I would not recommend this to people who do not like biology or science because if they don't like biology they probably won't be able to follow this book.
Quote: In the middle of the book the Kevin realizes that the bonobos must have been hiding a cave. "All at once the number 37 appeared but no blinking red light. After a few moments, a prompt flashed onto the screen. It said: Animal not located...the program had indicated that seven of the bonobo doubles were unaccounted for.." This is were he realizes that the bonobos were using the cave like a shelter. I thought that this was significant because I think that this is when Kevin started to believe that the short arm of chromosome 6 really did have human developmental traits.
Like/Dislike: I thought that this book was good because I am really starting to like the books with biology and chemistry. Robin Cook does a good job on this book because realistically this kind of things could happen in the future with the advancement in technology recently. I would recommend this book to almost anyone who is interested in future science or science in general. I would not recommend this to people who do not like biology or science because if they don't like biology they probably won't be able to follow this book.
Quote: In the middle of the book the Kevin realizes that the bonobos must have been hiding a cave. "All at once the number 37 appeared but no blinking red light. After a few moments, a prompt flashed onto the screen. It said: Animal not located...the program had indicated that seven of the bonobo doubles were unaccounted for.." This is were he realizes that the bonobos were using the cave like a shelter. I thought that this was significant because I think that this is when Kevin started to believe that the short arm of chromosome 6 really did have human developmental traits.
June 27, 2020
This was my first Robin Cook Book. I had heard about it from my father who has read many of his books. One of my friends, being a Robin Cook fan, suggested me to start with this one. I loved the book, the story was fast-paced and I felt like I was on an adventure ride filled with fun and excitement. The book has two medical examiner's Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery. I loved how the women were such badasses in this one. There were points in this book where my heart stopped beating, thinking what would happen if they get caught. The story was like an action packed movie I was imagining in my head. I was skeptical at first because I thought the story would be too much medical sciency stuff and I wouldn't want to read about it, but I'm glad to say I was pleased by the perfect blend of medical and thriller aspect Cook has cooked. The characters are well written and I loved how some of them made the plot humorous at times.
•
•
The only issues I had was the plot felt a bit too unreal. I don't think medical examiners from any part of the world must be having the time to travel like this and taking their friends alongwith them. This made the plot a lil bit juvenile and resembled the friends from Famous Five going on an adventure. Also, a facility which is illegally cloning and backed by gangsters would have the best possible security and it is not the case in this book which is also hard to believe. His writing style was the saving grace, and I could ignore these points easily. The one thing I couldn't ignore was the ending felt a bit abrupt. Like I wanted to know what happens ahead. After diving into the plot and generating interest, you can't keep me guessing. I would've preferred more pages and a good ending.
•
Do pick this one up if you want to read a good thriller and are interested in applications of medical science (not as boring as it sounds) + suspense.
•
•
The only issues I had was the plot felt a bit too unreal. I don't think medical examiners from any part of the world must be having the time to travel like this and taking their friends alongwith them. This made the plot a lil bit juvenile and resembled the friends from Famous Five going on an adventure. Also, a facility which is illegally cloning and backed by gangsters would have the best possible security and it is not the case in this book which is also hard to believe. His writing style was the saving grace, and I could ignore these points easily. The one thing I couldn't ignore was the ending felt a bit abrupt. Like I wanted to know what happens ahead. After diving into the plot and generating interest, you can't keep me guessing. I would've preferred more pages and a good ending.
•
Do pick this one up if you want to read a good thriller and are interested in applications of medical science (not as boring as it sounds) + suspense.
February 15, 2013
Una gran idea para un thriller médico donde la trama gira en torno a la prioridad económica de la medicina actual, con éste principio, organizaciones científicas, médicos inminentes y personas con gran influencia económica se unirán para crear y mantener un proyecto que va más allá del conocimiento científico y parámetros éticos y morales.
Si bien es un drama atrapante,a mi parecer la excesiva cantidad de personajes secundarios y los cambios de perspectiva de la historia constantemente hizo a la historia algo lenta, restándole enormemente el gran impacto de emociones e intriga que podría haber ofrecido.
Si bien es un drama atrapante,a mi parecer la excesiva cantidad de personajes secundarios y los cambios de perspectiva de la historia constantemente hizo a la historia algo lenta, restándole enormemente el gran impacto de emociones e intriga que podría haber ofrecido.
April 30, 2022
Back to the morgue, back to Jack Stapleton's shenanigans.
This time he has a sort of twin in the Equatorial Guinea. With "twin" I mean there is an American doctor in Africa who suddenly has an ethical crisis over his work, a crisis that turns him from a laboratory nerd into an action hero. Of course their paths meet, they work together toward the happy ending and live happily everafter, despite the unresolved legal and ethical questions.
This time he has a sort of twin in the Equatorial Guinea. With "twin" I mean there is an American doctor in Africa who suddenly has an ethical crisis over his work, a crisis that turns him from a laboratory nerd into an action hero. Of course their paths meet, they work together toward the happy ending and live happily everafter, despite the unresolved legal and ethical questions.
October 23, 2021
3.5⭐
"Chromosome 6" by Robin Cook is a medical thriller that's really interesting & is kind of an eye opener. Science knows no limits & humans (idk why) just do not understand that they gotta stop at some time cuz if they don't, the consequences would leave them regretting their decisions. From this book you get to see how selfish humans are & how far they'll go just for their own sakes & none of it is actually false. If we look around us today, we see cryogenics, genetically modified organisms, designer babies, robotics, AI & what not. We are trying to handle 'nature' & it's honestly scary.
🧬The whole idea of the book is xenografts (organ transplantation from animals) but it isn't usually possible because the human body rejects animal's organs. Cook makes it possible by genetically modifying the animals.
🧬Chromosome 6 has two settings & two different sets of 'main characters'. One is the scientist who stumbled upon the idea of making the whole thing possible (in Africa, secluded, where no one can know about the illegal activities), the second is the team of two doctors (in NYC) that finds the 'mystery' during an autopsy.
🧬I believe there's a time to read each book. I picked this one at exactly the right time. I had sufficient knowledge to understand, even point out the 'kinda inaccurate' scientific stuff & that's one of the reasons I really enjoyed this book.
🧬The first 100 pages gave me a GOOD headache 😂. I kept thinking about the science stuff & how it was possible & why did they have to do all that (after a while I realized it was written in 1997 & the technologies we have now weren't there then😅). I think whatever he did wasn't possible in 1997 & isn't possible in 2021. It seemed like the author knew the basic things, thought about them & wrote the book. I'm not saying it can never be done, but the chances are pretty slim because altering a whole arm of a chromosome isn't a joke😅. I had my doubts so I thought, "let's discuss it with a real scientist", & I did. He said what I already thought, "this ain't happening today" but he also said, "maybe you'll be the one doing it in future" 😂.
🧬The ending was reallyyy flat!! I was kinda 🥺.
🧬The characters were good, there were some weird unbelievable 'happenings' 😂 but I really enjoyed the book. Will be reading more by Robin Cook 🍁
"Chromosome 6" by Robin Cook is a medical thriller that's really interesting & is kind of an eye opener. Science knows no limits & humans (idk why) just do not understand that they gotta stop at some time cuz if they don't, the consequences would leave them regretting their decisions. From this book you get to see how selfish humans are & how far they'll go just for their own sakes & none of it is actually false. If we look around us today, we see cryogenics, genetically modified organisms, designer babies, robotics, AI & what not. We are trying to handle 'nature' & it's honestly scary.
🧬The whole idea of the book is xenografts (organ transplantation from animals) but it isn't usually possible because the human body rejects animal's organs. Cook makes it possible by genetically modifying the animals.
🧬Chromosome 6 has two settings & two different sets of 'main characters'. One is the scientist who stumbled upon the idea of making the whole thing possible (in Africa, secluded, where no one can know about the illegal activities), the second is the team of two doctors (in NYC) that finds the 'mystery' during an autopsy.
🧬I believe there's a time to read each book. I picked this one at exactly the right time. I had sufficient knowledge to understand, even point out the 'kinda inaccurate' scientific stuff & that's one of the reasons I really enjoyed this book.
🧬The first 100 pages gave me a GOOD headache 😂. I kept thinking about the science stuff & how it was possible & why did they have to do all that (after a while I realized it was written in 1997 & the technologies we have now weren't there then😅). I think whatever he did wasn't possible in 1997 & isn't possible in 2021. It seemed like the author knew the basic things, thought about them & wrote the book. I'm not saying it can never be done, but the chances are pretty slim because altering a whole arm of a chromosome isn't a joke😅. I had my doubts so I thought, "let's discuss it with a real scientist", & I did. He said what I already thought, "this ain't happening today" but he also said, "maybe you'll be the one doing it in future" 😂.
🧬The ending was reallyyy flat!! I was kinda 🥺.
🧬The characters were good, there were some weird unbelievable 'happenings' 😂 but I really enjoyed the book. Will be reading more by Robin Cook 🍁
December 11, 2024
FASCINANTE. Me ha enganchado desde la primera página hasta la última. A pesar de que Jack Stapleton no era el protagonista principal, ha conseguido sacarme algunas risas cada vez que salía en escena gracias a su sarcasmo y su manera de afrontar las cosas. Lo único más decepcionante del libro, si es que se puede calificar así, es el protagonismo que vuelve a adquirir la otra forense, Laurie Montgomery, que no me parece tan apasionante por su personalidad más reservada y seria, pero aún así se compensa con la aparición de un nuevo personaje que me ha cautivado: Kevin, el científico que juega con el cromosoma 6 para darle toda la trama al libro. Y lo más apasionante de esta novela, es la denuncia social que hace sobre la experimentación animal y los riesgos de jugar con el ADN, los cromosomas y la microbiología como si fuéramos Dios. Después de tanta búsqueda por mi parte, por fin he encontrado un libro que da mal rollo y me ha puesto en tensión muchas veces. Con respecto al final, me ha parecido muy loable, pero me he quedado con algunas dudas sin aclarar y me ha entristecido no saber qué pasaba al final con algunos personajes.
September 4, 2025
Cromosoma Seis” es un libro correcto y entretenido, en la línea habitual de Robin Cook. La narración recuerda bastante a una película: distintos escenarios y múltiples personajes que, poco a poco, van convergiendo hacia un desenlace que resulta bastante previsible, aunque eso no le quita valor a la historia.
Hay muchos personajes, y en mi caso a veces me hizo perder el hilo, porque algunos secundarios prácticamente no aportan nada. Aun así, el libro mantiene el ritmo, tiene ese aire de misterio y de ficción científico-médica característico de Cook.
Además, resulta interesante que parte de la trama se sitúe en un contexto cultural africano, lo que permite acercarse y ubicar ciertas regiones que normalmente nos resultan más desconocidas.
No es su mejor obra, pero sí una lectura amena que engancha y cumple con lo que se espera de este autor.
Hay muchos personajes, y en mi caso a veces me hizo perder el hilo, porque algunos secundarios prácticamente no aportan nada. Aun así, el libro mantiene el ritmo, tiene ese aire de misterio y de ficción científico-médica característico de Cook.
Además, resulta interesante que parte de la trama se sitúe en un contexto cultural africano, lo que permite acercarse y ubicar ciertas regiones que normalmente nos resultan más desconocidas.
No es su mejor obra, pero sí una lectura amena que engancha y cumple con lo que se espera de este autor.
April 10, 2021
Medical ethics, cloning, evil corporate entities - what's not to love :o)
August 5, 2022
This was another random thrift store book. I didn’t realize this was part of a series, and things make a lot more sense now, ha!
It was pretty good. I was surprised how relevant it still seems considering it was written 20+ years ago and there’s quite a bit of science involved. I guess questionable medical ethics is a tale as old as time!
It was pretty good. I was surprised how relevant it still seems considering it was written 20+ years ago and there’s quite a bit of science involved. I guess questionable medical ethics is a tale as old as time!
January 29, 2025
Lo abandoné, porqué me estaba aburriendo y me apetecia leer otras cosas. Quizás me ha pillado en un mal momento, o quizás ha envejecido regular o las dos cosas. Quizá en otro momento.
March 31, 2025
Otro tesoro de 2 euros que he rescatado. Muy muy buena historia y me encanta la dinámica de Jack y Laurie así que igual me leo otra de sus investigaciones jiji
January 15, 2026
I have read almost all of the Robin Cook books I found this book at a thrift store and it was one. I have not read. It was very good, a little bit far-fetched but kept my interest.
February 29, 2024
BOMBA, jedna z najlepších kníh od autora, výborne spracované postavy,prostredie a hlavne dej.
May 23, 2023
Medical thriller hits more relatable notes when the author is a former physician.
August 8, 2011
I had always enjoyed Robin Cook's books, but then I gave up on him. His books just got so repetitive and predictable. So it's been a long time, but I decided to give Chromosome 6 a try. This book seemed a bit harder-edged than the other Cook books I'd read, with a very serious theme, and a respectful look at the relevant issues.
There are two related stories going on. One takes place in New York, where a mobster's death takes a strange turn during the autopsy. The investigators stumble onto a real mystery: the victim had been the recipient of a liver transplant, yet there was no record of such an operation having been performed. Furthermore there is no evidence of anti-rejection medication in the man's system. Thus Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery (returning characters from other Cook novels) are drawn into something that ends up being much bigger than they could possibly imagine.
The second story takes place in Africa. Researchers there have developed a chromosome transfer process whereby chimp-like animals called bonobos could have their genetic makeup altered. Extremely wealthy people can pay to have a bonobo altered in such a way so that the animal's organs would be perfect clones of their own organs. Thus they are perfect for transplants. But, something else is going on. It seems that altering the genetic code of the animals has changed them in ways most unexpected. Researcher Kevin Marshall is starting to figure out what's happened to the animals, and he's terrified.
The two stories develop independently for most of the book. The reader is usually let in on all of the secrets, even though everyone else is in the dark. Towards the end, the stories collide as the New York team heads to Africa to get to the bottom of their autopsy mystery.
For the most part, the book was very exciting. The stories develop quickly, and you never really know which way they're going to turn. There are minimal subplots, very little distraction from the two main stories. For my part, I really enjoyed the New York story. Watching Jack and Laurie work together to solve the clues was so much fun. The Africa story was a bit harder to follow, and a bit more mundane, for the most part.
I did not like how Cook handled the characters. With very little development, I didn't feel like I got to "know" them at all. And some of them were extremely annoying. Especially the two women working with Kevin in Africa. A nurse, and a genetic technician, you might expect two smart, strong women. Nope. I kept imaging two pre-teens, giggling while passing notes in school. That's basically the way these two air-heads acted. With barely one brain cell between them, and Kevin following them around like a puppy dog, it's a wonder the three them were able to accomplish anything.
But the biggest disappointment in this book is the ending. Or, lack thereof. It's as if Cook suddenly realized his time was up, so he'd better throw an ending together. There was an epilogue, but it was the most incomplete one I'd ever seen. You'd think that if you're going to bother writing an epilogue, you'd tie up all of the stories and characters. But Cook doesn't. We're left with using our imagination to decide what ultimately happened to all of the characters.
Overall, this was an exciting story that took a serious look at consequences. Consequences of research gone too far. And consequences of greed. Read it, simply because the story is a good one. But don't look for greatness - it's not here.
My Rating -- 2.5/5
There are two related stories going on. One takes place in New York, where a mobster's death takes a strange turn during the autopsy. The investigators stumble onto a real mystery: the victim had been the recipient of a liver transplant, yet there was no record of such an operation having been performed. Furthermore there is no evidence of anti-rejection medication in the man's system. Thus Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery (returning characters from other Cook novels) are drawn into something that ends up being much bigger than they could possibly imagine.
The second story takes place in Africa. Researchers there have developed a chromosome transfer process whereby chimp-like animals called bonobos could have their genetic makeup altered. Extremely wealthy people can pay to have a bonobo altered in such a way so that the animal's organs would be perfect clones of their own organs. Thus they are perfect for transplants. But, something else is going on. It seems that altering the genetic code of the animals has changed them in ways most unexpected. Researcher Kevin Marshall is starting to figure out what's happened to the animals, and he's terrified.
The two stories develop independently for most of the book. The reader is usually let in on all of the secrets, even though everyone else is in the dark. Towards the end, the stories collide as the New York team heads to Africa to get to the bottom of their autopsy mystery.
For the most part, the book was very exciting. The stories develop quickly, and you never really know which way they're going to turn. There are minimal subplots, very little distraction from the two main stories. For my part, I really enjoyed the New York story. Watching Jack and Laurie work together to solve the clues was so much fun. The Africa story was a bit harder to follow, and a bit more mundane, for the most part.
I did not like how Cook handled the characters. With very little development, I didn't feel like I got to "know" them at all. And some of them were extremely annoying. Especially the two women working with Kevin in Africa. A nurse, and a genetic technician, you might expect two smart, strong women. Nope. I kept imaging two pre-teens, giggling while passing notes in school. That's basically the way these two air-heads acted. With barely one brain cell between them, and Kevin following them around like a puppy dog, it's a wonder the three them were able to accomplish anything.
But the biggest disappointment in this book is the ending. Or, lack thereof. It's as if Cook suddenly realized his time was up, so he'd better throw an ending together. There was an epilogue, but it was the most incomplete one I'd ever seen. You'd think that if you're going to bother writing an epilogue, you'd tie up all of the stories and characters. But Cook doesn't. We're left with using our imagination to decide what ultimately happened to all of the characters.
Overall, this was an exciting story that took a serious look at consequences. Consequences of research gone too far. And consequences of greed. Read it, simply because the story is a good one. But don't look for greatness - it's not here.
My Rating -- 2.5/5
January 10, 2023
DNF, abandoned on page 188, (~halfway)which is about 100 pages more than when I first entertained the thought of doing so. I should have followed my instincts. What a disappointing way to start 2023.
The premise is intriguing and in the hands of a more skilled author, could have been a great read.
Here are some of the problems I had with this book:
1)Cook, a medical doctor, gives very detailed explanations. Perhaps these would eventually be relevant but if not then they are totally unnecessary.
2)supposedly smart, well educated characters behave in incredibly stupid way.
3)Cook ran out of Italian names after 5, so two are named Vinnie. Very confusing.
4)supposedly intelligent characters jump to crazy conclusions based on very little evidence
5)shoddy research. One scene takes place in the dark where the moonlight plays an important part. Unfortunately Cook (who dated this story) chose a date where the moon, being new, would cast little if any light.
There were plenty more issues; would definitely NOT recommend.
The premise is intriguing and in the hands of a more skilled author, could have been a great read.
Here are some of the problems I had with this book:
1)Cook, a medical doctor, gives very detailed explanations. Perhaps these would eventually be relevant but if not then they are totally unnecessary.
2)supposedly smart, well educated characters behave in incredibly stupid way.
3)Cook ran out of Italian names after 5, so two are named Vinnie. Very confusing.
4)supposedly intelligent characters jump to crazy conclusions based on very little evidence
5)shoddy research. One scene takes place in the dark where the moonlight plays an important part. Unfortunately Cook (who dated this story) chose a date where the moon, being new, would cast little if any light.
There were plenty more issues; would definitely NOT recommend.
February 12, 2011
This was actually a re-read for me. Kevin Marshall is a molecular biologist working in Equatorial Guinea. He is able to manipulate Chromosome 6 of bonobos (ape-like creatures) and replace with human DNA. This allows for humans to create their own organ donors (bonobos) and then the organs are harvested when needed. GenSys is funding this project and they don't really appear to be evil...but their on-site managers are greedy and will do anything to keep the lucrative project going. When Kevin sees smoke on the isolated island where the bonobos are confined, he begins to wonder if the bonobos are developing human skills. When he goes to the forbidden island with 2 female co-workers, they find that the bonobos have language skills, fire making capabilities and opposable thumbs. But will the trio live to tell?
June 10, 2020
I am a student of Genetic Engineering so this book was quite entertaining for me not only this but it hold the capability keep hands of the one glued to the pages who start it reading. Some of the twits were unacceptable. Like a bunch of doctors and basket ball players knocked down armed gangsters huh.
Cook is basically a doc first than a author so I am giving it 5 stars no matter that this book ends with the worst epilogue I have read so far. Nothing about what happened to the three some of Kevin, Melanie and Candace I was like emotionally curious to know that who will be the lucky one to hook with Kevin at the end but the book left me astonished when there wan nothing about them in the epilogue. A week ago that threesome was trying to escape for their lives with bunch of their friends and the next week they are gone like they never existed :/
Cook is basically a doc first than a author so I am giving it 5 stars no matter that this book ends with the worst epilogue I have read so far. Nothing about what happened to the three some of Kevin, Melanie and Candace I was like emotionally curious to know that who will be the lucky one to hook with Kevin at the end but the book left me astonished when there wan nothing about them in the epilogue. A week ago that threesome was trying to escape for their lives with bunch of their friends and the next week they are gone like they never existed :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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