CRISIS by Robin Cook
Robin Cook has been writing medical thrillers for many years now. Some are of his books are good, some are bad, and some are in between. Sadly his latest, CRISIS, falls in the bad category. Strangely the first two thirds of the book are good, it is just that last third which includes the terrible ending that make the whole journey of the story a bad one.
Dr. Jack Stapleton, the medical examiner in New York City who has figured prominently in other Cook books, is once again front and center in this one. Jack is contacted by his sister Alexis who tells him her husband is on trial for malpractice. Dr. Craig Bowman, Alexis' husband, is a "concierge physician" who was treating a patient named Patience Stanhope. The woman died of a heart attack while in his care and her husband Jonathan is now suing for malpractice.
Alexis begs Jack to come to Boston where the trial is underway. She says she needs someone to think outside the box and that describes Jack perfectly. Jack agrees to go to Boston even though he is scheduled to get married in only five days. Alexis promises he will be back in New York in plenty of time for the wedding.
After Jack gets to Boston things get fairly exciting. He comes up with the idea to exhume the body for an autopsy. This angers someone and he ends up being attacked. Alexis' house is also invaded and her children threatened.
Robin Cook knows how to build suspense in a book. What he has obviously forgotten is how to wrap up his mystery in a complete and satisfying way. When this book ends it is abrupt, and also totally illogical in its explanation of the facts. All the good will and enthusiasm Cook has created for his story goes down the drain leaving only sour dregs of discontent behind.
It is hard to believe this is the same author who brought us such satisfying thrillers as COMA, FEVER and OUTBREAK. Hopefully he will gain back his sense of storytelling and present us with a completely satisfactory plot the next time around.
CRISIS is published by G P Putnam's Sons. It contains 468 pages and sells for $25.95.