MARKER by Robin Cook
Robin Cook has been writing medical thrillers for many years now but his abilities and his enthusiasm continue to be sharp. His latest novel MARKER is one of his best books ever. It has a factual premise and lots of suspense. Fans of Dr. Cook should eat this one up.
The heroine of the story is Dr. Laurie Montgomery. She and her live in love, Dr. Jack Stapleton, were also the focal point of Cook's book VECTOR. When this book opens they are still involved with each other, though unwed, and are working as Medical Examiners in New York City.
One day Laurie stumbles across the fact that there have been several apparently healthy people who came to the hospital for routine procedures who died suddenly and for no apparent cause. Since the number is not huge she can not get anyone, including Jack, to take her fears seriously.
But the reader knows there is something sinister underfoot and people are being killed. The person doing the killing is an evil nurse who is operating at the instructions of a man who keeps his full identity a secret from her (and from the reader). The locale of the murders in the hospital rooms adds a sinister tone to which we can all relate.
Cook manages to plant plot events early in the story that are not indicated to be major factors in later plot developments. This is part of Cook's skill and he uses this ability to the utmost in this storyline. When these factors come together at the end it is only then that you understand why they were introduced earlier on.
Most of us have a healthy respect for the medical profession, but most of us also do not like to be patients in a hospital for any reason. MARKER reinforces these fears by saying you could end up dead because of financial reasons rather than medical ones.
From start to finish this book pours on the suspense one murder after another, one clue after another. It is a lengthy book but there is no padding of the plot. All of the pages and paragraphs are absolutely necessary to fill out this story of medical mayhem.
MARKER is a wonderful book that would make a wonderful movie. Settle down in a comfortable place and give this story your undivided attention. There are enough chills to cool off even the hottest summer day.
MARKER is published by G P Putnam's Sons. It contains 533 pages and sells for $25.95.