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Foreign Body (Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery #8)
by
Robin Cook
In this chilling new novel from the one and only Robin Cook, New York City medical examiners Laurie Montgomery and Jack Stapleton rush to India to help a UCLA student investigating medical tourism-and a sinister global conspiracy.
Paperback, 528 pages
Published
July 28th 2009
by Berkley (MM)
(first published January 1st 2008)
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Predictable, often boring, uninteresting characters and an implausible plot - I dragged myself through the last half of the book. Disappointing as I have always enjoyed Robin Cook's early medical-thriller books. This latest effort just doesn't match up.
This book is finally a slight departure from Cook's recently-typical conspiracy books. He writes it so you can see the deliberate nature of the people cooking up the conspiracy. It's actually kind of horrifying. I was losing interest in his books (I have skipped one or two recently) because they have turned into soap boxes against insurance companies and managed care and were pretty much all the same. I picked this one up because I do like the characters Laurie and Jack and I finished it bec...more
I've always enjoyed medical thrillers, and have read several of Robin Cooks books. Coma, some 30 years ago, being my absolute favorite. In Cooks latest medical thriller: Foreign Body, Cook's subject is medical tourism, the trend in which U.S. citizens seek to save costs on expensive surgery through treatment overseas. At the center of the drama is Jennifer Hernandez, a fourth-year medical student at UCLA, whose grandmother has died in a New Delhi hospital following hip replacement surgery. Suspi...more
Why do I keep reading Robin Cook's books? I enjoyed his early works, and I suppose I hope each time he'll have written something as interesting.
"Foreign Body," though, is a perfect example of a book dashed off without concern for its quality to satisfy a publisher's deadline. Cook knows his readers will buy and read (after all, I did), even if the book is sub-par.
What can I say? The storyline was predictable, the characters flat, and the plot implausible. Most irritating...more
"Foreign Body," though, is a perfect example of a book dashed off without concern for its quality to satisfy a publisher's deadline. Cook knows his readers will buy and read (after all, I did), even if the book is sub-par.
What can I say? The storyline was predictable, the characters flat, and the plot implausible. Most irritating...more
Medical student, Jennifer Hernandez, learns that her beloved grandmother died having surgery in India. She begins to have suspicions that her grandmother didn't die of natural causes when she learns that her grandmother died of a heart attack, when her heart was just fine prior to the surgery. When Jennifer arrives in India to deal with her grandmother's remains, she learns that two other people died in a similar manner to her grandmother. As Jennifer tries to investigate the situation, she i...more
I've listened to many of Robin Cook's novels on book-on-tape. I did the same with this story. The story of medical tourism and corruption from the inside of the business out is very intriguing through out the novel but I still hold true to the truth that if I had to actually pick up the novel and read it, I would put it down and touch it again every couple months to read a chapter here and there to once again discover that yes, I do not enjoy Robin's writing style. This novel takes place over a ...more
I typically enjoy a science/medical thriller romp and certainly don't expect them to be written with great literary skill, but will remind myself never again to turn to Robin Cook unless perhaps it's one of his early novels. This one was terrible. The premise was both compelling and relevant, but executed so poorly I could spend more time identifying and describing all of the elements that were irritating and disappointing to me than it took to read the book. Suffice to say I'd much rather se...more
3.0 out of 5 stars Aw, come on....it wasn't that bad...., November 3, 2008
This review is from: Foreign Body (Hardcover)
Although not the most exciting medical thriller I've read, it wasn't as bad as all that. The story was predictable -- a female medical student(always beautiful and brilliant and in this case, flawed) happens upon a conspiracy and she enlists her friends Jack and Laurie to help her solve the puzzle and save the day. I found the topic of medical tourism ...more
This review is from: Foreign Body (Hardcover)
Although not the most exciting medical thriller I've read, it wasn't as bad as all that. The story was predictable -- a female medical student(always beautiful and brilliant and in this case, flawed) happens upon a conspiracy and she enlists her friends Jack and Laurie to help her solve the puzzle and save the day. I found the topic of medical tourism ...more
Corruption runs rampant through India. The big dogs look out for themselves, and only themselves. Any way to make a bit of money is not out of reach, and Jennifer Hernandez hears of her grandmother’s sudden death during elective surgery in India, she becomes suspicious. Jennifer ends up traveling to India and finds herself caught in the center of a web of conspiracy and corruption. Robin Cook’s Foreign Body provoked thoughts of the plausibility of similar instances happening in reality.
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Another fun medical thriller book. The story is about medical tourism gone awry - people from US and other countries finding cheaper ways to have procedures done in luxury hospitals in India. Until, the US medical industry gets upset that increasingly their "surgical business" is being outsourced to these luxury hospitals in India, with wonderfully positive outcomes and no real disasters.
The underworld of US Medicine gets involved, they want to taint the results of these pro...more
The underworld of US Medicine gets involved, they want to taint the results of these pro...more
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Jodi
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Shelves:
books-in-a-series,
thrillers
Funny, I was thinking about the character of Laurie Montgomery a few days ago and was wondering who the author was of this series. I have always liked medical thrillers and so Robin Cook is a guilty pleasure of mine. I didn't realize she would be in this book because she is not the main character but as I was reading, I had a funny feeling I knew some of the characters and then WHAM......there she was! I'll have to remember Robin Cook is the author and read more with Laurie in it.
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Large Print 752 pages - The cover of this one is a bit deceptive in that it depicts an ex-ray of a medical instrument left in a body. This did not occur in the book which except for the beginning is set for the most part in Delhi India. It concerns the growing business of medical tourism where patients are traveling to India for operations at costs well below what they would cost in the US or Europe. In this instance we follow 4th year med student Jennifer Hernandez who travels to India when...more
Jennifer
rated it
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review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
medical fiction lovers
Shelves:
library-book,
2009-fall-challenge
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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OK read, not as good as many of Robin Cook's other books. In particular I found much of the characterisation implausible (the bad guys motives for killing people were very shallow), and the wrapup was very rushed and not very satisfying. Strikes me as a "contractual obligation" satisfying book.
I can only say that while I love the medical details of Cook's writing, his way with dialog leaves me nonplussed. Over the years it has become increasingly noticeable that all of his characters speak with exactly the same voice. The dialog is needlessly formal and convoluted often referring to people or entities in ways that no one would ever do in real life. Often when referring to another character inside dialog Cook will use a formal title and full name in a way that just isn't natural. Add t...more
Well, I'm carefully choosing my words in case Dr. Cook decides he should read my review. I want to be honest and say that I have been reading his books since I was in high school. I have always been fascinated by the story entwined with the medical science. I fell in love with Laurie and Jack and was pleasantly surprised to see they were in this book too. I especially like the new character, Jennifer Hernandez.
I was disappointed with the action/adventure. Some of it seemed a bit too f...more
I was disappointed with the action/adventure. Some of it seemed a bit too f...more
Some of Robin Cook's books are really good, but lately all of the books tell a story for a while and then he just ends them. It's like he's decided he has enough pages so he summerizes in 10 pages (quite unrealistically) and is finished.
I generally like medical thrillers and used to enjoy Robin Cook but lately I find his writing, especially his dialogue to be implausible. He over uses the exclaimation point and I find myself thinking again and again, 'no one talks like this'.
Interesting subject, as always Cook manages to find a new and interesting twist in the 'medical' world to keep us reading even if the killing was a bit too similar for my liking to one of his previous books 'Marker'.
The book is pretty interesting because other than the medical crime-mystery it also supplies a peek into the Indian reality. It has places where the book simply drags a bit, and then places where you just want to go on non stop.
Quite honestly, not one of his best... specially due to...more
The book is pretty interesting because other than the medical crime-mystery it also supplies a peek into the Indian reality. It has places where the book simply drags a bit, and then places where you just want to go on non stop.
Quite honestly, not one of his best... specially due to...more
After slogging through this book (I must have a masochistic streak), I have one question: If Robin Cook wrote this book, then who wrote "Crisis" and some of the other engaging, tightly written earlier novels attributed to him? This was writing I would expect from one of my grade 7 or 8 English students. The dialogue was laughable (seriously: "Actually," Jennifer said, with her head buried against his chest, "I really do appreciate that you are here. I'm just afraid to sh...more
Medical tourism is the new black. A recent newspaper article reminded me of this book. Quite honestly doctors in the "know" should write these books because they are scary for the simple fact that they are so on point. Imagine a government/drug company conspiracy (or is it?) that attempts to destroy another country's medical reputation so as to prevent medical tourism. Now throw in some secret spying by a suspicious doctor and you've got a great read. Loved this book, but in no wa...more
I've always enjoyed the medical aspect of Robin Cook's books. Medical mysteries and details intrigue me. The plot in this book is pretty good, though the action wasn't very suspenseful and the book seemed to end too quickly and with more of a whimper than a bang. The setting is fantastic--I loved learning about India. You might want to read this book just to get the wonderful flavor of that land of contradictions. However, the conversation between people is so stilted and contrived. It really, r...more
A very good book about american tourism in India. Jennifer Hernandez, a fourth year medical student from UCLA finds out her beloved grandmother has died after surgery in India. She goes to claim the body and is pressured to having it embalmed without an autopsy. It arouses her suspicion and the story is very well done and it does not postulate things that a fourth year med student could not know.; Pulls in characters from a prior book, Jack and Jennifer Stapelton, who are two New York medical ex...more
The only reason I was able to get thru this horrible story was via Audio. George Guidall is one of my favorite narrators. I am sorry he has has to suffer reading these CookBooks.
Foreign Body was simply BORING. NOTHING was ever really going on and even the moments of violence, chase or panic were very well tamed and peaceful. Unfortunately I Made it to the Conclusion and what a TIDY conclusion it was. Too neat and all is well for me. Unreal.
Not for me. This books is for thos...more
Foreign Body was simply BORING. NOTHING was ever really going on and even the moments of violence, chase or panic were very well tamed and peaceful. Unfortunately I Made it to the Conclusion and what a TIDY conclusion it was. Too neat and all is well for me. Unreal.
Not for me. This books is for thos...more
I would call it a page turner, but it was barely even that. You know who the bad guys are from the beginning and what they are up to, so there isn't really any suspense. The bad guys are mostly so totally bad (hiss! boo!) that they aren't very believable. Writing is a bit clunky. I think it was written to be a movie; it would make a better movie than a book. Movies are good at action, not so good at interior life. But since there is little interior life to the characters, it would be bette...more
In his latest medical thriller, Robin Cook explores the vicissitudes of medical tourism. While 4th year medical student Jennifer Hernandez is sitting in the doctors lounge waiting for her rotation to begin, she learns that her grandmother has died in an Indian hospital in a news report on CNN. When she calls the hospital herself she is told her grandmother is alive and well and recuperating.
Later that morning the hospital calls back apologetically and confirms the death. Her family ...more
Later that morning the hospital calls back apologetically and confirms the death. Her family ...more
This book has plenty of hot social medical tech issues: fertility treatment, big money profits in medical care, "medical tourism",sexual abuse, and forensic science. Add an orphaned medical student, a grandmother who died after a hip replacement, a few love relationships and a setting in the dark side of India and you have the ingredients of Cook's latest novel. The plot and action were too farfetched for me to empathize with the characters and the pat ending was not believable.
This book had great potential. I listened to the unabridged version on 10 CDs. The story stretched out over the first 9 discs and then had a rushed, and quite predictable, culmination in the last 40 minutes of the 10th disc, leaving me feeling cheated...or something like that. This was not his best book, but it was still mostly enjoyable. I have to say, though, that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has never read Cook before for fear they might not pick up another.
Pretty typical Cook book, a little annoying how Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery are dragged into it. I think two or three books with their story would be plenty.
The book was okay, started to seem a bit long towards the end (in the dragging on kind of way). It was interesting to think about the medical tourism that is developing in developing countries, and I'm interested to find out a little bit more about it.
Overall, it was an okay read.
The book was okay, started to seem a bit long towards the end (in the dragging on kind of way). It was interesting to think about the medical tourism that is developing in developing countries, and I'm interested to find out a little bit more about it.
Overall, it was an okay read.
i know it's robin cook and not exactly fine literature but in the past i enjoyed the reading experience. this time around i think it is time to stop. the story was lacking, the characters confusing, the writing was questionable and the editing was a bit slack. sad.
i know, i know, i finished it so that must mean something but i kept reading hoping it would get better. it was like watching a bad made for television medical mystery. it didn't get better.
i know, i know, i finished it so that must mean something but i kept reading hoping it would get better. it was like watching a bad made for television medical mystery. it didn't get better.
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| Foreign Body | 1 | 8 | Jul 28, 2008 07:41pm |
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Dr. Robin Cook (born May 4, 1940 in New York City, New York) is an American doctor / novelist who writes about medicine and topics affecting public health.
He is best known for being the author who combined medical writing with the thriller genre of writing. Several of his books have been bestsellers on the "New York Times" Bestseller List. Several of his books have also been ...more
More about Robin Cook...
He is best known for being the author who combined medical writing with the thriller genre of writing. Several of his books have been bestsellers on the "New York Times" Bestseller List. Several of his books have also been ...more
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