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Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery #14
Manner of Death
In this new fast-paced medical mystery-thriller from the New York Times bestselling author Robin Cook, fan favorites Jack and Laurie must determine the manner of death after a pathology resident's suspicious suicide.
Due to Jack Stapleton’s ongoing recovery from his near-death confrontation with a serial killer, his wife Laurie Montgomery, the NYC chief medical examiner, is carrying the load both at work and at home. When she insists an underperforming pathology resident named Ryan Sullivan assist her on a suicide autopsy, Laurie unknowingly provokes an emotional storm in the trainee.
So, when Ryan himself appears on the medical examiner's table days later, an apparent death by suicide, Laurie’s guilt compels her to try to understand why. Jack’s autopsy on the resident opens the disturbing possibility that the manner of death wasn’t suicide but instead a staged homicide. But staged by whom?
Laurie ignores her own professional rules and responsibilities to investigate personally who might want Ryan dead...and for what reason. Thus begins a dangerous inquiry into a fraudulent but highly lucrative cancer diagnostics company, which might just cost Laurie her life.
Due to Jack Stapleton’s ongoing recovery from his near-death confrontation with a serial killer, his wife Laurie Montgomery, the NYC chief medical examiner, is carrying the load both at work and at home. When she insists an underperforming pathology resident named Ryan Sullivan assist her on a suicide autopsy, Laurie unknowingly provokes an emotional storm in the trainee.
So, when Ryan himself appears on the medical examiner's table days later, an apparent death by suicide, Laurie’s guilt compels her to try to understand why. Jack’s autopsy on the resident opens the disturbing possibility that the manner of death wasn’t suicide but instead a staged homicide. But staged by whom?
Laurie ignores her own professional rules and responsibilities to investigate personally who might want Ryan dead...and for what reason. Thus begins a dangerous inquiry into a fraudulent but highly lucrative cancer diagnostics company, which might just cost Laurie her life.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2023
640 people are currently reading
1165 people want to read
About the author
Robin Cook
187 books4,976 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 380 reviews
January 25, 2024
Content warning: "Suicide"
This is Robin Cook's 14th book in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery medical thriller series. I only discovered his books a few years back and I'm happy that there are many more to read. It works well as a standalone thriller.
Jack and his wife Laurie are medical examiners in NYC. She's in a managing position with daily paperwork and meetings. She misses doing the work.
With series of suicides as of late, Ryan Sullivan, a rotating Pathology student is assigned to do the autopsies, something he really despised. Laurie works closely with Ryan when he finds some connections.
Readers would know what's going on from the beginning. It's up to the medical examiners when and how they'll figure it out. I enjoyed this one all around and thought it was another solid installment until the chapter before the epilogue.
My gosh, the very end was so weak and I'm let down how the perp failed miserably when it's time to wrap up the story. Ugh.
7/10 ~ 3.5⭐
This is Robin Cook's 14th book in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery medical thriller series. I only discovered his books a few years back and I'm happy that there are many more to read. It works well as a standalone thriller.
Jack and his wife Laurie are medical examiners in NYC. She's in a managing position with daily paperwork and meetings. She misses doing the work.
With series of suicides as of late, Ryan Sullivan, a rotating Pathology student is assigned to do the autopsies, something he really despised. Laurie works closely with Ryan when he finds some connections.
Readers would know what's going on from the beginning. It's up to the medical examiners when and how they'll figure it out. I enjoyed this one all around and thought it was another solid installment until the chapter before the epilogue.
My gosh, the very end was so weak and I'm let down how the perp failed miserably when it's time to wrap up the story. Ugh.
7/10 ~ 3.5⭐
December 15, 2023
This is absolutely the last Robin Cook book I will read - at least the last one in the Jack Stapleton / Laurie Montgomery series. These characters are awful, and there's nothing thrilling about the storyline. You know the premise right from the start, so the book is simply a slow and painful description of how two ridiculously unbelievable characters manage to ignore all common sense and reality to solve the "mystery" while managing to put themselves into, and then miraculously squeak right out of, mortal danger. No thanks, not for me. I'd rather read the phone book. I desperately miss books like Toxin, Coma and Outbreak. I will gladly be an outlier; it floors me how highly rated this book is.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2023
Laurie Montgomery is the NYC chief medical examiner; her husband Jack Stapleton a pathologist recovering from an attack by a serial killer. Ryan Sullivan is a pathology resident who, due to his significant personal history, is very unsettled performing autopsies during his rotation in the morgue. Laurie tries to take him under her wing and when she mentions that there are been some recent suicides that were somewhat questionable as perhaps really having been homicides, he, with her consent, decides to review the cases. Both Laurie and Jack warn him to only investigate within the department as they are still reeling from the murder of another reluctant resident who decided to look into a suspicious case. When Ryan finds a commonality among the deceased involving a medical practice and early cancer diagnostic testing,
more lives including his own are in danger.
Cook weaves an engrossing, fast paced tale; I did not want to put it down. Told from multiple points of view, he taps into the very real fear of doctors benefitting financially from the tests they order. I liked reading some of the not overly technical medical explanations involving forensic autopsies and testing for cancer.
I used to enjoy reading Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, but somehow got away from them. When I saw this ARC being offered, I jumped at it and am glad I did. This is actually the fourteenth novel by Cook featuring Jack and Laurie. Although this worked as a stand alone, I now want to go back and read the other thirteen!
Thanks to #netgalley and @putnambooks for the ARC.
more lives including his own are in danger.
Cook weaves an engrossing, fast paced tale; I did not want to put it down. Told from multiple points of view, he taps into the very real fear of doctors benefitting financially from the tests they order. I liked reading some of the not overly technical medical explanations involving forensic autopsies and testing for cancer.
I used to enjoy reading Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, but somehow got away from them. When I saw this ARC being offered, I jumped at it and am glad I did. This is actually the fourteenth novel by Cook featuring Jack and Laurie. Although this worked as a stand alone, I now want to go back and read the other thirteen!
Thanks to #netgalley and @putnambooks for the ARC.
January 11, 2024
3.75 / 5
Following on from the previous book I read, I actually quite like this series, it’s a lot less medical based and more focused on a senior pathologist student and Laurie Montgomery, and less Jack Stapleton. I do have to mark this down due to how god damn ridiculous the ending was. It was quite literally the worst thing to happen in a book and I suspect Cook couldn’t find a way to end the book. But it was absurd and rendered the perpetrators in the end literally a group of fakes.
The book follows Ryan Sullivan who is a pathology resident who struggles through medical examinations during his rotation. He autopsies a man who commits suicide after finding out he had cancer. Laurie who is assisting Ryan as means for him to change his negative attitude brings up the increase in suicides in the last few months. Ryan brings up a proposal to investigate the suicides as means to get out of doing autopsies. As he begins to investigate he starts to uncover a lot of hidden secrets that people want hidden.
I have to admit, I quite like the book and the direction it was heading. I could understand it, coming from someone who does not know anything medical. My biggest bone to pick was just the ending and how the book ended, felt rushed, felt pointless and contradicts the whole plot with the slow build up. It’s almost like making a perfect cake, to just drop your phone on it and present it as it is. The ending felt so abrupt and sudden, dropping in quality. But I will be keeping my eye out to see what else Cook has in store.
Following on from the previous book I read, I actually quite like this series, it’s a lot less medical based and more focused on a senior pathologist student and Laurie Montgomery, and less Jack Stapleton. I do have to mark this down due to how god damn ridiculous the ending was. It was quite literally the worst thing to happen in a book and I suspect Cook couldn’t find a way to end the book. But it was absurd and rendered the perpetrators in the end literally a group of fakes.
The book follows Ryan Sullivan who is a pathology resident who struggles through medical examinations during his rotation. He autopsies a man who commits suicide after finding out he had cancer. Laurie who is assisting Ryan as means for him to change his negative attitude brings up the increase in suicides in the last few months. Ryan brings up a proposal to investigate the suicides as means to get out of doing autopsies. As he begins to investigate he starts to uncover a lot of hidden secrets that people want hidden.
I have to admit, I quite like the book and the direction it was heading. I could understand it, coming from someone who does not know anything medical. My biggest bone to pick was just the ending and how the book ended, felt rushed, felt pointless and contradicts the whole plot with the slow build up. It’s almost like making a perfect cake, to just drop your phone on it and present it as it is. The ending felt so abrupt and sudden, dropping in quality. But I will be keeping my eye out to see what else Cook has in store.
August 26, 2025
As with most of Robin Cook’s books, this is a fast-paced read. The plot was interesting though I could predict how the story would move pretty early on.
Laurie is now the Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York. Jack, her husband, is also a medical examiner, and has just recovered from hip surgery. Their two kids are still young.
Ryan Sullivan is a pathology resident who hates autopsies. Laurie motivates him by doing one with him. This was an interesting case where though the man presumably shot himself; there were a few aspects which raised doubts. The man was said to have had cancer but none was found. Ryan is piqued to find that there are a few other cases. While the diagnosis of cancer does raise the possibility of people taking their own lives, Ryan offers to check for other commonalities to also see if this disturbing trend could be arrested.
There are some good characters in the book other than Laurie & Jack (who as always are a treat to read). I felt the villainy to be too plain & largely predictable though the plot does have some novelty.
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
Laurie is now the Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York. Jack, her husband, is also a medical examiner, and has just recovered from hip surgery. Their two kids are still young.
Ryan Sullivan is a pathology resident who hates autopsies. Laurie motivates him by doing one with him. This was an interesting case where though the man presumably shot himself; there were a few aspects which raised doubts. The man was said to have had cancer but none was found. Ryan is piqued to find that there are a few other cases. While the diagnosis of cancer does raise the possibility of people taking their own lives, Ryan offers to check for other commonalities to also see if this disturbing trend could be arrested.
There are some good characters in the book other than Laurie & Jack (who as always are a treat to read). I felt the villainy to be too plain & largely predictable though the plot does have some novelty.
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
March 25, 2025
A bit of a corny ending but again, I still enjoyed it. 😂
December 31, 2023
I honestly don't know what's happened with this author. Robin Cook used to be one of my favorite authors, but his recent works have not seemed up to par. The writing is clunky and over explanatory. The last novel I read of his was a DNF and I really had to force myself to finish this one. It makes me very sad, but I think I'm going to give up on this author.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.
December 16, 2023
Medical thrillers top the interest list for me, even ahead of the legal thrillers that are perhaps more common. So to be sure, this author's work is not unfamiliar to me. In fact, I've read one other in this series, but I was nonetheless surprised to learn that this is the 14th. It stands alone well, but of course I always advise starting any series at the beginning when possible. The featured characters are Laurie Montgomery and Jack Stapleton, married physicians at the New York Medical Examiner's Office (Laurie, in fact, is the chief ME), though her first love is doing the actual hands-on tasks rather than administrative chores.
Pathology residents routinely pass through the office, required to spend a month or so observing, and helping to perform, autopsies on the many bodies that pass through each day. One of the new residents, Ryan Sullivan, presents a bit of a dilemma; he absolutely loathes even being in the autopsy room - it upsets him so much that he'll try just about anything to get out of being there. In the process of trying to skirt the issue, he learns of a couple of instances in which the declarations of suicide - made both by the medical legal investigators, who make the initial prognoses, and the MEs was questionable, even though all were based on solid evidence. As it turns out, a previous resident also started to follow up on those cases but was murdered before she shared any conclusions from her investigations.
Ryan, though, is so hot to trot out of the autopsy room that he manages to get approval from his direct supervisor to take a few days for research - and no surprise, he finds another handful of cases in which the suicide/homicide decision could have gone either way with both the MLIs and MEs having niggling doubts but, for lack of conclusive evidence, went with suicide. Were any of those cases "staged" by a killer who was successful in covering up a murder? If so, how was it done? Why and by whom?
Those are questions that Ryan must deal with as his own investigation picks up steam; readers follow along while learning early on the answers to at least two of those questions. Sandwiched in between is quite a bit of "filler" into the private lives of the main characters (even if it was interesting, which it was, it was a little too much for my liking). Interesting to me was the frequent praise for the role of the medical legal investigators - a profession I must admit I'd never even heard of before. The ending brought a little surprise, but one I think will please most followers of the series. That includes me, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment. Meanwhile, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
Pathology residents routinely pass through the office, required to spend a month or so observing, and helping to perform, autopsies on the many bodies that pass through each day. One of the new residents, Ryan Sullivan, presents a bit of a dilemma; he absolutely loathes even being in the autopsy room - it upsets him so much that he'll try just about anything to get out of being there. In the process of trying to skirt the issue, he learns of a couple of instances in which the declarations of suicide - made both by the medical legal investigators, who make the initial prognoses, and the MEs was questionable, even though all were based on solid evidence. As it turns out, a previous resident also started to follow up on those cases but was murdered before she shared any conclusions from her investigations.
Ryan, though, is so hot to trot out of the autopsy room that he manages to get approval from his direct supervisor to take a few days for research - and no surprise, he finds another handful of cases in which the suicide/homicide decision could have gone either way with both the MLIs and MEs having niggling doubts but, for lack of conclusive evidence, went with suicide. Were any of those cases "staged" by a killer who was successful in covering up a murder? If so, how was it done? Why and by whom?
Those are questions that Ryan must deal with as his own investigation picks up steam; readers follow along while learning early on the answers to at least two of those questions. Sandwiched in between is quite a bit of "filler" into the private lives of the main characters (even if it was interesting, which it was, it was a little too much for my liking). Interesting to me was the frequent praise for the role of the medical legal investigators - a profession I must admit I'd never even heard of before. The ending brought a little surprise, but one I think will please most followers of the series. That includes me, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment. Meanwhile, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
December 27, 2023
For the most part, I really liked this one. I was pulled in from the beginning. The characters were solid and I liked their development.
The plot was kind of intense. This author does that well. This one was mostly 4 stars the whole way. That was until the ending.
It was not at all satisfying. The characters go through all of that for what? Those kind of endings are never my favorite. They feel like gifts that drop from the sky by a benevolent God. While sometimes that works for a story, I didn't feel it was a good match for a medical thriller. It felt lazy. So 3 stars.
The plot was kind of intense. This author does that well. This one was mostly 4 stars the whole way. That was until the ending.
It was not at all satisfying. The characters go through all of that for what? Those kind of endings are never my favorite. They feel like gifts that drop from the sky by a benevolent God. While sometimes that works for a story, I didn't feel it was a good match for a medical thriller. It felt lazy. So 3 stars.
November 28, 2023
Ryan Sullivan is a medical student resident specializing in pathology and doing a rotation in the medical examiner's office in NYC. Ryan absolutely abhors autopsies, especially the smell that permeates everything.
When he learns about similarities in some recent suicide cases, Ryan obtains permission to study the cases and determine if the manner of death is correct, as well as what commonalities exist between cases. While his initial ploy was to exempt him from performing forensic autopsies, Ryan soon uncovers some striking similarities that question the manner of death and threaten lives.
This is another installment with wife and husband team, Chief Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery and Medical Examiner Jack Stapleton. If you’ve read any of the other stories, you know there's always danger, intrigue, twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. While small parts of this were very scientific, Cook, as usual, does an excellent job explaining things in a way that's easy for the layperson to understand.
If you’re at all a fan of medical thrillers, this one will be right up your alley. I don’t remember the last time a thriller made me yell at characters, “No, don’t do that!” or made me wonder how such seemingly intelligent characters could act dumber than a box of rocks. This is the beauty of sharing with the reader something a character is unaware of and increases the tension and enjoyment exponentially. A compelling, fast-pace read that refuses to pull any punches, this one is sure to be your new favorite.
When he learns about similarities in some recent suicide cases, Ryan obtains permission to study the cases and determine if the manner of death is correct, as well as what commonalities exist between cases. While his initial ploy was to exempt him from performing forensic autopsies, Ryan soon uncovers some striking similarities that question the manner of death and threaten lives.
This is another installment with wife and husband team, Chief Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery and Medical Examiner Jack Stapleton. If you’ve read any of the other stories, you know there's always danger, intrigue, twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. While small parts of this were very scientific, Cook, as usual, does an excellent job explaining things in a way that's easy for the layperson to understand.
If you’re at all a fan of medical thrillers, this one will be right up your alley. I don’t remember the last time a thriller made me yell at characters, “No, don’t do that!” or made me wonder how such seemingly intelligent characters could act dumber than a box of rocks. This is the beauty of sharing with the reader something a character is unaware of and increases the tension and enjoyment exponentially. A compelling, fast-pace read that refuses to pull any punches, this one is sure to be your new favorite.
June 24, 2024
I have enjoyed Robin Cook’s novels for years but they seem to be going downhill. This book was very similar to one of the recent installments in this series. For the most part, Jack and Laurie were background characters until the last several chapters. The main character throughout most of the book, a pathology resident, was highly unlikable. It took a very long time to get through this as I was mostly uninterested in picking it up. The ending was very abrupt and felt anticlimactic. Sad to say I may be done with this series after this one.
December 7, 2023
So exciting to be meeting up again with Jack and Laurie. They are two of my favorite characters.
Without giving away any spoilers… the main focus of this novel is investigating a manner of death on several victims believed to be suicides.
Meet Ryan Sullivan , a pathology resident whom is not enthusiastic about performing autopsies. Long story short…he has found that the manner of death was not suicide. It was revealed by Ryan that a cancer diagnostic company had a hand in the victims demise.
Once again, Dr. Cook has hit it out of the park. Not only are his novels entertaining but educational as well.
I’ve been a fan since he penned “Coma” and will be his #1 fan as long as possible.
Did I mention there was a twist at the end? Guess you’ll just need to read it to find out!!!
Thank you, Dr. Cook and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review another wonderful novel.
Without giving away any spoilers… the main focus of this novel is investigating a manner of death on several victims believed to be suicides.
Meet Ryan Sullivan , a pathology resident whom is not enthusiastic about performing autopsies. Long story short…he has found that the manner of death was not suicide. It was revealed by Ryan that a cancer diagnostic company had a hand in the victims demise.
Once again, Dr. Cook has hit it out of the park. Not only are his novels entertaining but educational as well.
I’ve been a fan since he penned “Coma” and will be his #1 fan as long as possible.
Did I mention there was a twist at the end? Guess you’ll just need to read it to find out!!!
Thank you, Dr. Cook and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review another wonderful novel.
September 13, 2023
This is the14th installment of Robin Cook’s Laurie Montgomery/Jack Stapleton married physician/medical examiner team (an on-and-off series since 1991, interspersed with intense medical thrillers), but it can be read as a pulse-pounding standalone. There are references to past books, but they are just as easily incorporated as background information.
In this book, Laurie, head of the New York Medical Examiner’s Office, has a reluctant pathology resident who deeply dislikes his mandatory month at the morgue observing autopsies. But Dr. Ryan Sullivan’s interest is piqued by possible suicides without suspicious circumstances (staged homicides?) and asks permission to research similar cases. Regrettably, Sullivan’s outside interest mirrors a former rogue pathology resident who managed to get herself murdered in the process. As Ryan tries to weave together clues about the suspicious suicides, Jack ends up autopsying a questionable murder/suicide that might also be connected. As a result, Laurie and Jack want to closely oversee Sullivan’s investigation to make sure hasn’t uncovered something more sinister, but the young doctor does share some of the aggressive characteristics of their last failed (and dead) resident.
Cook delivers another page-turner that also pays a fascinating homage to the importance of the role of the medical legal investigator (MLI), the first responder link between the death scene and the medical examiner. This is a very involved medical thriller and although the jargon is plentiful, it’s also clearly explained for the layman. It’s one of those reasons that Cook continues to be so successful with this genre. 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Ryan, however, has equally rare hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Nothing more than a patch of grass is described.
Thank you to Penguin Group/GP Putnam and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
In this book, Laurie, head of the New York Medical Examiner’s Office, has a reluctant pathology resident who deeply dislikes his mandatory month at the morgue observing autopsies. But Dr. Ryan Sullivan’s interest is piqued by possible suicides without suspicious circumstances (staged homicides?) and asks permission to research similar cases. Regrettably, Sullivan’s outside interest mirrors a former rogue pathology resident who managed to get herself murdered in the process. As Ryan tries to weave together clues about the suspicious suicides, Jack ends up autopsying a questionable murder/suicide that might also be connected. As a result, Laurie and Jack want to closely oversee Sullivan’s investigation to make sure hasn’t uncovered something more sinister, but the young doctor does share some of the aggressive characteristics of their last failed (and dead) resident.
Cook delivers another page-turner that also pays a fascinating homage to the importance of the role of the medical legal investigator (MLI), the first responder link between the death scene and the medical examiner. This is a very involved medical thriller and although the jargon is plentiful, it’s also clearly explained for the layman. It’s one of those reasons that Cook continues to be so successful with this genre. 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Ryan, however, has equally rare hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Nothing more than a patch of grass is described.
Thank you to Penguin Group/GP Putnam and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 14, 2023
This is the14th installment of Robin Cook’s Laurie Montgomery/Jack Stapleton married physician/medical examiner team (an on-and-off series since 1991, interspersed with intense medical thrillers), but it can be read as a pulse-pounding standalone. There are references to past books, but they are just as easily incorporated as background information.
In this book, Laurie, head of the New York Medical Examiner’s Office, has a reluctant pathology resident who deeply dislikes his mandatory month at the morgue observing autopsies. But Dr. Ryan Sullivan’s interest is piqued by possible suicides without suspicious circumstances (staged homicides?) and asks permission to research similar cases. Regrettably, Sullivan’s outside interest mirrors a former rogue pathology resident who managed to get herself murdered in the process. As Ryan tries to weave together clues about the suspicious suicides, Jack ends up autopsying a questionable murder/suicide that might also be connected. As a result, Laurie and Jack want to closely oversee Sullivan’s investigation to make sure hasn’t uncovered something more sinister, but the young doctor does share some of the aggressive characteristics of their last failed (and dead) resident.
Cook delivers another page-turner that also pays a fascinating homage to the importance of the role of the medical legal investigator (MLI), the first responder link between the death scene and the medical examiner. This is a very involved medical thriller and although the jargon is plentiful, it’s also clearly explained for the layman. It’s one of those reasons that Cook continues to be so successful with this genre. 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Ryan, however, has equally rare hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Nothing more than a patch of grass is described.
Thank you to Penguin Group/GP Putnam and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
In this book, Laurie, head of the New York Medical Examiner’s Office, has a reluctant pathology resident who deeply dislikes his mandatory month at the morgue observing autopsies. But Dr. Ryan Sullivan’s interest is piqued by possible suicides without suspicious circumstances (staged homicides?) and asks permission to research similar cases. Regrettably, Sullivan’s outside interest mirrors a former rogue pathology resident who managed to get herself murdered in the process. As Ryan tries to weave together clues about the suspicious suicides, Jack ends up autopsying a questionable murder/suicide that might also be connected. As a result, Laurie and Jack want to closely oversee Sullivan’s investigation to make sure hasn’t uncovered something more sinister, but the young doctor does share some of the aggressive characteristics of their last failed (and dead) resident.
Cook delivers another page-turner that also pays a fascinating homage to the importance of the role of the medical legal investigator (MLI), the first responder link between the death scene and the medical examiner. This is a very involved medical thriller and although the jargon is plentiful, it’s also clearly explained for the layman. It’s one of those reasons that Cook continues to be so successful with this genre. 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Ryan, however, has equally rare hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Nothing more than a patch of grass is described.
Thank you to Penguin Group/GP Putnam and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 15, 2024
Wow, so disappointing. All the characters are kind of idiotic. The plot, while it had potential early on, falls apart quickly. It's just ridiculous. Cook obviously knows his way around medicine but falls profoundly short on everything else. It was just words in a book. Any opportunity for suspense or mystery completely missed. I agree with others who rated Manner of Death with only one or two stars...no more Robin Cook books for me. Also what I find strange about the Cook books, at least the recent Jack Stapleton/Laurie Montgomery series, he references the previous book(s) and gives away much of the plot. If it weren't for that they each could pretty much stand alone. Not sure if he does that in all of them but he did in the last few. Is he writing these or does he have a staff that does the writing for him?
November 30, 2023
This is the next installment in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series.
I like this series. It’s about 2 married medical examiners on New York. This was definitely a good plot. I was so involved into the storyline. There is no twists. You know who the killers are the whole entire time but it’s fun to watch the two ME’s try and figure it out.
The only problems with the book for me were there was so many characters and I was having a hard time keeping them all separated and the book doesn’t tell you about the character change at the beginning of the chapter.
Also something the book seemed so wordy and I would start skimming.
Genre: Crime Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 346
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery Series
I like this series. It’s about 2 married medical examiners on New York. This was definitely a good plot. I was so involved into the storyline. There is no twists. You know who the killers are the whole entire time but it’s fun to watch the two ME’s try and figure it out.
The only problems with the book for me were there was so many characters and I was having a hard time keeping them all separated and the book doesn’t tell you about the character change at the beginning of the chapter.
Also something the book seemed so wordy and I would start skimming.
Genre: Crime Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 346
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery Series
June 10, 2023
Manner of Death by Robin Cook In the fourth of the series featuring Medical examinters, Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery, Dr Cook explores cancer screening and testing, depression, suicide, and staged homicides. The story is fast paced with the investigative work done by Dr Ryan Sullivan who finds similarities between several recent suicide cases. While the ending appeared to be rushed, all loose ends were resolved. Interesting and entertaining read.
Thank you to the author, Robin Cook; publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons;, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the author, Robin Cook; publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons;, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
April 13, 2024
As a reader, I was insulted by the re-explanation of lots of things, and the totally unnecessary explanation of others. For example, two doctors are talking and one needed to let the other know that the OCME was where autopsies to determine cause of death were performed (even if the reader had no prior knowledge to this, it was the setting for much of the book AND the people talking were DOCTORS! I really tried, but I couldn’t take anymore about ⅔ through the book.
March 10, 2024
The plot was very interesting, but the dialog just made me roll my eyes. It alternated between "OH my gosh! Why would that happen?" and complex medical explanations. Ridiculous and stiff at the same time.
September 14, 2024
Haven’t read one of his books in years so I thought I’d give it a try. Bad idea.
March 4, 2024
Before booksta, I was a Robin Cook stan. But, I’ve been distracted by other shiny things for a while. Lately, I’ve been losing the love a bit. Looking to get back to my roots reading books I know I’ll enjoy. Enter Cook. I love a good medical thriller. This one is less a 'who dun it' then a how are they gonna catch 'who dun it.' It gave me Theranos case vibes. It involves a pathology fellow who is hating his rotation in the morgue. He discovers a trend in some suicide cases and convinces his leadership to allow him to do a little investigation. The deeper he gets the more danger he is in.
While this is part of a series, the main characters of the series are really side characters in the story and while they allude to a previous case, I think it is easily read as a standalone. Ryan was not super likable with his strong millennial opinions but I was so engrossed in the medical aspects of the story that it was easy to overlook that. I'm back on the Robin Cook train and already can't wait to dig back to see what I've missed.
While this is part of a series, the main characters of the series are really side characters in the story and while they allude to a previous case, I think it is easily read as a standalone. Ryan was not super likable with his strong millennial opinions but I was so engrossed in the medical aspects of the story that it was easy to overlook that. I'm back on the Robin Cook train and already can't wait to dig back to see what I've missed.
June 19, 2025
Volver a leer a Robin Cook después de tanto tiempo ha sido como reencontrarse con un viejo conocido. Durante años devoré sus thrillers médicos, así que tenía muchas ganas de sumergirme de nuevo en uno de sus casos. Maneras de morir me ha parecido una lectura interesante, aunque distinta a lo que recordaba.
Aquí no hay un “quién lo hizo”, porque desde el principio sabemos quiénes son los culpables y por qué actúan. La intriga no está en el misterio, sino en seguir el proceso de investigación forense y ver cómo los protagonistas, Laurie Montgomery y Ryan Sullivan, sobre todo este último, van encajando las piezas hasta llegar a la verdad. En ese sentido, el libro funciona bien: es ágil, técnico sin resultar pesado, y con ese estilo tan reconocible de Cook.
Lo que me ha fallado un poco ha sido el final, que se siente algo precipitado. Después de un desarrollo tan meticuloso, esperaba un cierre más elaborado o al menos más tenso. También es cierto que, comparado con otras novelas suyas que leí en su día, este me ha resultado un poco más flojo en cuanto a impacto.
Aun así, he disfrutado la lectura. Tiene ese ritmo y ese aire clínico que lo hace muy suyo, y reencontrarme con Cook ha sido un pequeño placer. No será mi favorito del autor, pero sí me ha recordado por qué me gustaba tanto leerlo.
Aquí no hay un “quién lo hizo”, porque desde el principio sabemos quiénes son los culpables y por qué actúan. La intriga no está en el misterio, sino en seguir el proceso de investigación forense y ver cómo los protagonistas, Laurie Montgomery y Ryan Sullivan, sobre todo este último, van encajando las piezas hasta llegar a la verdad. En ese sentido, el libro funciona bien: es ágil, técnico sin resultar pesado, y con ese estilo tan reconocible de Cook.
Lo que me ha fallado un poco ha sido el final, que se siente algo precipitado. Después de un desarrollo tan meticuloso, esperaba un cierre más elaborado o al menos más tenso. También es cierto que, comparado con otras novelas suyas que leí en su día, este me ha resultado un poco más flojo en cuanto a impacto.
Aun así, he disfrutado la lectura. Tiene ese ritmo y ese aire clínico que lo hace muy suyo, y reencontrarme con Cook ha sido un pequeño placer. No será mi favorito del autor, pero sí me ha recordado por qué me gustaba tanto leerlo.
April 5, 2024
It is always a pleasure for me to read Robin Cook. His books are page-turners!! However, I thought that there would be something special about "the manner of death". There wasn't a secret to be disclosed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2024
The ending is very rushed but after a long time, a readable novel from Robin Cook
May 21, 2025
Finalizada. La idea es muy buena si no has leído el anterior. Si lo has hecho, más de los mismo. Prácticamente igual cambiando personajes. Nota 2,5/5. FIN.
June 19, 2023
If you are a fan of Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery, the husband-and-wife team of medical examiners featured in previous Robin Cook novels, you’ll enjoy reconnecting and catching up with their personal and professional lives in this fast-paced medical thriller. If this is your first exposure, the book works well as a stand-alone novel.
Ryan Sullivan is a resident fulfilling his mandatory rotation through forensic pathology and he is not happy about it. He detests autopsies and bending to the will of authority figures he does not respect. When Ryan performs an autopsy under Laurie’s supervision, his interest is piqued by several “red flags” that possibly indicate a homicide staged to look like a suicide. When it becomes known that there have been six such deaths in a six-month period, Ryan requests authorization to investigate further. As the story unfolds, he finds more and more evidence that suggests the cases may be linked to one corrupt oncology clinic with disastrous consequences for himself and Laurie.
Overall, I found the storyline intriguing with its alternating viewpoints of the key players. There is plenty of suspense, but not much mystery. My one criticism is that the ending was rushed. After the book lead up to a life-threatening event for one of the protagonists, the resolution was wrapped up rather abruptly in an Epilogue.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
Ryan Sullivan is a resident fulfilling his mandatory rotation through forensic pathology and he is not happy about it. He detests autopsies and bending to the will of authority figures he does not respect. When Ryan performs an autopsy under Laurie’s supervision, his interest is piqued by several “red flags” that possibly indicate a homicide staged to look like a suicide. When it becomes known that there have been six such deaths in a six-month period, Ryan requests authorization to investigate further. As the story unfolds, he finds more and more evidence that suggests the cases may be linked to one corrupt oncology clinic with disastrous consequences for himself and Laurie.
Overall, I found the storyline intriguing with its alternating viewpoints of the key players. There is plenty of suspense, but not much mystery. My one criticism is that the ending was rushed. After the book lead up to a life-threatening event for one of the protagonists, the resolution was wrapped up rather abruptly in an Epilogue.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
November 30, 2023
Robin Cook is one of my favorite authors, and I have read many of his books.
Manner of Death is the 14th story in the Laurie Montgomery series. Its not my favorite in the series, but I'm a fan, which keeps me reading.
In this installment Laurie has a student doing training in the medical examiners office who has uncovered a string of suicides that seem to be connected.
Throughout the course of the book an exciting mystery takes place while the source of these "apparent" suicides is investigated.
This review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Huge thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for my review copy!
Manner of Death is the 14th story in the Laurie Montgomery series. Its not my favorite in the series, but I'm a fan, which keeps me reading.
In this installment Laurie has a student doing training in the medical examiners office who has uncovered a string of suicides that seem to be connected.
Throughout the course of the book an exciting mystery takes place while the source of these "apparent" suicides is investigated.
This review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Huge thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for my review copy!
September 7, 2023
In the latest Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery series from Robin Cook, the Office of the City Medical Examiner’s office is assigned a senior med student, Ryan Sullivan for a month long rotation in the OCME office. Ryan has a pure dislike for his main task, observing autopsies and is looking for a way out of doing them on a daily basis. Laurie Montgomery, the chief Medical Examiner decides to work with Ryan on an autopsy of a suicide victim. Ryan has has experience with suicide as a child, in fact trying to take his own life in the past. This autopsy performed with Laurie is one of a series of young adults who have committed suicide over the past few months. Ryan and Laurie agree to allow Ryan to look into and possible connections between these cases. Ryan starts his research and finds a link to an early cancer testing organization.. As a result, Ryan ends up as a suicide victim. Robin Cook has once again written a medical drama that keeps you guessing. The pace of the book is fine, although there is a lot filler as descriptions throughout the book. It’s worth the time to pick it up if you are a fan of medica thrillers. 4 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to get an early copy of this novel
February 25, 2024
Good Medical Mystery with Familiar Characters
I really enjoy these forensics books because I can count on Robin Cook to include details that are enticing and a mystery that is engrossing. This one was no exception. I did like the new character, Dr. Sullivan, and thought he was very realistically portrayed. The story moved at a rapid pace and the familiar characters were like old friends. Although part of a series, this book can easily be read as as standalone.
I checked out this book from my local library using the Libby App. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoy these forensics books because I can count on Robin Cook to include details that are enticing and a mystery that is engrossing. This one was no exception. I did like the new character, Dr. Sullivan, and thought he was very realistically portrayed. The story moved at a rapid pace and the familiar characters were like old friends. Although part of a series, this book can easily be read as as standalone.
I checked out this book from my local library using the Libby App. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
December 17, 2023
Robin Cook you’ve done it again…literally. Still loving Jack and Laurie but this book has that already done this storyline feel. It was so reminiscent of the last book and thus very predictable and unremarkable I’m sad to say. Oh well, write us some more Robin. 😂
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