Terminal Condition

by David Shobin

Here's a horrifying medical thriller with a premise so plausible readers will think twice about entering another hospital. Master of medical suspense David Shobin, bestselling author of The Center and The Unborn, has crafted a chilling tale of a young doctor at New York's most prestigious hospital and an accident victim whose paths cross in a desperate situation.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Medical

Paperback

First published November 15, 1998

Reviews

[Laura Felty · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 4am. I had to finish it. So exciting and follow medical protocol correctly. Very good book

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read albeit formulaic with lame conversations between characters. Was quick and kept my interest well enough, though.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Shoban is the Tom Clancy of medical thrillers. Even better – he knows medicine and weaponry. Excitement on almost every page. Great finale.
Yet there are a few parts of the narrative that need a reality check. It is quite difficult to drive and park a car in Manhattan. How does an ER Resident with long, irregular hours, take care of his dog in the Bronx? How does a third-year medical student get so much time off from classes? Why weren’t the police more proactive in investigating two suspicious murders in the hospital? The names and speech of the mafia members seem too stereotyped.

[Paula Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. A medical mystery with lots of action and suspense. Jordan, a medical student and her medical student boyfriend investigate their friend, Rita’s, coma and Rita’s move to a long term facility. The mob is also a part of this long term facility making a new drug called Cognobsin. This drug is harvested from spinal fluid and enhances abilities in anyone who gets injected with it. This book would make a great mysterious action movie.

[Carol Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will keep you guessing..

Intriguing story with twists and turns to keep somewhat unsure. Good read! Thought the storyline held up and the end a bit surprising.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gripping story with elements that would beholder if I'm a screen. It could have used better character development.

[Kevin G Mohrman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, wonderful writing from David Shobin. I have noticed more typos than I would have expected. He needs a new editor.

[Karen Rudloff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audio and book

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read another of Shobin's books earlier this summer, and I think this one was even better than that one. 'Terminal Condition' focuses on a hospital where scientists have discovered a new chemical compound called cognopsin, a protein that can theoretically bring people back from near death and restore them to perfect health. This protein can only be isolated from other patients who themselves are critically ill, and 2 conflicting parties are interested in obtaining it. Certain individuals within the hospital are seeing dollar signs, knowing that if this compound goes to market, demand, and thus revenue, will be high. Meanwhile, a local Mafia don with dementia receives a dose of cognopsin, which brings him back into lucidity, but as the effects begin to wear off, fellow members realize he needs to get more before family secrets begin escaping his loose lips.
Jordan Parker-Ross, a medical student whose studies are temporarily put on hold after suffering a minor head injury, gets to know Dr. Todd Langford, an ER physician, who notices an increased rate of traumas coming to his hospital and also hears of miracle recoveries happening on some of the medical ward. Langford has no inkling that the tow phenomena are connected, but puts Jordan to work investigating any sort of link among the miracle patients, especially once the miracles and and the patients revert to their original moribund states. When Langford's best friend turns up dead right as he's about to share a secret with Langford, and another colleague dies after Jordan and Langford ask him about a potential connection among the patients, the two of them resolve to get to the bottom of whatever is going on.
I love a good medical thriller, and of course there were some coincidences that seemed too good to be true, but I feel that Shobin's writings are on par with that of Robin Cook or Michael Palmer, and I look forward to reading more of his work.

[Gloria Piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emergency doctor Tod Langford and his student, Jordan, learn that the teaching university they attend is tainted by corruption. An experimental drug that promises miraculous cure and enhanced cognition falls into greedy hands, and the innocent suffer. When Tod and Jordan get too close to the truth, betrayal, murder, and mayhem force them to flee. Complex twists take us in unexpected directions.

The story is uneven, at times brilliant and at times improbable. Bungled assassinations have a Keystone Kops quality that would best fit a wittier tone. The medical scenes are realistic, as are the attitudes of the characters. Well done. However I felt the details about the weapons to be over the top. And we don't know who the main characters are until we're chapters into the novel. Once Tod and Jordan are fleeing, afraid to turn to the police, I'm asking why?

[Malica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not fantastic.