Manner of Death - Robin Cook

 Manner of Death - Robin Cook

Publication Date: December 5, 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 have 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 some have 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 it worked as a stand alone, I now want to go back and read the other thirteen!

Thanks to #netgalley and @putnambooks for the ARC.

*****