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jrmma's review against another edition
3.0
Good book, but not as thrilling as Cook usually is. Usual suspects, usual twists. Take it up if you want the comics equivalent of the thriller world.
vel33's review against another edition
3.0
This was another random thrift store book. I didn’t realize this was part of a series, and things make a lot more sense now, ha!
It was pretty good. I was surprised how relevant it still seems considering it was written 20+ years ago and there’s quite a bit of science involved. I guess questionable medical ethics is a tale as old as time!
It was pretty good. I was surprised how relevant it still seems considering it was written 20+ years ago and there’s quite a bit of science involved. I guess questionable medical ethics is a tale as old as time!
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
3.0
Well, it took me a long time to get around to reading this one and longer than it should have to finish it, but it did become unputdownable last night. I realized whle reading it that I am really much more of a Cozy Mystery type of person than a Thriller type, even when it is a Medical Thriller.
The whole reason it was even on my shelf was the premise of gene manipulation to address the shortage of organs for transplant. I am pretty sure what they were doing in this book is well within the realm of possibility and I would not be surprised to learn that the uberwealthy are engaging in some form of it already. The problem of the excited researcher who does what he does to see if he can do it and then has success before figuring out that it wasn't such a great idea to do it is one that has been addressed before (Jurassic Park), but is still very real in our world. And the ability to buy and sell governments in the developing world is one that the pharmaceutical giants already exploit. Who am I kidding? They have bought large portions of governments in the developed world as well. So much of the damage already done and the potential for catastrophe is hidden from the general public, but this book is not really that far from a possibility.
I enjoyed aspects of the book -- I liked Laurie the pathologist very much (I get the impression she may have appeared in other books by Cook and I am interested in reading them despite the probability of them being Medical Thrillers). I also like Jack and Lou in NYC and Kevin and Melanie and Candace in Cogo. I didn't like Bertram and the head security goon (whose name has just fled my brain), but they didn't really pretend to be more than what they were -- mercenaries attached to the world of science. Even the mobsters didn't bother me. Dr. Raymond Lyon to me was the hardest person to deal with because he seemed so far from whom he should have been. And I am glad there was not a lot of attention focused on Taylor Cabot, because he made my skin crawl. Even worse, you knew from the get-go that he would get off scot-free and it appears he did. The tension was kept at a decent rate throughout the book, although sometimes I got a little lost bouncing back and forth across the Atlantic.
All in all, a decent read, but I am gld to be finished with it at last.
The whole reason it was even on my shelf was the premise of gene manipulation to address the shortage of organs for transplant. I am pretty sure what they were doing in this book is well within the realm of possibility and I would not be surprised to learn that the uberwealthy are engaging in some form of it already. The problem of the excited researcher who does what he does to see if he can do it and then has success before figuring out that it wasn't such a great idea to do it is one that has been addressed before (Jurassic Park), but is still very real in our world. And the ability to buy and sell governments in the developing world is one that the pharmaceutical giants already exploit. Who am I kidding? They have bought large portions of governments in the developed world as well. So much of the damage already done and the potential for catastrophe is hidden from the general public, but this book is not really that far from a possibility.
I enjoyed aspects of the book -- I liked Laurie the pathologist very much (I get the impression she may have appeared in other books by Cook and I am interested in reading them despite the probability of them being Medical Thrillers). I also like Jack and Lou in NYC and Kevin and Melanie and Candace in Cogo. I didn't like Bertram and the head security goon (whose name has just fled my brain), but they didn't really pretend to be more than what they were -- mercenaries attached to the world of science. Even the mobsters didn't bother me. Dr. Raymond Lyon to me was the hardest person to deal with because he seemed so far from whom he should have been. And I am glad there was not a lot of attention focused on Taylor Cabot, because he made my skin crawl. Even worse, you knew from the get-go that he would get off scot-free and it appears he did. The tension was kept at a decent rate throughout the book, although sometimes I got a little lost bouncing back and forth across the Atlantic.
All in all, a decent read, but I am gld to be finished with it at last.
juggernaut's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
The story is too predictable. But interesting to read. Some parts are stretched too much but the end is so abrupt.
inveterate_reader's review against another edition
3.0
3.5⭐
"Chromosome 6" by Robin Cook is a medical thriller that's really interesting & is kind of an eye opener. Science knows no limits & humans (idk why) just do not understand that they gotta stop at some time cuz if they don't, the consequences would leave them regretting their decisions. From this book you get to see how selfish humans are & how far they'll go just for their own sakes & none of it is actually false. If we look around us today, we see cryogenics, genetically modified organisms, designer babies, robotics, AI & what not. We are trying to handle 'nature' & it's honestly scary.
"Chromosome 6" by Robin Cook is a medical thriller that's really interesting & is kind of an eye opener. Science knows no limits & humans (idk why) just do not understand that they gotta stop at some time cuz if they don't, the consequences would leave them regretting their decisions. From this book you get to see how selfish humans are & how far they'll go just for their own sakes & none of it is actually false. If we look around us today, we see cryogenics, genetically modified organisms, designer babies, robotics, AI & what not. We are trying to handle 'nature' & it's honestly scary.
cucumberedpickle's review against another edition
2.0
It was entertaining but unbelievable. The characters were a little hooky as well.
ncrabb's review against another edition
3.0
If Cook has favorite characters for me, they are Doctors Jack Stapleton and
Lori Montgomery; and, both are back in this book of medical intrigue that
will move you through the streets of New York City and into the darkest
heart of a central African jungle.
A well-known mobster's body is brought to the medical examiner's office for
autopsy, and something somewhere doesn't feel right about the case to Lori
Montgomery. She's not sure what, but she thinks something about it is
highly irregular, and despite warnings from colleague Jack Stapleton, she
vows to press ahead with the investigation into the case . until the body
disappears.
It is found again floating near Coney Island, but this time the head and
hands are gone. Now it's Jack's turn to get excited about the case, because
something is amiss with the liver.
In an ultra-modern lab in far off Africa, a young molecular biologist has
found a way to enable vital human organs to grow in a certain type of
monkey. These human organs are so perfectly matched to their human
parallels that no typical transplant drugs are necessary. But in creating
the genetically friendly monkey body that holds the new liver or kidney for
a would-be human owner, the molecular biologist has also unwittingly
genetically modified the creatures such that they take on more human
tendencies-the creation of tools and fire.
Even if the genetic data in this book is outdated by now, it's a great bit
of escapist fiction that, as is so formulaic of Cook, pits a couple of
medical good guys against secretive biomedical corporations with hidden
agendas, money to burn, and fearful consequences to unleash on the world.
There's a moderate bit of profanity in here, so beware if you have a problem
with that in your books. I've no doubt the genetic data may be a bit
outmoded, but it won't really matter. There are good, albeit not too
complex, characters for you to cheer on. The worst component of this book
is an almost amateur ending, written as if a publisher said "ok, Cook,
you've hit your word limit" or as if the author just tired of writing the
book and wanted to get it out of his hair. It's a whiplash, abrupt, clumsy
ending, but it's satisfactory enough.
Lori Montgomery; and, both are back in this book of medical intrigue that
will move you through the streets of New York City and into the darkest
heart of a central African jungle.
A well-known mobster's body is brought to the medical examiner's office for
autopsy, and something somewhere doesn't feel right about the case to Lori
Montgomery. She's not sure what, but she thinks something about it is
highly irregular, and despite warnings from colleague Jack Stapleton, she
vows to press ahead with the investigation into the case . until the body
disappears.
It is found again floating near Coney Island, but this time the head and
hands are gone. Now it's Jack's turn to get excited about the case, because
something is amiss with the liver.
In an ultra-modern lab in far off Africa, a young molecular biologist has
found a way to enable vital human organs to grow in a certain type of
monkey. These human organs are so perfectly matched to their human
parallels that no typical transplant drugs are necessary. But in creating
the genetically friendly monkey body that holds the new liver or kidney for
a would-be human owner, the molecular biologist has also unwittingly
genetically modified the creatures such that they take on more human
tendencies-the creation of tools and fire.
Even if the genetic data in this book is outdated by now, it's a great bit
of escapist fiction that, as is so formulaic of Cook, pits a couple of
medical good guys against secretive biomedical corporations with hidden
agendas, money to burn, and fearful consequences to unleash on the world.
There's a moderate bit of profanity in here, so beware if you have a problem
with that in your books. I've no doubt the genetic data may be a bit
outmoded, but it won't really matter. There are good, albeit not too
complex, characters for you to cheer on. The worst component of this book
is an almost amateur ending, written as if a publisher said "ok, Cook,
you've hit your word limit" or as if the author just tired of writing the
book and wanted to get it out of his hair. It's a whiplash, abrupt, clumsy
ending, but it's satisfactory enough.
whitneyborup's review against another edition
3.0
There were monkey-humans and mobsters named Vinnie. Like, four of the mobsters were named Vinnie. What more could you want?
nklv's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This book is amazing, I loved how Robin Cook was able to connect biology with mystery and adventure! The plot was awesome, it was well thought out and I can't imagine how one could come up with such ideas that make you think, since they are realistic.
My favourite thing about this book was the characters. They all had separate, distinct personalities and were so loveable!
The only reason this book did not get 5 stars from me was because of the abrupt ending in which we don't know what happened to some of the characters.
My favourite thing about this book was the characters. They all had separate, distinct personalities and were so loveable!
The only reason this book did not get 5 stars from me was because of the abrupt ending in which we don't know what happened to some of the characters.
lah_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This was actually an assigned summer reading book when I was in high school, but it failed to hook me in the first twenty pages, and has sat abandoned on my shelf for more years than I wish to admit. That is why I didn't realize until I was part way in that it was actually the third book in a series, but I kept going, anyway. It sort of works as a stand-alone, but there are some references to past books that make it obvious that you've missed out on some excitement if you're just jumping into the series at this installment.
When I was a teenager who only read swords and sorcery fantasy novels, this obviously didn't appeal, but now that I enjoy a greater variety of books, I was able to appreciate this one. The beginning was a bit slow, and the ending was kind of abrupt, but it was really good over all. An exciting read, great for fans of medical thrillers and Michael Crichton novels.
When I was a teenager who only read swords and sorcery fantasy novels, this obviously didn't appeal, but now that I enjoy a greater variety of books, I was able to appreciate this one. The beginning was a bit slow, and the ending was kind of abrupt, but it was really good over all. An exciting read, great for fans of medical thrillers and Michael Crichton novels.