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ginbob2000's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dajna's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this one, I really enjoyed the the commingling of historical notions and fiction. Kim and her new beau come across a new psychotropic fungus in her ancestors' house, which dates back to the Salem witch trials (both the house and the fungus, apparently). While she gets more and more engrossed in the family history and its connection to the witch madness, he dreams of a new antidepressant drug and the million of dollars that will come with it.
There are some interesting questions lingering through the story, mainly the pros, cons and ethical implication of changing someone's personality through drugs.
Edward, the boyfriend turned mad scientist, screwed it up big. I admire his commitment, though. But I was only afraid for the cat.
There are some interesting questions lingering through the story, mainly the pros, cons and ethical implication of changing someone's personality through drugs.
Edward, the boyfriend turned mad scientist, screwed it up big. I admire his commitment, though. But I was only afraid for the cat.
jljaina's review against another edition
4.0
Its been a long time since I have read a Robin Cook novel. I had fun with this one. The book has a long prologue that takes place in the late 1600's, in Salem, where a woman named Elizabeth is tried and hung for being a witch. Move up 300 years to Kim, Elizabeth's descendant. She is the co-owner of the original land of home of Elizabeth and family. She meets and starts to fall for a scientist, Edward. Together the look into the families hidden past. Along the way the come across some fungus that Edward tries to prove is what caused the 'ifflictions' that occurred all those years ago. However, it is so much more that what he anticipated.
This novel is of two parts. Medical mystery/thriller as Edward tries to use the new findings in his lab and historical mystery as Kim researches her family history to uncover the truth. I feel the author did a good job blending the two. I do feel the ending was a bit abrupt and jumped forward too quickly for the final chapters, but I understand that the medical search was also a main focus that was mostly done being told. The pace at the beginning was good, then slowed toward then middle, then over-rushed the last 40 pages. I wish Cook spent just a bit more time cover the relationship between Edward and Kim. The entire time is seemed very awkward and fake. Other than that, it was nicely done for what it was.
This novel is of two parts. Medical mystery/thriller as Edward tries to use the new findings in his lab and historical mystery as Kim researches her family history to uncover the truth. I feel the author did a good job blending the two. I do feel the ending was a bit abrupt and jumped forward too quickly for the final chapters, but I understand that the medical search was also a main focus that was mostly done being told. The pace at the beginning was good, then slowed toward then middle, then over-rushed the last 40 pages. I wish Cook spent just a bit more time cover the relationship between Edward and Kim. The entire time is seemed very awkward and fake. Other than that, it was nicely done for what it was.
ateam1022's review against another edition
3.0
This book was fairly interesting. I did not care so much for all of the medical jargon and technical terms used, but I really liked the Salem Witch Trials storyline.
godsdanceralwayz's review against another edition
1.0
I was hesitant to write a review for Acceptable Risk, by Robin Cook but was egged on a bit by my favorite book friend Bean (Hey, Bean!) after texting her a picture of the singularly worst sentence I've ever read. Yes, worse than Bella naming her baby Renesmee in Twilight! Not only was it the worst sentence I've ever read, but it was in an unnecessary chapter. Who adds a chapter in the last 100 pages to introduce two new characters only to do nothing with that storyline?
Beyond that the dialog was clunky and awkward. Specifically on the romantic front but really just all around. It was like Cook is a hermit and has never had human interaction . To make it worse our main character goes from dating one a-hole to another as if the world has no good men and even though she knows it's she is too submissive and ashamed. What women does this author know? Not one relationshipr or aquantance-ship in this book was believable.
The characters all held jobs that required them to be of high intelligence, but throwing a large word in clumsy dialog doesn't make it any better nor the characters more believable .
Also, I find it extremely hard to believe a SICU nurse would be allowed to take 4 consecutive weeks of vacation .
The above is all unfortunate because the plot was quite good. Somewhat of a dual line story "present day" (1994) and the Salem Witch trials. I wish there was more POV of the Salem Witch time line but the letters that were found were well done and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading.
Overall I wouldn't recommend and will never read this author again. If the plot sounds interesting read "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane," by Katherine Howe instead.
Beyond that the dialog was clunky and awkward. Specifically on the romantic front but really just all around. It was like Cook is a hermit and has never had human interaction . To make it worse our main character goes from dating one a-hole to another as if the world has no good men and even though she knows it's she is too submissive and ashamed. What women does this author know? Not one relationshipr or aquantance-ship in this book was believable.
The characters all held jobs that required them to be of high intelligence, but throwing a large word in clumsy dialog doesn't make it any better nor the characters more believable .
Also, I find it extremely hard to believe a SICU nurse would be allowed to take 4 consecutive weeks of vacation .
The above is all unfortunate because the plot was quite good. Somewhat of a dual line story "present day" (1994) and the Salem Witch trials. I wish there was more POV of the Salem Witch time line but the letters that were found were well done and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading.
Overall I wouldn't recommend and will never read this author again. If the plot sounds interesting read "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane," by Katherine Howe instead.
danperlman's review
4.0
Not so much a medical thriller as a strange sort of medical investigation. Having a bit of interest in the Salem witch era, I found the interweaving of that story quite engaging.
clintonking36's review
2.0
I found a copy of this book in the back room of the lab. I read it non-linearly. It was ok.
raehink's review
2.0
Cook is always on the cutting edge with his medical thrillers. He makes you think about all the stuff that could go wrong with our medical advances. That being said, this was not his best effort. It barely kept me going.
ibeforem's review
3.0
This book surprised me. I wasn’t feeling very optimistic about it as I neared the climax, but I was pleasantly surprised by how it ended. This book wasn’t 100% medical — there was a nice side-story about the Salem witch trials. I only give it 3 stars because I’ve decided I don’t like how Robin Cook writes women. They always seem to be indecisive and overly-emotional and rather irrational.
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