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The book centers around the molecule called CRISPR/Cas9, which can be custom-tailored to find and alter genes in living organisms. What makes the book relevant is the possible pandemic caused by this gene fiddling. Cook published this book in 2019, so probably, it seems more relevant than it otherwise would after the last 18 months the world has endured.
A seemingly healthy woman with a transplanted heart suffers from acute respiratory distress and dies on the New York subway. Jack Stapleton, a medical examiner and a character frequently appearing in Cook's novels, does the autopsy and suspects that the death could be due to a flu-like virus. While investigating the mysterious heart transplant of the dead woman, he finds a larger conspiracy.
Jack meets Wei Zao, a Chinese billionaire businessman who holds a double Ph.D. in molecular biology and genetics. Further cases of flu-like virus get reported in many other parts of the world and Jack determines to stop the pandemic from spreading.
That’s the plot in a nutshell, but Cook’s stories are always told at breakneck speed, and for me at least, after getting an almost hour by hour, blow by blow of what’s going on, the endings are like running into a wall. I had forgotten that, but this book reminded me.
Cook gives us more of a look into Jack and Laurie’s relationship, both at home and in the office, and if I was reading these books in order I am certain I would appreciate this more, but because it’s been years since I read one, and clearly I’ve missed a lot of the middle, I felt like the personal bits wedged into the narrative were just… blah and unnecessary. They added nothing to the plot.
I don’t know if enjoyed is the right word, but it was oddly entertaining to read about the beginnings of a possible pandemic when we are currently living in one. I can almost guarantee I would have found this unbelievable had I read it in 2019, but reading it today? It’s almost understated!
I was mildly entertained, but not wildly so. I don’t regret the time I spend reading this, but neither will I be looking for another Cook anytime soon.
A seemingly healthy woman with a transplanted heart suffers from acute respiratory distress and dies on the New York subway. Jack Stapleton, a medical examiner and a character frequently appearing in Cook's novels, does the autopsy and suspects that the death could be due to a flu-like virus. While investigating the mysterious heart transplant of the dead woman, he finds a larger conspiracy.
Jack meets Wei Zao, a Chinese billionaire businessman who holds a double Ph.D. in molecular biology and genetics. Further cases of flu-like virus get reported in many other parts of the world and Jack determines to stop the pandemic from spreading.
That’s the plot in a nutshell, but Cook’s stories are always told at breakneck speed, and for me at least, after getting an almost hour by hour, blow by blow of what’s going on, the endings are like running into a wall. I had forgotten that, but this book reminded me.
Cook gives us more of a look into Jack and Laurie’s relationship, both at home and in the office, and if I was reading these books in order I am certain I would appreciate this more, but because it’s been years since I read one, and clearly I’ve missed a lot of the middle, I felt like the personal bits wedged into the narrative were just… blah and unnecessary. They added nothing to the plot.
I don’t know if enjoyed is the right word, but it was oddly entertaining to read about the beginnings of a possible pandemic when we are currently living in one. I can almost guarantee I would have found this unbelievable had I read it in 2019, but reading it today? It’s almost understated!
I was mildly entertained, but not wildly so. I don’t regret the time I spend reading this, but neither will I be looking for another Cook anytime soon.