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A review by ncrabb
Chromosome 6 by Robin Cook
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Even if the genetic data in this book is outdated by now, it's a great bit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.