Amazon.com: Outbreak (9780330302074): Robin Cook: Books

More About the Author

Doctor and author Robin Cook is widely credited with introducing the word 'medical' to the thriller genre, and over twenty years after the publication of his breakthrough novel, Coma, he continues to dominate the category he created. Cook has successfully combined medical fact with fantasy to produce a over twenty-seven international bestsellers, including Outbreak (1987), Terminal (1993), Contagion (1996), Chromosome 6 (1997) and Foreign Body (2008).

Customer Reviews

48 Reviews

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

Average Customer Review

3.6 out of 5 stars (48 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whew! Look out Grisham! You have a medical competitor!, September 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Outbreak (Paperback)

If you've ever read a Grisham novel, especially The Firm, then you know what you're in for with this Cook thrillride! Lone physician, investigates with a combination of skill, streetsmarts, and luck the deadly series of Ebola outbreaks that "plague" (Read Contagion for more plague stuff) seemingly random Prepaid clinics around the country, zeroes in on what she believes to be the truth. She's right, and ofcourse now everyone is after poor, lonesome, weary, can't-trust-anyone-anymore, misses-her-life-and-her-dog Melissa Blumenthal (Melissa also appears in some other Cook stories, and she's quite a likeable eye-catcher!). Desperate and fearful right there along with her, I fell off the edge of my seat countless times with my fingers crossed and my wits alert on this excellent protagonist's behalf! The book is a joyride through the fast-paced and adrenaline-pumping depths of your deepest paranoia, and it just goes to show, that it's the little things, the really really little things (like viruses) that are truly worth this kind of unprecedented and bone-chilling fear! Great read! Watch out, Grisham!

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars decent thriller, April 23, 2005

By

Magic Man (Brigadoon) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)

This review is from: Outbreak (Unbound)

(Biological thriller) Ebola outbreaks start happening all over the USA, and Marisa Blumenthal of the CDC tries to get to the bottom of it, to her peril! This was very gripping, but the very smart protagonist missed a very obvious point over and over again, which was frustrating. And the last paragraph was really cheesy. But it was a pretty good ride.

Potentially offensive material: some strong language, violence

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars At least the medical details seemed to be consistent..., October 21, 2003

By

Adi Adler (Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Outbreak (Paperback)

The book itself was a pretty standard thriller - and predictable.I guess people who enjoy this genre usually like reading it for the "process of discovery" rather than for an unexpected ending.

But the "process" wasn't that satisfying. Even though the Medical details were consistent and thorogh, the plot wasn't. I ekpt losing track of which city Marissa was in and why she was there (and later - what happened in it) because the changes (and number) of cities just happenedso fast... Also, quite a lot of loose story threads were left - suchaswhat happens to Tad, or how the 'mass infection' in Pheonixoccured, since the cafeteria theory was explainedto beavery weak one...

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
A page turner, just like any other Robin Cook book. If you like suspense this is the book for you. I enjoyed it a lot.

Published 20 months ago by Sara M. Coyne

3.0 out of 5 stars What happened to Tad? Poor guy.
So, this was my first Robin Cook book and I wasn't exactly thrilled by the last page, but I think I'd be willing to give the guy another try. Read more

Published on November 29, 2009 by Tracy Griffith

5.0 out of 5 stars Outbreak
I got the book in great time. I have been enjoying the book so much

Published on November 2, 2009 by Gail Elizabeth Bailey

4.0 out of 5 stars Pure escapism
The plot is in no way plausible, but it is in general exciting enough to continue turning the pages with some degree of anticipation.

Published on September 29, 2007 by G. Henson

2.0 out of 5 stars As thrilling as buying a new pair of 100% cotton socks!
Forgive the sarcasm, but this was truly the most frustrating book I've read in a long time. The main characters are just rediculous. Read more

Published on April 28, 2005 by Ron Yalon

1.0 out of 5 stars One of the worst books I have ever read
Wow. This was really bad. I kept wanting to shut the book, but I figured that eventually something good would happen, but nothing remotely interesting ever occured. Read more

Published on March 14, 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book...
The first two hundred pages are okay...but it doesn't really get good until the last hundred. It's not my favourite, but it's certainly worth reading.

Published on December 14, 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible
Boring, horrible writing. Thats all there is to it. It is not worthwile at all.

Published on June 9, 2003

1.0 out of 5 stars Scary Ebola overshadowed by silly characters
This was my first Robin Cook novel and I have to say I was very disappointed.

The Ebola threat was scary enough, but was overshadowed by the silly characters and very... Read more

Published on January 7, 2003 by Brian H. Galloway

5.0 out of 5 stars Do you believe in doctors?
Of course are to many writers that write medical thrillers, but to know how the hospitals work and how the human body works the person who writes medical thrillers must be a... Read more

Published on January 4, 2003 by Jorge Frid

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
SOMETHING DISTURBED MARISSA Blumenthal. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
maximum containment lab, virology building, vaccination gun, surgery conference, containment hood, viral samples, phenolic disinfectant, viral hemorrhagic fever, airtight door, insulated door, previous outbreaks, plastic suit

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Action Congress, San Diego, Richter Clinic, San Francisco, Colonel Woolbert, Essex House, Helen Townsend, Miss Cavanagh, Professional Labs, Miss Beronson, Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, Rosenberg Clinic, Marissa Blumenthal, Medica Hospital, Palmer House, Carol Bradford, Lab Engineering, Tad Schockley, Department of Virology, Jack Krause, Joshua Jackson, Los Angeles, Tropic Motel, United States

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