Vital Signs [Hardcover]

Robin Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1992

Here is Robin Cook's most controversial medical thriller-the shocking story of experimental fertilization, the passion to create life, and the power to destroy it.

Just what the doctor ordered. (New York Daily News)

Vintage Cook...Nonstop action. (Kirkus Reviews)

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cook's popular medical thrillers are designed, in part, to keep the public aware of both the technological possibilities of modern medicine and the ensuing ethical problems. His topic this time is reproductive science and the often murky baby-making business. Epidemiologist Marissa Blumenthal, seen before in Outbreak , now has a successful pediatrics practice near Boston and an affluent health-care-entrepreneur husband. But her inability to become pregnant threatens both her marriage and her career. After unsuccessful visits to a local fertility clinic, she discovers a suprising and suspicious link between her medical records and those of an inordinate number of the clinic's clients. Traveling to Australia to learn more about a worldwide in vitro fertilization organization, Marissa and her friend Wendy are trailed, and a tragedy occurs. Marissa, now accompanied by the physician whose work she had come to Australia to investigate, goes to Hong Kong and eventually China--fleeing murderous assailants every step of the way--before a billion-dollar international scam is revealed. As always, Cook enlivens predictable action and shallow characterization with medical expertise and timely subject matter.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Buccaneer Books (February 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568492677
• ISBN-13: 978-1568492674
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,332,101 in Books (See Top 100 in 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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars COOKIE CRUMBLING, February 13, 2004

By 

Michael Butts (Berkeley Springs, WV USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vital Signs (School & Library Binding)

Robin Cook is at his best when his medical thrillers stay focused and are more suspenseful. Now Cook is trying to turn his medical thrillers into convoluted espionage thrillers, taking his characters all over the world. Here we go to Australia, Hong Kong and China. Drawn out, unbelievable situations and meandering dialogue draw this book down. I liked the character of Tristan Williams, but both Marissa and Wendy get a little too much, and I can't blame husband Robert for his disdain with Marissa's antics. Of all the Cook books (ha, no pun intended) I've read, this is his least effective.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little lacking, November 10, 2001

By 

C. West "capechick628" (Mashpee, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vital Signs (Mass Market Paperback)

This one was not exactly up to par. It was a little far fetched and you knew the end at least halfway into the book. If you're looking for something quick to read, go for it. If you're looking for something that is a little bit more believable and edge of your seat, try another one of his books.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very slow and drawn out ending, March 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Vital Signs (Mass Market Paperback)

If you have read Contagion or Terminal then you have read Vital Signs. Although, these two books are better than Vital Signs. I am a big Robin Cook fan but this book was not upto his usual standards. It was very predictable and yet the ending was very drawn out. It became frustrating the further I read. It also has the typical Robin Cook conspiracy behind it, which is what makes it so predictable. Chose one of his earlier works if you want a thriller.