Marker

By: Robin Cook

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 16 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Twenty-eight-year-old Sean McGillin is the picture of health, until he fractures his leg while in-line skating in New York City's Central Park. Within 24 hours of his surgery, he dies.

A 36-year-old mother, Darlene Morgan, has knee surgery to repair a torn ligament in her knee. And within 24 hours, she has died.

New York City medical examiners Dr. Laurie Montgomery and Dr. Jack Stapleton are back, in Robin Cook's electrifying 25th novel. Last seen in Vector, the doctors confront a series of puzzling hospital deaths of young, healthy people after successful routine surgery.

Despite institutional resistance from her superiors, as well as from those at Manhattan General, Laurie doggedly pursues the investigation. Though it seems impossible to determine why and how the patients are dying, she comes to suspect that not only are the deaths related, they're intentional, suggesting the work of a remarkably clever serial killer with a very unusual motive, involving frightening ties to both developing genomic medicine and the economics of modern-day health care.

Then Laurie is dealt a double blow: While coping with Jack's inability to commit to their relationship, she discovers she carries a genetic marker for a breast-cancer gene. As her personal life continues to unravel, the need for answers becomes more urgent, especially when Laurie is pulled into the nightmare as a potential victim herself. With time winding down, she and Jack race to connect the dots, and save Laurie's life.

With his signature blend of suspense and science, Robin Cook delivers an electrifying page-turner as vivid as today's headlines.

©2005 Robin Cook (P)2005 Penguin Audio and Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"The best-selling physician/author is in top form as he revisits the love/hate relationship between New York City medical examiners Laurie Montgomery and her lover, Jack Stapleton, in this gripping medical chiller." (Publishers Weekly)

boring & predictable story

since narrator was male, it was sometimes hard to differentiate female characters. it was only slightly exciting near the last 2 chapters.

ReMARKERble

This is the first of Robin Cooks books I listened to. The book starts off slow, however after building the characters and setting, the plot thickens. I really enjoyed listening to the Marker. The novel exposes the medical health care system as the big businesses that it is.

Was rather long. . Narrator needs improvement.

The book was rather long for the story. The narrator's voice was difficult to understand through most of the book. I think the story had many details that were of little value to the plot.

A bit too predictable

As with previous Cook novels, this one is full of well developed characters and has a fast-paced and interesting story line. The only complaint is that the plot was way too predictable and I could see the climax coming during the second or third hour of this 14+ hour audio book. Although there were a few twists and turns along the way, the storyline and ending were predictable enough to leave me feeling generally dissapointed.

Haven't I read this before?

Seems like Cook's written this story a few times before. Formulaic and predictable. At least it's Cook's formula, and not derivative.

Thrill Ride

Dr Laura Montgomery stumbles on these seemingly unrelated cases but no one wants to hear her out. As she tries to get her voice heard, people keep dying. It's a thrill ride through twists and turns to the end,

Marker

I loved this story as I love all Robin Cooks stories. keep them coming Mr . Cook!!!! I recommend ppl who like medical mysteries to read this author. Thank you for your wonderful stories!!!!! X

excellent

Well, he's done it again got me thinking about the Health Care System and the way things get covered up. VERY GOOD

Excellent

Even better than some of Robin Cook's older books. I guess being able to predict the ending doesn't bother me much or I would give up reading mysteries all together. I enjoy the ride not just getting to the destination.

These books could be so much better

Why does the author spend the entire book going thru the silliest desk and ‘he said’ then she said’ a hundred times? He could really improve these books by bring in the characters and the real plot much earlier in the book instead of in the epilogue? I’ll listen to Guidal narrate anything but the narration is the only great quality of this book