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)

Mediocre material beautfully narrated

George Guidall enhances every book he narrates, lending nuance and drama to even the most pedestrian prose. This is a workmanlike thriller that feeds effectively on one's natural fear of lying helpless in a hospital bed. But the story never really grabs you -- there's a kind of mechanical feel to it, as if the author were following a mystery cookbook recipe. Had anyone but Guidall narrated the book, I doubt I would have stuck it out to the end.

Good thriller

Having been in the medical profession for over thirty years, I always find Robin Cook's books very well done. This one was no exception.
My only comment would be that the manner of the murders should have become more apparent to the physicians earlier on. It was still a good read and I would recommend this series about Jack and Laurie to everyone enjoying Cook's novels.

good book

started slow but it picked up nicely. some parts could be improved but overall very good.

Cook is my hero. Always a page turner.

Gaudall was remarkable. His impersonation of female diction missed the mark somewhat, but not distracting. Characters were authentic and in Cook style, were interesting. You can't go wrong with "Marker".

Predictable but still exciting

I just finished listening to this audiobook, which I completed in less than a week (half the usual). The motivation to buy this book is that I used to be a fanatic of Robin Cook medical thrillers when I was in medical school back in the nineties. The last novel I had read was Contagion in 1998 and then I never had the time to read any more, until I discovered Audible. Well, I started listening to the book with a lot of enthusiasm and nostalgia, expecting to find it as exciting as his previous novels, but found it's too predictable from the beginning, as other reviewer pointed out. On the other hand, there are some medical aspects that are dificult to believe by any person minimally knowlegeable of how hospitals work. Being myself an M.D. I couldn't understand how nobody had though about Potassium Choride as the causal agent for the unexplained deaths, since it was so obvious. Well, it didn't make me lose interest, since I wanted to know the details of how the genetic markers fit into the plot. Bottom line, a bit dissapointing if you have read previous novels but still worth the time, specially since there are not many authors out there writing medical thrillers.

Very interesting story line

What did you love best about Marker?

The story line was very good. It was a fresh approach to what could be called the evil in this world with a very suprising ending

Have you listened to any of George Guidall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I can't recall, but I did like this one a lot. It also proves how perserverance & dedication plays an important part in life.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

No clue

Any additional comments?

Nice Narration too.

if you read coma you've read this book too.

What did you love best about Marker?

i enjoyed the character jazz. she was a piece of work.

Would you be willing to try another book from Robin Cook? Why or why not?

yes. as long as the plot is not another repeat performance of coma (good book-but i want to buy books with different plots, not the same plot with different characters.

Which scene was your favorite?

scenes where they were trying to figure out if the killings were deliberate and who and why people mite be dying.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

there was a lot of tense scenes i enjoy tense books.

Any additional comments?

this book would be better if the reason for the killing was more plausable. i can't say more with out being a spoiler.

i will say that i was wishing coma was on audiotape and this is really a mirror image of coma (i liked coma a little better tho.)

What?

Any additional comments?

I've been listening to this book for a few hours now and still don't know what it's about!

Good story, mediocre narrator.

The story, like most of Robin Cooks, is fun. Cook gives you something to think about and while he's no Faulkner the books are usually fun to read (or listen to). This narrator is awful, though. Both my wife and I liked the book and hated the narrator. I winced whenever he tried to mimic a female voice. I won't get another one with this narrator.

Intense

One of my favorite writers . I want to read everyone. keep them coming. thank you.