Cure

June 28, 2010
Organized crime, international espionage, and kidnapping only mildly enliven Cook's methodical ninth medical thriller featuring husband-and-wife medical examiners Laurie Montgomery and Jack Stapleton (after Intervention). Laurie's first case back in the Manhattan medical examiner's office, after giving birth to the couple's firstborn, John "JJ" Junior, appears to be a routine case of death by natural causes. But Laurie suspects otherwise, and her dogged investigation uncovers a diabolical poisoning and a plot involving the Mafia and rival Japanese gangsters laundering money for a shady start-up firm promoting stem-cell research. To deter Laurie's prying, the thugs snatch JJ, and suddenly the intrigue gets very personal. Cook provides an interesting study of the strange bedfellows that the biotech business and the mob might make, but he telegraphs all his plot twists so far in advance that there's little suspense other than how quickly Laurie will tip to them. Even devoted Cook fans may find that the crimes and subterfuges are resolved too swiftly and perfunctorily.

Robin Cook's thriller focuses on global corporate espionage in the field of medical research. Its most valuable asset is a cultured reading by George Guidall. Treating each character as an individual, he puts careful stress on single syllables, allowing his accents to vary and remain dignified while never descending into stereotype. Much of the book deals with the Yakuza (organized crime--Japanese style), and Guidall frequently delivers the narration in a rhythm that suggests Japanese intonation. His delivery of dialogue, regardless of nationality, is highly animated, and, fortunately, there's quite a lot of it. An overabundance of medical details often interferes with the story, so Guidall's voice brings welcome humanity to the numerous characters and credibility to the many action scenes. A.Z.W. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine