"Night Shift" by Robin Cook is a gripping medical thriller that delves into the high-stakes world of healthcare, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with its suspenseful plot and medical intrigue.

I am not going to lie here. I was fairly disappointed in this "thriller", if you want to call it that. I have never read this author before, but I watched the movie, "Coma" years ago, and I knew this author wrote that book many years ago. I figured this was going to be a great medical thriller since I now have the medical background as an RN, and I have now for 2 years and counting. This was very disappointing because I didn't get the thriller aspect at all. I got a political drama mixed with "wear your masks" thrown in my face. And I get maybe because the book was written at the time of the pandemic, but I don't want reminders of that. I should have DNF'd this because I knew 100 pages in that I was not going to be fond of the book, but I chose to finish it anyways.

"Night Shift" by Robin Cook is a pulse-pounding medical thriller that immerses readers in the high-stakes world of emergency medicine. Cook's meticulous attention to detail and his background as a physician bring a level of authenticity to the narrative that is both engaging and chilling. The fast-paced plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with unexpected twists and turns that add to the suspense.

The characters in "Night Shift" are well-drawn and relatable, particularly the protagonist, Dr. Angela Dawson. Her determination, intelligence, and unwavering commitment to her patients make her a compelling lead. Cook skillfully weaves personal and professional challenges into the storyline, adding depth to the character dynamics. The interactions between the medical staff and the ethical dilemmas they face add a layer of realism to the narrative.

One of the strengths of the book is its exploration of the ethical and moral dilemmas that arise in the field of emergency medicine. Cook raises thought-provoking questions about the prioritization of resources and the difficult decisions that medical professionals must make in life-or-death situations. This adds a thoughtfulness to the thriller genre, prompting readers to consider the broader implications of medical practice.

While the medical jargon and procedures may be intricate, Cook's writing remains accessible, allowing readers with varying levels of medical knowledge to fully engage with the story. However, some may find the level of detail overwhelming at times. Overall, "Night Shift" is a gripping read that will captivate fans of medical thrillers and keep them eagerly turning the pages until the final, heart-pounding conclusion.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this medical thriller that got best right at the end. I felt the first half was a little slow but the second half was wonderful. I liked all the twists and turns.

Robin Cook never fails to entertain. I’ve been a fan since his first writing.
Each book continues to improve as a fine wine.
I will continue reading his novels. As a retired nurse I enjoy reading medical thrillers.
Dr. Cook… your amazing!

#NightShift #RobinCook #PenguinGroupPutnam #GPPutnamsSons #NetGalley
When a colleague mysteriously dies in the garage of their hospital, Dr. Montgomery, the Chief Medical Officer and her husband Dr. Stapleton, the Medical Examiner, investigate the unusual circumstances of the case with their usual thoroughness and dedication. What follows is an escalating series of events that place them in mortal danger as they inch closer and closer to the truth.
This medical thriller is exciting and fast-paced in the tradition of Cook's other medical thrillers and readers/listeners will be entertained.

NIGHT SHIFT Jack Stapleton & Laura Montgomery Book 13 by Robin Cook
Jack Stapleton is married to Laura Montgomery, who is now the chief medical examiner and his boss. Once again they are in the midst of a medical crisis after Laura's close friend dies of an apparent heart attack but is the picture of health. When things keep happening, Jack is investigating and gets too close to figuring out the problem. That turns the attention on him and puts him in the crosshairs of a serial killer.This is a 4 star read.

Robin Cook always hits it out of the park and this was no exception. These medical procedures always give my brain some food for thought! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

This is 13 in the Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series. I did not read the earlier books and I wasn't lost.
A friend of Laurie's dies and even though at first it looks like it was under normal causes Jack finds out differently.
This Robin Cook book is like his others and is excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons.

I got exactly what I expected from Robin Cook. Doctors, nurses, patients, death and a great storyline that kept me engaged from start to finish.

Many thanks to Netgalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for this advanced readers copy. This book released December 2022.

I loved this book. Serial killer in a hospital, soooo many victims. I love our married couple solving this medical thriller. and it's so timely. the scientific information and the gripping plot kept me turning the pages. I read this in one sitting. Bravo!

*Thank you to Penguin Group/Putnam, Robin Cook, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This is my 2nd book by Robin Cook. The first one was Viral, which I read in 2020 at the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic. As per my previous review, I was not a big fan of that novel. I am happy to say that Night Shift is so much better and I am glad I gave Mr. Cook a second chance.

Laurie Montgomery has been newly promoted to Chief Medical Examiner. Her husband Jack, is also an ME but now works under his wife. We learn early on in the book that their home life is not without tumult, his mother in law has been staying with them since the death of her husband and each of their children have developmental issues. Jack rides his bike every day to the ME office from the Upper East Side even though it is quite dangerous.

When Jack comes into work that day, he finds that Dr. Susan Passero, Laurie's best friend has died from a heart attack in the parking garage at MMH. When he does her autopsy, he finds that her heart is in perfect condition so what did she really die of? Was she murdered for her suspicion that a medical serial killer is on the loose in at Manhattan Memorial Hospital? When he goes to investigate against Laurie's wishes, he talks to another nurse who was close with Sue Passero. But then she dies of a heart attack. Or does she?

This is a heart-racing, adrenaline packed mystery with great characters, though I will admit Laurie Montgomery is my least favorite. I found her lukewarm, almost cold, towards her husband.

I'm a pretty big fan of Robin Cook's so I really wanted to love this book but I just didn't. I feel like Jack and Laurie were very one dimensional characters in this book. They just fell flat. I, being immunocompromised, even got why they mentioned the pandemic as much as they did in the book so it didn't detract like it did for some other reviewers. Even the villain, who we only follow for a few chapters, seemed to have more personality than Jack and that just made me sad. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read and it's still an entry onto the Jack and Laurie saga so, of course, I was always going to read it. I just wish it had been better.

Robin Cook continues to deliver storylines that keep you engaged and turning the page, anxious to see what will happen next. I have been reading his books for many years and thoroughly enjoy the medical aspect of his storylines. That, along with the mystery, not only informs but keeps me coming back for more. Jack and Laurie continue to grow and evolve as they take us on a roller coaster ride in a short period of time. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to review this book! Looking forward to what’s next!

"Medical thriller" is a new genre for me, but it's one I'm excited about! Robin Cook's writing is inventive and exciting and sucks you into Jack & Laurie's world. Excited to dive into more of Cook's books, both backlist and future releases!

Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on December 6, 2022

Not many writers have the requisite knowledge base to produce medical thrillers. Robin Cook might owe part of his popularity to his ability to write credible thrillers set within the environs of the medical industry. He’s prolific, but perhaps a bit too prolific, as his work often seems unpolished. Perhaps his books don’t seem that way to him. While I’ve enjoyed some of Cook’s plots, Night Shift is predictable and only modestly suspenseful.

Jack Stapleton is a medical examiner in New York City. He works for his wife, Laurie Montgomery. Jack and/or his wife have been the central characters in about a dozen of Cook’s novels. Jack spends most of the novel feeling abused because the rest of the world will not defer to his superior knowledge, although he does make an effort to preserve domestic peace by attempting to compromise with his wife about his anti-vax mother-in-law and the proper response to his daughter’s autism. At least Cook makes an effort at characterization, even if he didn’t (in Jack, at least) create a likeable protagonist.

Dr. Susan Passero is a good friend of Laurie and tangentially of Jack. She dies in her car in a hospital parking garage, presumably from a heart attack. Jack performs the autopsy but can’t identify an apparent cause of death. He feels pressure to prepare a death certificate and release the body because Susan’s husband wants to adhere to a Muslim tradition of prompt burial. Her husband also wants the death certificate so he can make a prompt life insurance claim. Jack knows the husband but didn’t know he is a Muslim and is suspicious of his insistence that a death certificate be issued quickly.

Jack violates medical examiner rules that his wife is supposed to enforce by interviewing witnesses to conduct a death investigation. He cheeses off a hospital administrator by snooping in Susan’s office and talking to support staff. He learns that Susan also cheesed off people in the hospital by seeking a position on the committee that reviews patient deaths, which Susan seemed to think had been increasing for reasons that were unrelated to the pandemic.

Jack’s investigation leads to the death of one of the people he interviewed and eventually leads to a couple of attempts to murder Jack. Two scenes involving Jack’s attempted murders create the novel’s most suspenseful moments, although the suspense is limited. After all, if you don’t count James Bond (movie version) or Sherlock Holmes (Conan Doyle version), it’s not often that series protagonists die. Even more rarely do they stay dead.

Cook’s explanation of the medical jargon and difficulty of establishing a cause of death is credible and interesting. I enjoyed his insightful portrayal of hospitals as profit centers administered by businesses that have more interest in the bottom line than patient care.

The reader learns the killer’s identity while a third of the book remains, which takes some steam out of the story. My primary gripe is that Cook’s writing style makes the novel come across as a first draft. Cook is in love with needless adverbs. His characters engage in robotic dialog intended to educate the reader, not to create the illusion of two real people having an actual conversation. A couple of characters say that things need to be done “pronto,” just one example of dialog that doesn’t ring true. Police officers take time in the middle of a gunfight to get Laurie up to speed about why they’re shooting. A couple of careful rewrites might have made Night Shift a better novel, but not without adding some twists and thrills to enliven the rather conventional plot.

RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS

Colleagues-turned-spouses Dr. Laurie Montgomery and Dr. Jack Stapleton already have their plates full with demanding forensic pathology work and family pressures. The last thing they need is the sudden death of a colleague. Yet when Laurie’s apparently vital and healthy longtime friend Dr. Sue Passero dies mysteriously in the hopsital parking garage, an autopsy is required, and it falls uncomfortably under Laurie’s purview as the chief medical examiner. So when Laurie asks Jack to take special care with the case, he can hardly refuse. This started out a bit slow but picked up nicely in time to get my interest back. The killer was not a surprise but wasn’t meant to be. This story is classic Robin Cook with lots of twists and a great ending. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Maybe I have a skewed memory of Robin Cook books; it's been a while since I've read one and I was looking forward to revisiting an old favorite author. I remember swearing off of ground beef for years after reading Toxin. Maybe the Jack Stapleton series has run its course (13 books? Really?). Whatever the reason, this book was just flat out awful. Stapleton's behavior was outrageous. His relationship with Laurie was laughable. There was way too much detail about Stapleton's bike riding. And finally, it just felt like a regurgitated version of several prior books in the series. I just don't have anything good to say about this one, unfortunately.

I've been a Robin Cook fan for years. His medical mysteries always ring true - the medical aspects always seem authentic and the mysteries are fun to try to solve - before Jack and Laurie.

This book starts fairly slow - though not annoyingly so - and the second half really picks up. Knowing who the killer is, I held my breath at every danger that came along. This is a great read that holds the attention - - and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

This latest from Robin Cook is one of his best thrillers. We find the medical examiner grieving with his wife who is now in charge of the unit. One of her closest friends has been found dead in her car of a presumed heart attack. All circumstantial evidence points to this as heart failure but there are secrets she kept. Mysteries she was trying to unravel and as the story unfolds a potential medical serial killer is on the loose. Can the skewed clues point in the right direction soon enough to save lives, possibly their own? Read this thriller to find out. I enjoyed the book and the mystery. Another good story from the master of medical intrigue.