Robin Cook again creates an engaging "medical" mystery. All of his skills in writing medical mysteries was in the book. I read his work because I like the genre and the writing at the level that an educated reader and be pulled into the story. The fact the the stories are in a way formulaic is not a a weakness, as it is with other writers. The writing is so good and diverse in how it follows the basic formula that it escapes the traps other writers fall into. He does not use "action" sequences to cover up for lack of story meat. I must say that the core of the story not being the medical mystery was a small downside for me. It is the medical mystery that I was hoping for. The quality of the writing saved that from being a negative. I did find the historical elements of the Bellevue story very interesting and informative. I do not think the story would have worked as well with a different locale that did not have the same history, stories and myths. Looking forward to Cook's next book.

This book had me turning the pages and staying up past my bedtime! Dr. Fuller is just starting his residency at the infamous Bellevue hospital. Dr. Fuller is legacy. He had four relatives that were physicians at Bellevue before him. As he starts his first call night, he starts to see a vision in the hallway of the girl with a surgical instrument and blood on her vintage dress. What happens next is a page turner. Such a awesome read!!!! Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to preview this book.

I was quite excited to see Bellevue by Robin Cook and doubly glad that Netgalley gave me the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. I've always loved Robin Cook's medical thrillers. Bellevue was an interesting thriller. Though the mystery was not so much about the medical area, I still learnt a lot of medical terms. The shocking ending was well done, though I normally like happy endings.

I really enjoyed the medical thriller element going on and enjoyed how strong everything worked. The characters were everything that I wanted and was hooked from the first page. It was written perfectly and enjoyed the feel of this story and how everything worked together. Robin Cook has a great writing style.

Michael “Mitt” Fuller is a first year surgical resident (what they used to call an intern, but I learned from this book that everyone is a resident now) at NYU med school’s program and is assigned to Bellevue, the three hundred year old, famed hospital in New York City. He is following in the footsteps of four earlier generations of Fullers at the historic hospital, three other surgeons and one psychiatrist. He also has a secret, a sort of “sixth sense” which he uses to his advantage is his practice.

He finds that sense working when he starts at Bellevue when his patients begin to die, at a rate too high to be merely coincidental. He struggles to determine what is happening while also exploring his ancestors roots at the hospital and dealing with the stressors of being a first-year resident. Then he begins to have visions and he finds himself drawn to the long-closed Bellevue Psychopathic Hospital. What secrets lie within.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Cook does a great job describing the tough life of a first year resident and I was quite interested in the history of Bellevue, which is so famous, it’s really shorthand for any mental institution (or it used to be…I guess I’m old.). I thought the book fell off a bit when it came to the supernatural elements, though I appreciated the ending. I definitely kept turning the pages.

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for this eARC. I have enjoyed Robin Cook novels for years, and I was thrilled to receive this book for review.

With "Bellevue" Robin Cook once again proves why he is the master of the medical thriller genre, delivering a thought-provoking and exciting story. .

Bellevue is a chilling journey into the heart of medical suspense, masterfully blending the elements of horror with the rigor of science. The novel introduces us to Michael “Mitt” Fuller, a first-year surgical resident at the iconic Bellevue Hospital. Fuller is no ordinary doctor; he carries the weight of his celebrated lineage and a secret sixth sense that becomes increasingly pivotal as the story unfolds.

Cook’s narrative is a tapestry of tension and terror, as Fuller’s patients begin to die from enigmatic causes. The mounting deaths are not just a stroke of bad luck but a sinister pattern that Fuller must unravel, as it appears to be closely personally associated to him. The hospital’s history, interwoven with Fuller’s personal legacy, becomes a haunting backdrop for the unfolding mystery.

The prose is sharp, infused with a sense of urgency that mirrors the protagonist’s race against time. Cook’s medical expertise adds captivating clinical authenticity, while his storytelling prowess ensures that the medical jargon and details never bog down the narrative's pace, rather they serve to fascinate the reader and enrich the story.

The visions that plague Fuller—a little girl in a blood-stained dress, distant screams—are rendered with a visceral intensity that blurs the lines between reality and nightmare. These spectral encounters lead Fuller to the abandoned Bellevue Psychopathic Hospital building, a place that defies time and demolition, holding secrets that are intimately connected to Fuller’s own past.

Bellevue is a profound commentary on the ghosts of medical history and the ethical quandaries that haunt the pursuit of scientific advancement.

Cook, much like Michael Crichton, offers a smart dissection of contemporary issues that affect us all, wrapped in a narrative that is both entertaining and enlightening.

Bellevue is a gripping tale that will satisfy readers seeking a smart and exciting thriller, Cook fans and newcomers alike.

This book is a reminder of the power of medical thrillers to not only entertain but also to provoke thought and discussion about the moral dimensions and historical quandaries of medicine and science.

5 stars from this happy reader, please keep writing Robin Cook, we will certainly happily snap up your offerings, always returning for more!

This book is a terrific change for the author, who usually writes medical stories about his two married, medical coroners. This is a fascinating and surprisingly good standalone book that takes place in Bellevue Hospital in NYC. First year surgical resident Mitt is just starting his residency, losing both sleep and patients. His first few surgical patients do not live, and Mitt is beginning to wonder if he is a jinx. Also wrapped into the story is the history of Bellevue, where Mitt's ancestors were also doctors, seemingly outstanding and well-respected. When Mitt begins to learn some suspicious things about his ancestors, he also begins to see things and people that no one else sees. It is a mysterious and at times chilling story about how the past can and does often affect the future. The author's tendencies towards challenging vocabulary and overly detailed explanations are still present, but this time they did not bother me too much. I really like this new and very different storytelling. Excellent! Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

Another classic Cook novel. Hooks you in and just keeps you turning the pages.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by him but dang, was this a good one. Not many can write the medical thriller the way Robin can.

I have been reading Robin Cook since high school. I will read every book that he writes. This one is no exception. Loved it!

Bellevue (A Medical Thriller) by Robin Cook. The beginning detailing the days of Mitt's surgical residency at Bellevue was intriguing and what is expected from a Robin Cook's medical thriller. The historical aspects incorporated and the medical procedures were interesting additions to the story. Then came the supernatural element which become repetitive and not all that interesting or spooky. Also, didn't like the way the story ended, Mitt deserved better than that.
Thank you to Robin Cook, G.P. Putnam’s Sons , and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Wow, what a great read. I had to double check to make sure this was written by Robin Cook. This was definitely a new direction for him so if you are expecting his usual medical thrillers you're in for a surprise and a good one at that!!

Always a fan of a good medical thriller, this one is creepy at it's finest.

A first year surgical resident under the heavy pressures of residency is assigned patients who keep dying from unknown causes. The journey to figure out the causes have him experiencing visions. Things quickly spiral out of control.

Twisty and fascinating, this one kept me reading well into the night!

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam Books for an advanced copy of this book

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Robin cook the king of medical mysteries writes another thriller!
Mitt begins his surgical residency at Bellevue where previous generations have. But what is happening— each of his patients seems to develop a medical issue and die. He begins having visions— is this lack if sleep or real? He decides he needs to search the records of Bellevue and his ancestors but what he finds totally shocks him- will his life ever be the same?

Bellevue by Robin Cook is a suspense-horror about a first-year resident who experiences life-shattering visions that reveal the truth behind some of the greatest medical advances in the history of medicine.

Wow, what did I just read? That story was so good, it was scary and creepy, and I didn’t see some of the twists coming. And the ending: What?!

Learning about medical procedures, especially the thyroid storm, was interesting.

I really liked this book and this story. Bellevue is another good book by Robin Cook that had me reading well into the night. I would recommend this book.

#Bellevue #NetGalley @PutnamBooks

Robin Cook veered off the usual path with this one. If you're expecting more of the same--which is always a pleasure--you'll be surprised. If you know anything about Bellevue and/or if you've been in the building you'll appreciate this book and the historical aspects incorporated in the tale. You do have to suspend a bit of belief, but it certainly seems quite possible. I would enjoy seeing it made into a movie as well! Meanwhile it is an easy and short read that kept me interested all the way through. In fact, I would have liked even more.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. Not what I expected, but I like this new direction Cook is taking!

This is my first Robin Cook in years, and while I always enjoyed the author's medical thrillers. this one has too much of a focus on the supernatural and the occult for me. Other loyal Cook fans, however, will surely love it.

As nurses we dread 7/1 every year when the new residents start. But I do find it tedious to read about their lives and schedules before the book finally got to its true purpose of discovering the “sins of the relatives “. I did love the shocking ending leaving us wondering if it brought closure to the aparitions and the possibility of going insane for the new resident. It definitely peaked my curiosity to learn more about Bellevue and it’s history.

As a devotee of Robin Cook’s novels (particularly the Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery series), I was looking forward to this latest endeavor. After a promising beginning detailing the happenings to a surgical resident is his first few days at the hospital, the novel became tedious and delved into the world of the occult and fantasy and was not enjoyed by this reader. It was also extremely distressing to constantly refer to a dictionary to determine the meaning of words used — cacosmia, orbitoclast, raphe, bioethicist, inguinal, platysma, subungeal, parathesia and decerebrate to name a few.
I thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication and I sincerely hope Dr. Cook returns to additional books about his fictional medical examiners.

What’s scarier? Ghosts in a hospital or everything that can go wrong during surgery and post op? That’s the question with Robin Cook’s new supernatural/medical thriller. And I vote for the hospital surgeries, ICU, and all that can go south quickly.
Mitt Fuller has just started his residency in Bellevue, where several past ancestors were known as pioneers in their field. Exhausted after his first day, where he sat in on three patient surgeries all of whom have died from strange circumstances, he’s going to rest when he sees the ghost of a girl in old fashioned dress. As he continues to see her and others, Mitt fears he’s losing his mind as more of his patients die. He’s also found out his ancestors are not the heroes his family have made them out to be but doctors who would operate without sedative, didn’t believe in germ control and who would perform unneeded lobotomies.
I enjoyed the supernatural part of the novel but felt bored and queasy at the level of detail Cooks goes into with each procedure, although the thyroid storm was fascinating. I would have enjoyed the book more with less medical minutiae, and more build up to the finale of the book, which ended too abruptly and let me completely dissatisfied.