Cook, Robin (1940-…), is a popular American author of medical thrillers. Cook began his career as a surgeon, and his novels have been praised for their accuracy in dealing with technical medical procedures. Cook has also been recognized for the authentic medical background of his stories and his suspenseful plotting.
Cook deals with moral and social issues in his novels. Typically, the hero is a doctor fighting against forces who abuse the medical system out of greed or self-interest. These forces include other doctors, lawyers, and drug companies.
Cook began his literary career with the novel The Year of the Intern (1972). His first best seller was his next novel, Coma (1977). The story focuses on a black market in human organs. Brain (1981) deals with medical research that gets out of control. Mindbend (1985) describes a large drug company that brainwashes doctors to serve their greedy interests. Harmful Intent (1990) explores medical malpractice. Cook’s other novels include Sphinx (1979), Fever (1982), Godplayer (1983), Outbreak (1987), Mortal Fear (1988), Mutation (1989), Vital Signs (1990), Blindsight (1991), Terminal (1992), Invasion (1997), Vector (1999), Shock (2001), Seizure (2003), Marker (2005), Crisis (2006), Critical (2007), Foreign Body (2008), Intervention (2009), Cure (2010), Death Benefit (2011), Nano (2013), Cell (2014), Host (2015), Genesis (2019), Viral (2021), and Night Shift (2022).
Cook was born on May 4, 1940, in New York City. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1962 and graduated from the Columbia University medical school in 1966. He was a resident in general surgery in Honolulu from 1966 to 1968. After serving in the United States Navy from 1969 to 1971, Cook joined the staff of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
