Blindsight

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Author: Robin Cook
Acquired in: October 2017

courtesy Goodreads

There's a world of difference between medical fiction and other genres. The mounting horror creeps up your spine and finally reaches its zenith at a masterfully written showdown. When you finally set the book down, you either look at hospitals with a wary eye or stare in awe at the intricate beauty of medicine. I warn you that reading medical fiction is not for the faint-hearted. With the warnings over, welcome to the world of clinically planned gore!


Blindsight is a familiar mix of the New York Italian mobster scene and their insidious yet barely detectable reach over people's lives. Yet would they go so far as to use their power to manipulate organ donors? This book is the first to feature a firebrand forensic pathologist, Dr Laurie Montgomery. As she goes about her job at the New York City Medical Examiner's office, sexist behaviour often comes her way, from 'isn't forensics too gruesome for a woman' to 'you're too beautiful for this kind of work'. Even her family doesn't spare her the nonsense. According to Laurie's father, the best doctor is a male cardiothoracic specialist; female surgeons are only nearly as good as men. I can't help wishing fire and brimstone on this fictional scum. Injustice hurts, even when it's only a part of a story. 


Ignoring disapproval, Laurie lives as any working individual would- getting to work, doing the work, leaving from work; until she has to autopsy a Senator's son who died of an overdose. Soon after, a slew of similar deaths of successful young people overdosing on cocaine crop up in New York. Faced with the memory of her brother's death by overdose years ago, Laurie decides to investigate the matter to lay her troubled conscience to rest. 


This story could have been great if only it didn't border on the ridiculous. It was promising at first, but as I kept reading, the plot became steadily improbable. The ending was particularly unsatisfactory; it involved fruits, ethylene and a poor excuse of an antagonist. Despite the intriguing premise, the author succeeded in creating a book that ranks among the most disappointing ones I've ever read. As far as medical thrillers go, Blindsight is not the best book in the genre. If you ever find a good one, please tell me below!


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