Death Benefit

By: Robin Cook

Narrated by: George Guidall

Robin Cook - New York Times best-selling author and master of the medical thriller - returns with another crackling tale of unchecked greed, medical malfeasance, and startling science.

Pia Grazdani is an exceptional yet aloof medical student working closely with Columbia University Medical Center's premier scientist on cutting-edge research that could revolutionize health care by creating replacement organs for critically ill patients. Thorough her work with the brilliant molecular geneticist Dr. Tobias Rothman, Pia knows she will be given the chance to fulfill her ambition to participate in medical discoveries that can help millions while bringing her a measure of personal peace that might once and for all push aside memories of her difficult and abusive childhood.

But when tragedy strikes in the lab, Pia, with the help of infatuated classmate George Wilson, must investigate the unforeseen calamity in the hospital's supposedly secure biosafety lab.

Meanwhile, two ex-Wall Street whiz kids think they have found another loadstone in the nation's multitrillion-dollar life insurance industry. They race to find ways to control actuarial data and securitize the policies of the aged and infirm to make another killing.

As Pia and George dig deeper into the events at the lab one question remains unanswered: Is someone attempting to manipulate private insurance information to allow investors to benefit from the deaths of others?

©2011 Robin Cook (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"[A] fascinating tale that never slows down." (Library Journal)

"Cook provides an interesting study of the strange bedfellows the biotech business and the mob might make...." (Publishers Weekly)

Excellent book

George Guidall is the BEST narrator I have ever listened to. Excellent story! Enjoyed it very much!

riveting

couldn't put it down used it when I walked went from 1 mile to up to 3 miles. laundry and dishes became a breeze. even went through my closet and filled my donation bags just to keep listening. highly recommend it

Awesome

Great story. Even a hint of Laurie and Jack (more please!). Wanted to listen straight through.

Chapters cut off

In several places in the book, the story was cut off at the ends of the chapters. This is not the quality I have been used to with audible.

Stick with it. Worth the wait!

Story started pretty slow but gained momentum but will be very interesting to anyone who likes medical thrillers.

Abrupt ending

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

Mr. Guidall always differentiates his characters so well that you know who is speaking without the tags. His delivery is relaxed, unaffected, and very intelligible. He is my favorite narrator.

Any additional comments?

The story is very engaging until it ends, very abruptly. It is so bad that it spoils the book.

Another hit

Robin Cook does it again!!! George Guidall brings it all to life beautifully. Must read

classic Robin Cook

I have read all of Cook's novels over the years, and thoroughly enjoyed almost all of them, but in a couple of his most recent ones he has seemed off form. I almost didn't bother with this one, but i'm glad i did. Cook is back to his classic style of having medical students discovering something underhanded and battling the evil establishment.
The story was compelling all the way through. He lost me a bit in the financial stuff, but i could follow the gist of it. I liked the young med students but was glad he brought back Jack and Laurie further on.
George Guidell is synonymous with Robin Cook to me. As soon as i hear his voice it's like an old friend.
The only reason i didn't give this book 5 stars is because I agree with the reviewers who said it ended rather abruptly and implausibly. I think the wrap-up could have been done better.

Cutting and editing

The editing on this book is awful and should be fixed. Story is good, conclusion is a little lack luster but not awful

Great except ending

I do love Robin Cooks books but this was the worst ending of any book I’ve ever read. It just stops without any kind of resolution anything