Blindsight by Robin Cook

Blindsight is one of a long series of murder and medicine novels by Robin Cook.

If you are not familiar with Robin Cook, Blindsight is an excellent introduction. It showcases his two trademarks. First, there's a heavy dose of technical medical jargon. For example, this book includes: hyperpyrexia, antecubital fossae, cardiac myopathy, and the ever popular pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. No worries if your Latin is rusty; these terms are either obvious from the context or only peripherally relevant for the plot. Anyone can easily read Robin Cook, though if you're up on the jargon, that adds to the fun.

It also addresses a serious medical issue. Every Robin Cook book has an editorial undertone that advocates for medical reform. In this case the highlighted problem is the availability of organ donors, especially in the case where the donors must be dead. Who would you murder to spare parts?

In addition to the standard Robin Cook fare, Blindsight includes two hit men: Tony Ruggerio and Angelo Facciolo. Tony is a hyperactive child who would prefer whack than eat, sleep or anything else. Angelo in an old pro thinking about retirement. Two buddies not unlike Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson)and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) in the Lethal Weapon series. Blindsight includes just the right balance of black humor and banter to provide comic relief without detracting from the seriousness of the plot as the body count rises to dozens.

The climax brings everything together and resolves all the loose ends with several clever plot turns. A good choice for anyone who likes a good thriller and has never read Robin Cook, or a fan who has somehow just missed this one.