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Coma Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 856 ratings

The blockbuster bestseller that kickstarted a new genre--the medical thriller--is now available in trade paperback for the first time.
They called it "minor surgery," but Nancy Greenly, Sean Berman and a dozen others--all admitted to Boston Memorial Hospital for routine procedures--were victims of the same inexplicable, hideous tragedy on the operating table. They never woke up.
Susan Wheeler is a third-year medical student working as a trainee at Boston Memorial Hospital. Two patients during her residency mysteriously go into comas immediately after their operations due to complications from anesthesia. Susan begins to investigate the causes behind both of these alarming comas and discovers the oxygen line in Operating Room 8 has been tampered with to induce carbon monoxide poisoning.
Then Susan discovers the evil nature of the Jefferson Institute, an intensive care facility where patients are suspended from the ceiling and kept alive until they can be harvested for healthy organs. Is she a participant in--or a victim of--a large-scale black market dealing in human organs?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Strikes a deafening chord of terror."―The Washington Post

"Gripping, terrifying, fast-paced suspense."―
The New York Times

"Unputdownable . . . A chilling, fast-moving suspense thriller"―
The Boston Globe

About the Author

Dr. Robin Cook is the author of thirty previous books, most recently Nano, and is credited with popularizing the medical thriller with his wildly successful first novel, Coma. He divides his time between Boston and Florida. His most recent bestsellers include Death Benefit, Cure, and Intervention.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00HQ2N0FM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mulholland Books; 1st edition (September 23, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 23, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1055 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 372 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 856 ratings

About the author

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Robin Cook
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Doctor and author Robin Cook is widely credited with introducing the word ‘medical’ to the thriller genre, and decades after the publication of his 1977 breakthrough novel, Coma, he continues to dominate the category he created. Cook has successfully combined medical fact with fiction to produce thirty-nine international bestsellers, including Outbreak, Terminal, Contagion, Chromosome 6, Foreign Body, Intervention and Cure. His latest are Night Shift, Viral, Genesis, Pandemic, and Charlatans.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
856 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and a page-turner. They appreciate the detailed medical explanations and consider the topic to be relevant to today's world. However, some readers feel that the sexist content is excessive and the storyline lacks depth. Opinions differ on the storyline, with some finding it fascinating and suspenseful, while others dislike the ambiguous ending. There are mixed opinions on the pacing, with some finding it fast-paced and interesting, while others found it slow-moving at times.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

17 customers mention "Readability"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They find it suspenseful and enjoyable to read, describing it as a novel idea for its time. Readers praise the author's skill in describing medical topics.

"...a topic that is a very real threat in today's world, and does it masterfully." Read more

"...This book is a great read hard but great the medical terms are hard to understand with little to none knowing about them but always fun to research...." Read more

"I thought this book was a really great read. I didn't understand a lot of the medical terminology but it really didn't seem to matter...." Read more

"...It was a great book. I just needed closure. Even a sad ending would have been better than no ending...." Read more

6 customers mention "Knowledge"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and engaging. It explains medical topics in detail and makes readers think about surgery and medical procedures. Readers appreciate the author's vocabulary and praise her as a young medical student.

"I loved the melding of medicine and mystery. The author broaches a topic that is a very real threat in today's world, and does it masterfully." Read more

"...This kept me engaged and reading for the next detail." Read more

"It is clear that this is written by someone and for folks with good medical knowledge and the author doesn't try much if at all to explain it...." Read more

"Coma is a fun book to read and explains many aspects of the medical field in detail...." Read more

4 customers mention "Page turner"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it engaging.

"...The book was a fast pace very interesting and a page turner. As the reader I felt like I was really there watching all the events unfold...." Read more

"This was a page turner. So much so that I didnt realize I finished the book. It just abruptly ended...." Read more

"PAGE TURNER!..." Read more

"Page turner, medical thriller keeps you hooked!..." Read more

25 customers mention "Storyline"17 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the storyline. Some find it fascinating, with a decent plot and suspense. They appreciate the melding of medicine and mystery, and find the book compelling. Others dislike the ambiguous ending, saying it's too hokey or abrupt.

"I loved the melding of medicine and mystery. The author broaches a topic that is a very real threat in today's world, and does it masterfully." Read more

"...This book is very up paced and interesting one, of the best reads I’ve had in a while, very detailed with characters and surroundings." Read more

"Enjoyed the suspense of the deceive work and the twists and turns in the plot. This kept me engaged and reading for the next detail." Read more

"...sexist and several other not great things it is overall a good story. Not thrilling or heart stopping (thank God right?)..." Read more

8 customers mention "Pace"3 positive5 negative

Customers have different views on the book's pace. Some find it fast-paced and engaging, while others find the first half slow and difficult to read.

"...The start is slow and I had to push through several sections...." Read more

"...This book is very up paced and interesting one, of the best reads I’ve had in a while, very detailed with characters and surroundings." Read more

"...I found it slow moving, my stepson told me it will pick up but it didn’t pick up the pace enough for me...." Read more

"...The book was a fast pace very interesting and a page turner. As the reader I felt like I was really there watching all the events unfold...." Read more

3 customers mention "Sexist content"0 positive3 negative

Customers dislike the sexist content. They mention the author is terrible, the book has blatant sexism, and the entire book is filled with misogynistic ideals.

"...The author placed way too much emphasis on sexism, sex, misogyny, etc. It truly felt more like it was written well before the mid 70’s...." Read more

"...Even though it's extremely outdated, sexist and several other not great things it is overall a good story...." Read more

"Terrible author, blatant sexism..." Read more

Not worth any price
1 out of 5 stars
Not worth any price
I wanted a copy to reread but this arrived with yellowed pages and a cover that wasn’t in good shape. Will throw it away, won’t keep in on my bookshelf. So disappointed.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2023
    I loved the melding of medicine and mystery. The author broaches a topic that is a very real threat in today's world, and does it masterfully.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2015
    Coma, one of Robin Cook’s earlier bestselling novels, opens with Nancy Greenly going to Memorial Hospital for a routine D&C. Something goes wrong, probably with the anesthesia procedure, and she never wakes up. Susan Wheeler, a 3rd year medical student is starting her surgery rotations with other students, but is very upset at what happens to Nancy. Then she helps prepare Sean Berman for minor knee surgery, talks with him before he’s wheeled in, and accepts a date which will be scheduled after his recovery. There are complications, again in anesthesia, and he never wakes up. Susan begins to look into the statistics of these happenings at Memorial Hospital, and her “meddling” starts causing problems, not only with her, but also with her mentor, Mark Bellows, and others in the hospital. She is a determined woman and pushes her investigation.

    As she begins her investigation she goes places that are unauthorized. She obtains computer printouts with confidential information. Susan seeks for help but continues to get warned but that does not stop her determination but little does she know her own life is at risk. This book is a great read hard but great the medical terms are hard to understand with little to none knowing about them but always fun to research. This book is very up paced and interesting one, of the best reads I’ve had in a while, very detailed with characters and surroundings.
    12 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2016
    I thought this book was a really great read. I didn't understand a lot of the medical terminology but it really didn't seem to matter. The book was a fast pace very interesting and a page turner. As the reader I felt like I was really there watching all the events unfold. This was one of those kinds of books that you just don't want to put down I will read more from this author
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023
    First off, I found the characters in the book, particularly Bellows and Susan, to be rather dull, uninteresting, and at times downright ridiculous. The story itself had a decent plot, but it lacked serious depth and charisma. The ending landed like a lead balloon.
    The truly annoying thing about the entire book was the ridiculous amount of misogynistic ideals. The author placed way too much emphasis on sexism, sex, misogyny, etc. It truly felt more like it was written well before the mid 70’s. The emphasis placed on Susan’s beauty, sexiness, perfect body and all the other drivel made it at times almost unreadable. It was way to blatant and cheesy as well as insulting.
    I expected better of the book, but some scenes were downright ridiculous and completely implausible. I didn’t joy chose to read it because I was mesmerized and horrified by the scenes from the 1977 movie trailer as a child.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2020
    I haven't read Coma since it was originally published. I couldn't put it down then and nothing has changed since. It was funny to have to remind myself of what the technology and medicines, etc. were back then, but it made the story more challenging.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2023
    This was a page turner. So much so that I didnt realize I finished the book. It just abruptly ended. No idea if the heroine died or lived... no idea if all the bad guys got their due. It was a great book. I just needed closure. Even a sad ending would have been better than no ending. A little conclusion would have easily made this a 5 star read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021
    Enjoyed the suspense of the deceive work and the twists and turns in the plot. This kept me engaged and reading for the next detail.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021
    I saw Coma years I had time to read. Or perhaps before I took time read. Robin Cook is my favorite authors. I love medicine and I love mystery. I think I've read every one of his books.

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 30, 2020
    Watched the film a good few years ago and fancied reading the book which I have enjoyed reading.
  • Rafael Sanchez de la Campa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Que era un regalo para mi mujer
    Reviewed in Spain on April 11, 2020
    esta bien lastima que este en ingles, pero al menos le hice el regalo
  • Salman
    5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing book! The story is very gripping and is ...
    Reviewed in India on January 6, 2017
    What an amazing book! The story is very gripping and is a must read, especially for people with a medical background.
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read.!
    Reviewed in Australia on March 14, 2018
    I love reading Robin Cook. I have read a few of his books and have never been bored or lo st interest. This book wass no different. I am sure I have seen the movie related to this book.
  • Winelover
    4.0 out of 5 stars An oldie, but a goodie story
    Reviewed in Canada on June 25, 2023
    I read this book in the 90s and have read it a few times since.. bought in paperback and kindle versions. And when I joined Audible, I bought the audiobook and read it again. I love how Robin Cook set the pace and kept up the suspense. So even though I already knew what happens, I was still caught up in the story. It's my favourite RC book.
    Yes, I do recommend this book.

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