Book Review- Death Benefit

I just finished reading Death Benefit by Robin Cook.

Robin Cook is one of my very favorite authors.  He inspired my love of reading as a young adult, I remember getting my first book written by him in middle school and feeling so cool because it was one of the "adult" books at the book fair!  I've read almost every book he's written.  Several more than once.  I haven't read one of his books in probably 5 years, so this was a good change!

Here is the on-line description:

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. Through 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 an 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?

The book had a slow start, but once I got into it, I read it pretty quickly.  It didn't get as into the medical side as many of his books do, but it still had some good snippets.  It also had a small cameo by Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery, two of Cooks best repeat characters.  

I give the book an 8/10.  It didn't have as much of the medical drama as his usual books, but it was still sucks you in and you have to keep reading to find out where it goes.  I also felt that it ended a bit abruptly, I could have used a couple more chapters to fill out the conclusion.