A terrifying story of a disease spread not only by microbes but by man's greed. After losing first his Midwestern ophthalmology practice to a for-profit medical giant and then his family to a commuter airline tragedy, Dr. John Stapleton's life is transformed to ashes. Feeling less the golden boy than a jaded cynic, Stapleton retrains in forensic pathology and relocates to find an uneasy niche for himself in a city that suits his changed perspective: the cold, indifferent, concrete maze of New York. Stapleton thinks he is past pain and past caring, but as a series of virulent and extremely lethal illnesses – capped by a particularly deadly outbreak of a rare strain of influenza – strike the young, the old, and the innocent, his suspicions are aroused. When the apparent epicenters of these outbreaks are revealed to be hospitals and clinics controlled by the same for-profit giant that cannibalized his old ophthalmology practice, Stapleton fears he has stumbled upon a diabolic conspiracy of catastrophic proportions: Could the for-profit giant be engaged in the systematic elimination of its more costly subscribers? Getting at the truth leads to Stapelton's unlikely pairing – both professionally and personally – with Theresa Hagen, an art director at a hot Madison Avenue advertising firm. Together they discover that the real explanation behind the killer contagion is even more Machiavellian than could be imagined. Contagion anticipates some of the uncharted consequences of managed healthcare, in an age when even the wariest consumer may be a risk. It is Robin Cook at his unerring best.

Contagion by Robin Cook is a thrilling medical suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This first edition book follows the story of a deadly virus that spreads rapidly and threatens to wipe out humanity. As the medical community races to find a cure, they must also navigate political and personal obstacles that threaten to impede their progress. With its gripping plot and well-developed characters, Contagion is a must-read for fans of medical thrillers and suspense novels.