Book Reviews of The Cobra Event

Ehhh... the idea behind this book was solid and interesting but poorly executed. Quite simply, the writing broke the book with its overuse of passive verbs, verb tense and overall repetition of words. From the technical aspect, this book seemed like it originated from someone who had neither read a novel nor took a writing class. Despite its gore, the book talked down to its audience in an insulting fashion (perhaps Richard Preston secretly agrees with his villain?). The characters lacked personality. Why even bother to name these "people"? That is how devoid of humanity they came across. Still, the book's premise held originality and it certainly played a role in inspiring Scott Sigler's _Infected_, so for that alone the book deserves some credit. I recommend his brother's thrillers MUCH more than this one.

This book was excellent. It was edge of the seat thriller.

Meh.
Medical to bio-war thriller, complete with highly trained defenders (nevertheless one makes a bone headed mistake that seemed mainly to add pathos to the story). And oh yeah, Iraqi bio weapons labs.

I gave it two stars and noted to avoid the author.

This book is amazing. I had to read it my sophmore year of high school for biology for extra credit. This book really drew me in. Its a really scary book to read, but in the end its just a great thriller.

It's been a while since I read this, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very fast-paced and a good read.

I literally could not put this book down, my husband kept wondering where I kept running off too every chance I got this weekend!

This book was awesome. Nonstop action. It was scary, because this could actually really happen. I love books like this.

This is the first book I've read by Richard Preston. While I was captivated by the premise (biological weapon), the read has too much exposition. Mr. Preston has done his research homework, but incorporates too much detail - I find myself skipping past the details to get to the meat. I'm almost done; the saving grace is that I'm still interested enough to want to find out what happens in the end.

Very exciting reading that should keep you on the edge of your seat, but I didn't finish it because the descriptions of the illness were too gruesome for me in places.

I refuse to give this book's plot away. But I will give you some of the reveiws for it...

"THIS BOOK SCARED THELIVING DAYLIGHTSOUT OF ME....Manages to grab you with it's authenticity of it's scientific detective work and haunt you with it's shear plausability." --Entertainment Weekly

"ONE OF THOSE BOOKS YOU LITERALLY CAN'T PUT DOWN...Makes 'The Haunt Zone' virus--far away in a rain forest--look like no big deal." --Detroit Free Press

'THE BOOK THAT PETRIFIED THE PRESIDENT
"Mr. Clinton was so alarmed by...THE COBRA EVENT, whic portrays a lone terrorists's attack on New York City with a genetically engineered virus--that he instructed intelligence experts to evaluate its credility." '
-- The New York Times

Another Great terror story by this writer that could one day become a reality.

Really gives you something to think about! Has to do with terrorists and a genetically engineered virus. Very current and very interesting. Full of little known information about terrorists.

"Five days ago, a homeless man on a subway platform died in agony as startled commuters looked on. Yesterday, a teenager started having violent, uncontrollable spasms in art class. Within minutes, she too was dead. Dr. Alice Austen is a medical pathologist at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. What she knows is that the two deaths are connected. What she fears is that they are only the beginning."
-from back cover

Great Read.

If you enjoy factual germ warfare reading you will be in heaven with The Cobra Event. This book is so well researched and equally well written. The story is exciting and thrilling and then your heart stops when you realize that it is all TOO real...I loved the book.

Very intriguing read.

Interesting storyline.

I loved this book, couldn't put it down.

Very scary stuff! I really enjoyed this book even though this is not my usual genre. Some of it was dry and too techical, but still a very good story.

A very exciting book. Well worth the read.

I have started reading this book several times, but never could quite seem to get into it enough to finish.

Good fiction

If you love medical mysteries this is the book for you. Richard Preston also wrote the HOT ZONE, and this one is even better. Hope you are forced to read it as fast as i was.

Five days ago, a homeless man on a subway platform died in agony as startled commuters looked on. Yesterday, a teenager started having violent, uncontrollable spasms in art class. Within minutes, she too was dead.

Dr. Alice Austen is a medical pathologist at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. What she knows is that the two deaths are connected. What she fears is that they are only the beginning....

Five days ago, a homeless man on a subway platform died in agony as startled commuters looked on. Yesterday, a teenager started having violent, uncontrollable spasms in art class. Withinminutes, she too was dead. Dr. Alice Austen is a medical pathologist at the Centers for Disease Control in Alanta. What she knows is that the two deaths are connected. What she fears that they are only the beginning.
This is a real page turner and very thought provoking. Could this really happen? Read the book and decide for yourself, myself I fear it not only could but, it just may.

Pretty Scary stuff.

medical horror mystery

Excellent spellbinder!

Bioterrorism rampant in the metropolis.

This is a very compelling novel about a lone terrorist's attach on New York city, using a genetically engineered virus. Dr. Alice Austen, a medical pathologist at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta investigates this deadly disease. A very frightening novel, the more so because it could very well happen some day.