Bellevue by Robin Cook is a highly recommended supernatural medical/ghost thriller.

Michael “Mitt” Fuller, 23, is a first year medical student who is staring his surgical residency program at Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital. This has him following in the footsteps of multiple generations of his family who all worked as doctors at the three-hundred-year-old hospital. The pressure is on Mitt and much to his dismay his assigned patients are inexplicably dying. He also learns that his ancestors’ careers were actually controversial. Further complicating Mitt's stressed out and emotional state is that he has a secret sixth sense and has been seeing visions of a young girl in a blood stained dress.

There are plenty of detailed medical scenes which Cook's fans will expect. Switching up the story this time is the supernatural addition of ghosts that seem to be targeting Mitt when he is in the centuries old facility. While Mitt is questioning what is going on, the answer will be very clear to the readers. Mitt is a likeable character and you will sympathize with him as he questions himself and tries to make sense of what he is seeing.

Once the novel goes full into the supernatural aspects of the story, it lost my interest. I was seriously hoping for a tangible explanation to the events happening to the patients and Mitt. The ending was a shocker. The mash-up between medical thriller and ghost horror novel is not entirely successful, but the narrative will hold your complete attention. Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Net Galley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Mitt Fuller is a first year surgical resident starting his residency at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital. Bellevue has been serving patients in the City for hundreds of years and Mitt’s ancestors ( uncles and great grandfathers) were doctors and pastors legends the same hospital. As Mitt starts his first day on the surgical service, he encounters many strange and out of the ordinary occurrences. . He is assigned patients who have surgery and each of them die from unexpected complications.. in addition, he begins to see apparitions while walking around the hospital. The combination of his work as a resident mixing with the negative rumors of his ancestors, drive Mitt to find the conclusion of his issues.

Robin Cook mixes his usual genre for medical thriller with a horror genre. The book reads as a typical Cook thriller, but the horror aspect is one that was a bit far fetched. It’s a good read, but it’s not up to his talent to keep you reading until the end of the novel. Therefore, my three star rating.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this thriller in exchange for a non partial and honest review.

I didn’t know what I was getting into when I began reading this book. I’m just not a fan of paranormal elements in a story, and with this one, I was just expecting a medical thriller. That being said, it was a good story for people who enjoy a mystery/horror/paranormal story.

This author's books always have a medical connection, and this book is no different. But most of the ones I read center on a contagion of some sort. This book (which should probably have been released in October instead of November) features paranormal activity. As the reader, I think it is pretty clear early on what is going on. But for the main character, Michael "Mitt" Fuller, it takes a while for him to understand/accept what is going on.

Backtracking, Mitt is a first year surgical resident at the famous Bellevue hospital in New York. He is following a family legacy, with family members well known within the hospital wings. But as we learn in the first chapter, a part of their history isn't good. In fact it should be criminal. And Mitt may pay the price for it.

I honestly felt bad for Mitt in this book. He's a good guy who sees his dreams shatter as his first cases at the hospital go very very wrong. On top of that, he begins to see things no one else can. Again, it is obvious who these people are and why. Question is, how is Mitt going to get past their need for revenge?

I believe with time, Mitt would have tried to make up for the wrongs of his family's past. Or at the very least, not put anyone else at jeopardy. But these paranormal entities aren't ones you can reason with.

Overall, this was an intense read as Mitt's world slowly spirals out of his control. If you enjoy medical thrillers, check this one out.

It has been a couple of decades since I last read one of Robin Cook's novels, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read his new one, expecting a taut, medical thriller. That is not exactly what I experienced, although I could not drag myself away from this quite frightening story that is more horror than thriller. Bellevue is a deeply unsettling page-turner of a ghost story set in the famed psychiatric hospital, and featuring a main character whose familial legacy at the hospital is not quite what he has always been told.

Like Robin Cook's earlier books, the medical aspect of the book was front and center through most of the novel, and I was quite engrossed in the cases even as I wondered how each was going to go awry. I found myself grateful that I was not facing surgery in the near future and would advise anyone who will be entering the hospital for a procedure to avoid this book until you are safely home again!

My only stumbling block for giving the book 5 stars is the ending, which felt a little bit elementary as I had spent most of the novel wondering how in the world it was going to wrap up...and then boom, it's over.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the digital ARC of Bellevue by Robin Cook. The opinions in this review are my own.

You don’t have to be in the medical field, or even a New York native to have heard tales of the historic, infamous Bellevue Psychopathic Hospital. And to think some of those events took place during my grandparents’ lifetime is not only sobering, but it makes me grateful for the advances in modern medicine.

Twenty-three-year-old Mitt Fuller is entering his first year as a surgical resident at the modern-day Bellevue Hospital. Four previous generations of his family have been doctors at Bellevue, with the most recent being acclaimed psychiatrist, Clarence Fuller, Mitt's grandfather.

When strange things begin happening and Mitt sees patient after patient he's been involved with die, he soon learns how deep and tight those bonds are between Mitt, his ancestors, and the historic hospital. And he finds that history sometimes has a way of writing itself in the most favorable light possible.

I wish the story had ended any way but the way it did, but I also realize it could only have ended the way Cook chose. Kudos to this master storyteller for veering into the psychic and phantasmagorical worlds. It adds an intriguing layer to an already riveting medical thriller. Once again, Cook delivers a breath-taking, edge-of-the-seat story that's guaranteed to please.

Wow!! Another masterpiece by Robin Cook!! This book has suspense and horror all wrapped into one. A fast paced, intriguing, and scary storyline made for a jaw dropping ending as only this Author can do!! You will definitely not see this ending coming!!

This was not a typical book from the author. It was not a storyline that I expected. However, as with the authors previous books it was filled with fun mystery and page turning suspense. This is a book which I would recommend to those who enjoy a good mystery with some horror thrown in.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions shared are my own.

I was excited to read Robin Cook’s latest medical thriller, Bellevue, as I have really enjoyed his previous works, especially the series focused on Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery’s adventures and exploits in pathology. So, while I was initially thrilled to read this medical thriller, I found this book quickly became very odd and strange, very quickly. The main character, Michael ‘Mitt’ Fuller, is a brand new surgical intern at Bellevue hospital, which turns out to be quite the family legacy. Mitt is portrayed as being a good person, but is overcome quickly as all of his assigned cases perish. Then, there is the dramatic and deep paranormal twist in this book. I really wasn’t expecting Cook to delve into the occult, and found it a tad misplaced.

Rating: 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

There’s a lot I loved about this story, but the way it was packaged together really didn’t work for me. I usually read this author for fast paced medical thriller and was excited for this one because it also contained supernatural elements. While I loved the supernatural, I found the pacing on this book to be so incredibly slow it verged on boring. I found myself losing interest and I was easily able to put it down because I just could not get engaged. I prefer to be so wrapped up in a story that I just NEED to know how it plays out. With this book, I really didn’t care because it felt we were moving at the pace of a snail. The supernatural elements were fun; however, they weren’t enough to keep me invested. I also found a lot of things repetitive which was discouraging. I did lobe the main character, Mitt, but it just wasn’t enough to make me enjoy this book more. So much more could have happened in this story to make it more engaging, and it was such a missed opportunity. The bones are here for a good story, but it needs work. I will continue to read books by this author because I feel that this book was outside the norm.

I have enjoyed books by this talented popular author for years. Intrigue and mystery…a cast of realistic characters…quick read…family and friends…a young man, from a family of doctors, begins his medical residency…patients dying…mysterious happenings…the past comes to the present…thanks Netgalley.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

I have read many of Robin Cook’s books over the years. I don’t remember reading any that I would consider not only medical mystery but also horror.

Mitt Fuller begins his first days as a resident in surgery at Bellevue Hospital. He follows a long line of ancestors that were doctors there before him. Mitt has almost a sixth sense about the old, former psychiatric facility at Bellevue. It begins to creep him out as he sees, hears, and smells things that the people around him do not.

Is it just bad luck that the first patients he takes care of all die under mysterious circumstances or are unseen evil forces at work? Mitt gets a chance to study some historical, patient records and then things really get complicated.

Kudos to the nurses in this book. They represent experience and good judgement. They are depicted in a positive light.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Bellevue by Robin Cook due to be published December 3, 2024.
Twenty-three-year-old Michael “Mitt” Fuller starts his surgical residency with great anticipation at the nearly three-hundred-year-old, iconic Bellevue Hospital, following in the footsteps of four previous, celebrated Fuller generations of doctors at Bellevue. When Mitt’s patients all seem to be dying and he starts having horrible visions of past patients of his ancestors, Mitt is obviously concerned. Is he crazy or unlucky or both?
What a wild ride this one was! I have not read a Robin Cook book in many years – this one kept me interested the entire time. The ending was shocking! I may have to go back and read some of his older books – I had forgotten just how good they are.

#NetGalley #RobinCook #PenguinGroupPutnam #Bellevue

Robin Cook knows how to grab readers in all of her books, and Bellevue is no exception. The story of Mitt, a new resident at Bellevue does a fantastic job of pulling you into his world. He's following in his ancestors footsteps, all whom worked at Bellevue. But when Mitt begins experiencing strange sensations and visions, he questions himself, his job, and how he and his family might be connected to the mysterious deaths at the hospital. I found the descriptions of a resident's days in the hospital fascinating, and left me wondering how close to reality it might be. The book is slow at building suspense, but does so in a way that makes you want to keep reading. You will absolutely want to get to the wild ending!

It started out good, but then just lost momentum, and my interest. The story line itself was good in the beginning, but there isn’t a whole lot happening, it’s very slow paced.

Robin Cook is a legend. He created the medical thriller and is now publishing a new one, at 84! This is the first book of his I’ve read, mostly because I’m not a fan of that type of thriller, but Bellevue sounded interesting due to the supernatural aspect. I was not disappointed. Mitt is a first year surgical resident at the prestigious Bellevue Hospital in NY. He comes from a family of distinguished doctors, but he’s not having an easy time of it. All of his patients seem to have complications, and he’s so exhausted that he can barely stand up and he starts hallucinating. Or is he? The medical part of the plot was fascinating, showing the life of the medical personnel and the responsibilities they have at all levels. I also enjoyed the historical part of the novel, which explains how no one is perfect and remarkable doctors who did much for humankind could also make huge mistakes that cost lives. The supernatural element was also entertaining. What didn’t work too well for me was the rhythm. The characters have long conversations that recap certain details and that felt a little repetitive. Then, the real action seemed a bit rushed. I didn’t mind it too much, since I was interested in the medical procedures but it could turn off readers who are looking for spooky thrills. I liked the plot and the characters and, overall, I enjoyed this.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons.

2 stars
Publication date December 3, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to love this book, as I have read many Robin Cook novels in the past, and loved them. This one just didn't do it for me. I did not like the paranormal aspect, and I felt like I was left with too many unanswered questions. The dialogue between characters seemed strange to me, as well as some of their reactions (or non-reactions) to things going on around them.

Thanks to NetGallery for this ARC. Unfortunately it was a dud. The story had promise, but fell flat.

First, the jargon. Sure, I expect medical jargon in a Robin Cook novel. However, the HUGE amount of architectural jargon and what my dad would call "50 cent words" was unwarranted, out of place, and way over done. Yes, give us some nice description so we can grasp the majesty and creepiness of the building. But don't beat us over the head with it! Nobody reading a medical/supernatural thriller wants paragraph upon paragraph of architecture words that mean nothing to them and make their eyes glaze over in the middle of what should be a riveting scene.

Second, the characters. Twenty-somethings, whether they are doctors or not, do not talk like that. They do not say "My word" and "Good gracious". His characters talk like 70 year olds. Or maybe young adults from the 50's. I spend a lot of time with that age bracket and the author clearly needs to at least have a couple conversations with a modern twenty-something.

Third, story. The story has so much great potential. Being a reader of both medical thrillers and supernatural ones I was excited for this combo from a well-respected author. The first half of the story is pretty good...giving you backstory, strange happens, and drawing you in. A little over halfway through the book it goes downhill. The main character, Mitt, starts making absolutely nonsensical choices and even his explained thinking process makes you say "what?". And then it abruptly ends. Not even in an good unexplained mystery type of way which is often done in supernatural books, but instead feels very abrupt and jarring like the author hit a word count and was like, okay here's the ending!

All in all, I don't recommend even if you are a fan of Robin Cook. I did receive this early reading copy in exchange for a review and as you can see, I do not shill 4-5 star reviews in hopes of getting more books. I give my honest opinion, whatever it is.

A Note of Gratitude to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the Advance Copy of Robin Cook's Latest Medical Thriller

As a long-time fan of Robin Cook’s medical novels, I was thrilled to have an opportunity to read an advanced copy. With a rich history of weaving intricate stories blending medicine and suspense, Cook has established himself as a titan in the genre. Therefore, when I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, my excitement was palpable. However, my experience with this book was unfortunately marred by disappointment.
**The Plot and Characters: A Missed Opportunity**
The story revolves around Mit Fuller, a fresh-faced medical resident embarking on his first day at Bellevue Hospital, a renowned institution steeped in medical history. The narrative promises intrigue; however, it falls short when it comes to character development and meaningful storytelling. Mit is depicted as an uncertain young doctor from a family of medical legends, yet he lacks the depth that would allow readers to connect with him and care about his journey.
While Cook’s expertise in the medical field is evident throughout the book, the plot feels more like a series of medical facts strung together rather than a cohesive narrative. The characters are introduced with minimal backstory or growth, leaving readers feeling detached. The absence of character building is particularly glaring with Mit, who, despite his intriguing mental abilities—like reading thoughts and predicting outcomes—does not evolve throughout the story. This disconnect ultimately hampers the reader’s investment in the outcome of his experiences.
**Spooky Elements and Unresolved Tension**
As the plot unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that Mit is grappling with more than just the challenges of residency. He encounters ghostly apparitions, including a haunting little girl in a bloody dress, which adds a layer of supernatural intrigue. However, rather than enriching the plot, these elements feel disjointed and unresolved. The book offers tantalizing threads of horror and mystery, yet they are left hanging, with little resolution to the questions they raise.
Moreover, the exploration of Bellevue’s dark history—particularly the controversial practices of Mit’s ancestors in psychiatric care—has great potential to serve as a powerful backdrop. Unfortunately, this rich history is not fleshed out enough to create a compelling narrative arc. The story touches upon the harrowing legacy of lobotomies and the ethical implications of past medical practices but fails to delve deeply into these themes, leaving the reader wanting more.
**The Ending: A Disheartening Conclusion**
Perhaps the most disconcerting aspect of the book is its ending. Without offering any substantial resolution or character growth, the conclusion feels abrupt and unsatisfying. It leaves readers more bewildered than fulfilled, raising questions that remain unanswered. The culmination of Mit's journey, which could have been a profound reflection on the medical profession's moral complexities, instead falls flat, leaving a bitter aftertaste.
**Final Thoughts**
In summary, while I was excited to explore the latest offering from Robin Cook, the book did not meet my expectations. The intertwining of medical knowledge with a supernatural storyline held great promise, but ultimately, the lack of character development and coherent storytelling left me feeling unfulfilled. I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with an advance copy; I look forward to hearing other readers' perspectives on this book upon its release. I remain hopeful that Cook's next novel will return to the captivating blend of suspense and depth that he is known for, rekindling my enthusiasm for his work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I was thrilled to get approved for this book. I love the author and I was excited to read a book set at a historic hospital that really was in operation.
I enjoyed the book, definitely some surprises and what in the world is going on moments. Fascinating look into the history of practicing medicine as well.
The only thing I didn’t love was the ending. I can’t decide if it was just right or if it just dropped off.
Other than that I really liked it.