Genesis

By: Robin Cook

Narrated by: George Guidall

New York Times best-selling author Robin Cook takes on the ripped-from-the-headlines topic of harnessing DNA from ancestry websites to catch a killer in this timely and explosive new medical thriller.

When the body of 28-year-old social worker Kera Jacobsen shows up on Chief New York City Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery's autopsy table, at first it appears she was the victim of a tragic yet routine drug overdose. But for Laurie and her new pathology resident, the brilliant but enigmatic Dr. Aria Nichols, little things aren't adding up. Kera's family and friends swear she never touched drugs. Administrators from the hospital where Kera worked are insisting the case be shrouded in silence. And although Kera was 10 weeks pregnant, nobody seems to know who the father was - or whether he holds the key to Kera's final moments alive.

As a medical emergency temporarily sidelines Laurie, impulsive Aria turns to a controversial new technique: using genealogical DNA databases to track down those who don't want to be found. Working with experts at a start-up ancestry website, she plans to trace the fetus' DNA back to likely male relatives in the hopes of identifying the mystery father.

But when Kera's closest friend and fellow social worker is murdered, the need for answers becomes even more urgent. Because someone out there clearly doesn't want Kera's secrets to come to light...and if Aria gets any closer to the truth, she and Laurie might find themselves a killer's next targets.

©2019 Robin Cook (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"With Genesis, [Robin Cook] successfully sheds light on genetic genealogy and some privacy concerns involving its ever-expanding DNA databases.” (Associated Press)

Bad narrator

I can barley understand George Guidall. From now on, I will choose to read instead of listening to any books he narrates

Fabulous

Loved this story and the characters as well. Kept me listening until the end to find the truth. I thoroughly enjoyed the Narrator

The narrator was boring

I tried to follow this story but the narrator was so bland I couldn't finish it.

excellent read

the storyline was exciting and complex enough that it held your interest .narrator was not up to par.

Its an OK listen, not Cooks best.

George Guidall is a master, unfortunately the story was just eh. The main character alongside the Stapletons is absolutely dreadful and made it hard to listen at times. Not great, not terrible.

Gripping Medical Thriller - Narrator Bonus

Medically accurate (almost completely). Story held my attention and I’ll likely check out more from this author now that this sample was satisfying. I was excited to hear a familiar voice in the narrator - love the voice and I’m guessing he’s at the top in his own field. Story and storyteller were an excellent combination!

A good one!

I've read many Jack Stapleton books - "Vector" was yowza and "Contagion" was a humdinger! But I was very disappointed in "Intervention" and after it I wasn't eager to read another Jack book. However, tried "Genesis" and am very glad I did!
I loved socially awkward to the point of being anti-social (and sometimes outright rude) Ariana, even though I recognized and regretted her total lack of empathy... (She felt annoyed that a woman she'd met inconvenienced her - the woman didn't call back because she was hit a subway!) I'm really sorry Robin Cook won't include Ariana in another book. Maybe a prequel? What made her the way she is? Her relationship with her father must have been something. She is a character I find unique in literature! So obviously flawed but still somewhat admirable. Maybe because I'm short on social graces (though not on empathy). Ariana relentlessly pursues her objectives and twists the facts to get closer to the solution of the mystery... and becomes a victim due to her single-mindedness and fatal flaw: hubris. She fights with all the people who try to improve her but falls prey to the flatterer...
The story itself kept me on the edge of my seat for various reasons as the plot unfolded.
My only criticism of the performance is the reader reads so rapidly that for the first time ever I had to adjust down the speed. Not a race.

Enjoyable Listen

I always enjoy Robin Cook and his adventures. He keeps the listener on the edge of their seat.

teeters on greatness but falls flat

I'm a big fan of the authors previous work, gone girl was a masterclass in suspense and thrills. this book employed a similar time in timeline shifts throughout, but overall did not deliver the same shock value. it falls flat a bit in my opinion.

Horrible narration

I used to love reading robin cook’s books but the narration is so bad I don’t even want to listen to it! I noticed all his books have the same performer. His breathing, intonations, phrasing’s are all off. I regretted not listening to the sample first before downloading the book.