The titles are pithy — just one evocative, slightly unsettling word. "Coma." "Outbreak." "Contagion." "Pandemic." And now, "Viral." The stories are page-turners from the "How could it get worse?" ...

With his thrillers, author Robin Cook typically tries to educate the public about a major scientific topic of the day. Putnam/Riverhead Publicity The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner ...