Acceptable Risk

Robin Cook

2/23/2001

Kimberly Stewart is from an old Massachusetts family. There are stories that one of her ancestors was hanged in the Salem Witch Trials although Elizabeth Stewart's name does not show up in the research. Kimberly's new lover, Edward, is a research neuroscientist who is fascinated with the Witch Trials and his pet theory that the problems in 1692 Salem were caused by something natural like mold.

Kimberly has inherited the family property and discovers old letters and documents from the family. She starts researching Elizabeth to see if she can discover the truth of the family scandal. When she takes Edward to the old house, he discovers a substance that seems to prove his theory. What is even more exciting to him is that it could be a better neurogenic drug than Prozac. He gets together a team of experts to start testing and development.

The further his studies dig, the less Kimberly likes the new Edward. In the past she has seen flashes of a personality that she doesn't like; which at time frightens her. That personality seems to be coming forward as he devotes all his time to Ultra, his new drug in development. Kimberly begins to believe their relationship will not work. Edward seems oblivious to the problems.

This is another of Cook's fascinating medical thrillers. This deals with the problems of new drug development and testing. There is something going on. We, the readers, can guess. Neither Kimberly or Edward have any idea. This one is well done. I also like it because it does not make me nervous about hospital treatment as others of his books have done.

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