Sphinx

Rating:
Summary: Not his best
Review: As someone who has enjoyed Robin Cook's medical thrillers, I was kind of disappointed in this one. I found it extremely unbelievable that Erica just happens to get herself into some of the situations, since she's obviously supposed to be smart. I also couldn't stand her character - I thought she was rude and selfish.

I am an American living in Cairo, Egypt and have been here for 10 months. Robin Cook must have spent some time here as he does portray modern Egypt life pretty accurately, except for one thing: Muslim Egyptian men would NEVER be that familiar/friendly with a woman as they were with Erica.

Also, why the heck did he call the book Sphinx? It has nothing to do with the Sphinx. Oh, well, minor detail.

Rating:
Summary: Not his best
Review: As someone who has enjoyed Robin Cook's medical thrillers, I was kind of disappointed in this one. I found it extremely unbelievable that Erica just happens to get herself into some of the situations, since she's obviously supposed to be smart. I also couldn't stand her character - I thought she was rude and selfish.

I am an American living in Cairo, Egypt and have been here for 10 months. Robin Cook must have spent some time here as he does portray modern Egypt life pretty accurately, except for one thing: Muslim Egyptian men would NEVER be that familiar/friendly with a woman as they were with Erica.

Also, why the heck did he call the book Sphinx? It has nothing to do with the Sphinx. Oh, well, minor detail.

Rating:
Summary: Sphinx is very captivating, but not the usual Robin Cook.
Review: Do not expect the usual medical storyline that Robin Cook is known for. Sphinx is still very well written and captures the essence of Egypt along with a captivating mystery that keeps you hanging on

Rating:
Summary: No Cook Medical Thriller
Review: From the back of the book "Amid the awesome temple in Egypt's Valley of the Kings a fabulous Treasure is waiting to be discovered, a treasure worth dying- or killing - for.

This book contains a little bit of something for everyone. It's a little mystery, adventure and romance. Like the title says, this is not a typical Robin Cook medical thriller. I found the book to be extremely enjoyable. It was easy reading and fascinating. Erica Baron travels to Egypt to escape/get away from a romance that she isn't sure she wants and to fulfil her dream as an Egyptologist what could go wrong. During a visit to an antique shop Erica meets Abdul Hamdi the proprietor who shows her an authentic life size statue of Seti I. But what she didn't bargain for was seeing Hamdi murdered before her very eyes. This starts a trail of intrigue, romance, and danger as Erica decides to help do something about the black market trading of Egyptian antiquities.

As usual, Mr. Cook's characters are colorful and seem so true to life. He brings the story alive and sets the various scenes without wasting words on descriptions. The characters are few and you don't really know who is friend or foe.

Again, don't be fooled. If you're a fan of Mr. Cook and are looking for his usual medical thriller this isn't one. Don't leave it off of your reading list though. For you die hard Cook fans, this is one of his earlier works and may be hard to find. I this book and read it in one day at the beach.

Mr. Cook, this book shows that you definitely have the ability to venture into other areas of writing rather than just medical thrillers. I will be placing this book on my shelf alongside your other novels. You are a great author in my opinion and greatly enjoy your works.

I gave this book 4 stars because I felt it could have been a little more exciting and was just a little slow starting. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys mystery, romance and intrigue.

Other books I have read by this author include Fever, Brain, Outbreak to many others to list here.

Again don't leave this book off of your reading list.

Rating:
Summary: Weak, weak, weak..
Review: I do not understand ow anyone could give this a decent review.

I just finished the book last night and I must say that the entire storyline is weak. The heroine is an insult to women everywhere; she is ditsy, easily manipiulated, taken advantage of sexually by every male she meets... I could go on and on. The main problem though is that she would have been dead after the first few hours if this plot had any credulity to it. In fact, I knew the book would be a tired plot as soon as she witnesses a gruesom murder and does nothing to report it, but rather goes back to her hotel room to take a bath - PLEASE.

Do not waste your time & money - move on to something else.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD, BUT IMPLAUSIBLE
Review: I really enjoyed this book, despite the protagonist. I didn't like Erica and did not find in her a sympathetic character. She comes across as hard, steely and ruthless, much like the Egyptian daggers she is so fond of. I agree with another reviewer who puzzled over how an accredited Egyptologist could get lost in Cairo and just happen to be in a shop where crimes are taking place? How did she just happen to be kidnapped and taken to an Egyptian tomb? Although this doesn't seem realistic folks, that's ok. Just suspend reality and enjoy the story as it is very riveting and very entertaining. I didn't like Erica and am glad she never reappeared in any of Robin Cook's mysteries.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I thought that this book was very good and enjoyable. None stop action throughout and it also has some cool twists and turns at the end. I really recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: Ah well...
Review: It is true, "Sphinx" is an enjoyable book. It is a quick read and Cook obviously took great care to portray ancient Egypt correctly. Only cynics would say he lets some of his books take place where he had his last vacation. Anyway, opening the story by letting it start during the time of the construction of the pyramids themselves was a great idea.

Now to the bad point, which reoccurs in just about all of Cook's novels: coincidences. How plausible is it that our main protagonist, an egyptologist, gets lost in Cairo, stumbles into an antiques store which just at that time has a golden statue of Seti I, whose value is so high it is undeterminable, in its back room and whose owner gets assassinated for having the statue just as our brave egyptologist is at the place? I bet Cook could have come up with something better to get the otherwise nice plot together at the beginning.

But again, "Sphinx" is an enjoyable book and far above some of the other works Cook publishes nowadays.

Rating:
Summary: A great story of ancient Egypt
Review: Like Abduction is not a medical thriller, so if you expect that you will be disappointed.
This book will take you to the ancient Egypt, and as all that kind of books you will not know what part of the story is true and what is fiction, nevertheless, the book will keep you reading and you will know some parts of Egypt and some things about the pyramids and the pharaohs, at the end is a little out of reality but is a good end because Erica doesn't promise anything to her boyfriend, and you will know that she doesn't love him to much.

Rating:
Summary: Wanna know about Egyptian culture???
Review: Like all other Cook's books this one keeps you at the edge of your seats . As Erica progresses through the harsh reality of Egypt we ourselves are tranferred into the scene especially if someone like me is very fond of Egyptian history. Its a must read for all fans of Robin Cook.