This was my first Crichton book. To begin with, I wasn't sure of
the way the storyline unfolded. There are a number of characters to
get to grips with in a short time, as other reviewers have
noted.
Once you get into it, it's a great book which blurs the line
between fact and fiction in the area of genetics - from political,
social and moral standpoints.
Some of the events are at least based on real-life - and they're
even more scary for being so.
The other reviews on this page seem to show that you'll either love
this book or hate it. I think an interest in science and genetics
helps, as I really enjoyed it and have since bought 'State of
Fear', also by Crichton.