A spate of mysterious deaths prompts forensic pathologist Jack Stapleton to look into the possible causes of a rare disease. Americare, an HMO with which he has already had dubious experiences, is at the center of his suspicions. Why are Americare's sickest patients dying, and at the same time saving the company a great deal of money?

Dr. Robin Cook (born May 4, 1940 in New York City, New York) is an American physician and novelist who writes about medicine and topics affecting public health.
He is best known for combining medical writing with the thriller genre. Several of his books have been bestsellers on the "New York Times" Bestseller List. Several of his books have also been featured in Reader's Digest.