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Disease, danger, potential medical malfeasance, and even murder intertwine in this engaging novel that explores how far doctors will go to save patients, administrators will go to save hospitals, and families will go to save one another. Before the story ends, some lives are lost, some are saved, and some are changed forever.
Nick is a young man with a lot going for him. He's attractive, personable, and has a family that can pull strings to get him into a desirable college—even if the strings being pulled are definitely shady. Unfortunately, he also finds that he has end-stage renal disease, a kidney-destroying ailment that can be terminal without ongoing dialysis or transplant. Transplants are hard to come by, however. They require a perfect match. Lists for such vital organs are long. And while many may be willing to donate, the procedure won't work if the match isn't perfect.
While Nick is part of a dialysis group, his father pressures the hospital to find a transplant fast. Then other members of Nick's group start to die. Are they being eliminated to move Nick up in line? What's the real reason these people without heart conditions are suffering cardiac arrest? Who's behind it all, and what will happen to him?
In addition to being a first-rate storyteller, Ross is also a doctor with decades of experience. While he develops complicated characters and intricate subplots, he simultaneously keeps detailed information flowing regarding the intricacies of kidney disease and treatment. He manages to manipulate multiple players, suspenseful subplots, and scientific expertise with the professionalism of a skilled juggler. If one likes fiction that is not only involving but also reality-based, this might be just what the doctor ordered.