Jesse and Patrick Falconer are twins, estranged since they were 19. Patrick is now a surgeon and Jesse writes 'erotic thrillers.' Caitlyn Taylor, whose mother died of heart problems when she was 16 and never knew her father, is also a heart surgeon and Patrick's 'adoptive' little sister. ('Adoptive' is in quotes, because this is an agreement between them and not a legal-type adoption). Caitlyn's friend from college, Amanda Prentice is a psychiatrist at the hospital where Patrick and Caitlyn work as well. When Patrick gets sick and needs a marrow transplant, Caitlyn tracks Jesse down to convince him to be Patrick's donor.
Each of these characters have a secret and horrific past that is revealed throughout the book, through excessive and sometimes confusing flashbacks. It's not always clear what information exactly is being revealed to the other characters who are present at the time of the flashback, and what is just revealed to the reader. Also, these characters have an inexplicable tendency to imagine and articulate what is about to happen, in a way that is not evidently clear that these are speculations, and not what is actually happening next. However, despite these things, the plot is excellent and the characters are intriguing, with fascinating back stories. Actually, I'm kind of sorry that there aren't two books, one with Patrick and Amanda as the focus, and one about Caitlyn and Jesse. My only other...not complaint, so much...maybe reservation, is that the interconnectedness of all the individuals in the book is a little too coincidental to be believed. It's just a little too convenient and pat. I have to say, though, I that I thoroughly enjoyed the book anyway. A couple parts even brought tears to my eyes. Stone is an imaginative and evocative writer, whose only fault may be being a little too...imaginative. ( )