Was mit "Der Medicus" und "Der Schamane" begann, findet in Noah Gordons neuem Roman über die Ärztedynastie der Coles Fortsetzung und Abschluß. Roberta J. Coles steht im Mittelpunkt des Romans, eine engagierte Ärztin, die auf eine Karriere in der seelenlosen Bostoner Großstadtklinik verzichtet, um als Landärztin in Berkshire Hills wieder den persönlichen Kontakt zu den Patienten zu suchen. Dort in der ländlichen Stille lernt sie auch David Markus und seine Tochter Sarah kennen, zwei Menschen, die Robertas zukünftiges Leben auf entscheidende Weise mitbestimmen werden.
The first time R.J. defies her beloved father is when she is born a female; the second, when she opts to study law rather than medicine. Yet destiny is to overtake her when, for the first time, R.J. Cole realises that she has inherited The Gift. Holding the hand of a sick man, R.J. feels a dreadful certainty that he is going to die; tragically, the patient is no stranger but her own lover. Struggling with her grief, R.J. knows she must bow to the inevitable, and become a doctor. At first she combines her new talent with her legal work on cases where medical advice is needed, and her diagnostic skill combined with The Gift make her an invaluable consultant.
But her life changes when she moves to a small town practice and is faced with a terrible dilemma - and an important choice to make...
