's cutthroat culinary world. Until it all comes crashing down when a mysterious illness unearths dark secrets from his family's past in Colombia, putting his career - and everyone he loves - on the line...

Now in paperback, beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels blends her trademark masterful storytelling with dual timeline suspense in this unputdownable new standalone for fans of Janet Evanovich, Danielle Steel, and JD Robb.

Mateo Castillo is a rising star chef on the Manhattan culinary scene. But just as he's about to reap the rewards of his skill and hard work by being featured on a major TV cooking competition, Mateo collapses in his restaurant's kitchen--and regains consciousness in a hospital emergency room.

If it weren't for a security guard finding him in time, Mateo would have bled to death. The cause of his sudden illness is as mysterious as it is worrying, and Mateo and his family undergo a battery of genetic tests. Yet the answers that start to emerge only raise more questions.

Mateo's parents fled their home in Colombia many years ago, seeking refuge from the infamous cartels. Now the test results threaten to uncover a dark secret that exposes his family to dangers from the past--while clouding the investigation into who is trying to hurt Mateo in the present...