by John P. Matsis

In the wet, warm ecosystem of the Costa Rican rainforest, a deadly amphibian pathogen lies in wait for the unwary, as well as the cunning. Years earlier, this pathogen infected and decimated frog populations. Now, silently, the mutated microorganism allows amphibian-to-human transmission. Brightly colored imported frogs, sold as pets, enter the United States. An abused wife, her heart set on revenge, purchases a vial of powder, whispered to have magical powers: an aphrodisiac if only a tiny amount is used; a larger dose results in the "bleeding death." Experts at the Centers for Disease Control identify the pathogen, but is it too late? Has it already made the leap to human-to-human transfer? What happens when the impending peril reaches high into the U.S. political scene, all the way to the President of the United States?