Jack Turner, Ph.D., is a chemist and the Coroner of San Sebastian County California. Looking forward to a nice evening with his girlfriend Nancy Cartwright, Jack's plans get interrupted by the Sheriff. Someone has murdered a wealthy town playboy and financial donor to area politicians. Because of his background, the Sheriff wants Jack, as Coroner, to investigate the murder with the sheriff's office. Jack is also a reserve officer (Colonel) in the Army Medical Service Corp and has a background in chemical and biological warfare from working for defense contractors and a stint at USAMRIID (US ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES). Jack discovers there is a serious problem with the dead man. He has died of a toxic cocktail that is made from natural sources. One of the sources is a deadly form of algae. When more bodies turn up murdered by the same toxins, they suspect terrorist, and the hunt is on. Who made it? Where did it come from? Jack is called to active duty by the Army and with his girlfriend, a health department officer, Nancy Cartwright, must find the source of the toxic cocktail, find the perpetrators, stop anyone from using it as a terrorist weapon and causing a pandemic.