In the fall of 1916, a community focused on healing from tuberculosis is shattered by a tragic accident and a subsequent betrayal. Wealthy patients in cure cottages and immigrant charity patients in a public sanatorium at Tamarack Lake find their isolated world disrupted when an accident, stemming from a patient's well-meaning but misguided efforts, leads to a terrible betrayal. This event ignites anti-immigrant prejudice and vigilante sentiment, bringing the encroaching national conflict directly into their lives. The narrative framework appears to be third-person, focusing on the interconnected lives within this specific community.

The premise sets up a compelling narrative exploring the social dynamics and prejudices of early 20th-century America, particularly within the context of a sanatorium. The description suggests a focus on character relationships and the impact of external events on a contained community. The novel likely examines themes of isolation, healing, and the eruption of societal tensions. The inclusion of a reading group guide indicates an intent to foster discussion around its complex subject matter.