A daughter's life is sent into a tailspin when her mother falls victim to the charms of a seemingly-innocent male friend with sinister intentions.

Soon after her father's death, college freshman Ariel learns that her mother Dana, has met Adam, a seemingly well-meaning, charming man at a grief-support group. He claims to be a nurse, but the longer he hangs around, the sicker and more isolated Dana becomes, even from Ariel. When Dana suddenly goes missing it's up to Ariel to discover the terrible truth of Adam's past before it is too late.—Anonymous

Widower hospital nurse Adam lovingly raises his stepson Ben, an insecure college student in therapy for behavioral incidents since his mother's death, who befriends on Washington State campus the less-timid Ariel. Adam meets Ariel's widowed mother Dana at a parish grief-support group and discover that they're neighbors. Adam proves to generous, helpful, and great at all things domestic, and soon he and Dana are dating. Adam has a knack for isolating Dana from family and friends, even resorting to lies and phone manipulation, while her health deteriorates, perhaps from his cooking. Ariel smells a rat and helps Ben discover that his medical issues have a suspicious pharmaceutical cause.—KGF Vissers