Dr. Julie Devereux is an outspoken advocate for the right to die—until a motorcycle accident leaves her fiancé, Sam, a quadriplegic. Sam begs to end his life, but Julie sees hope in a life together. When he suddenly dies from an unexpected heart attack, an autopsy reveals an unusual heart defect, one only seen in individuals under extreme stress. It appears that Sam was literally scared to death.

As Julie investigates similar cases, she finds a frightening pattern . . . and finds herself the target of disturbing threats. She is determined to track down whoever is behind these mysterious deaths, but time is running out as someone has decided that killing Julie is the only way to stop her.