In this debut thriller, an antique mask with supernatural properties ensnares a physician in a murder mystery and may lead him to the murderer. Dr. Jayant "Jick" Arnsson is a successful anesthesiologist, nearing retirement with a dispirited feeling of having accomplished nothing. While shopping at an antiques store for a colleague's retirement present, he stumbles upon an ancient, dome-shaped mask. This Mask Mortem, or "mask of death" is also a reputed "Healer of Life." Piqued by its reference to a healer, Jick buys the mask. He thinks it might make a nice souvenir to brighten his office, located next to the operating rooms at a busy hospital. The mask develops an inexplicable vibrancy that Jick realizes occurs only when someone dies on the table. One day, when it is particularly vibrant, Jick puts on the mask and sees a vision that he is convinced reflects the last minutes of life of a murdered woman. Through her eyes, he sees the killer. Later, homeless men are found murdered and Jick, through the mask's visions, realizes the murders are connected. He alerts his brother, an investigative reporter, who is eager to investigate the murders of the homeless men. Unfortunately, the culprit realizes the reporter is getting close. When Jick realizes the killer is wise to his brother's investigations, he is frantic to save Vic—and uncovers the full scope of the mask's powers... "The author aptly wraps up the murders, the vision-inducing mask, and even a certain character's personal dilemma with astounding satisfaction."— Kirkus Reviews