It's the near future in the hills of the American Northeast where a group of men, women and children have come together to create their own little world after a bacteriological attack ravaged Europe and America, leaving people no choice but to band together for survival. Physician Janie Crowe, her son Alex and husband, Tom Macalester, are among the group of survivors. Alex appears to be a normal child, but there's something very mysterious and special about him that Janie is keeping a secret .Do others in the group know the mystery?

While Janie is looking at slides that were gathered from some nearby towns, she discovers something suspicious. It will require someone going back out on a fact-finding mission that could be dangerous, especially if they meet a group of unfriendly people. Michael is elected to put on the protective suit and sets off on the journey to see if he can locate bacteria samples needed to test in the lab. While on the trail, he meets up with someone from Janie's past. Is she someone he can trust? Will their encounter be the start of friendly exchanges?

In Europe, during the era of the Black Death, physician Alejandro Canches embarks on a journey to Windsor to set his "daughter" Kate free from the grips of King Edward and to stop the planned marriage the king has arranged for her. The plague ravaging Europe is but one risk he takes on this journey. The other is the fact that he's Jewish and it would mean a slow death if discovered. Will he reach Kate in time to rescue her?

THE PHYSICIAN'S TALE is the fourth installment in Ann Benson's series that began with THE PLAGUE TALES and continued with THE BURNING ROAD and THE THIEF OF SOULS. Having not read the first three installments, I felt the author gave enough background material on each character and storyline that the book stood on its own. Benson cleverly weaves the reader through past and future time periods without missing a beat.