Luke McKenna is no ordinary doctor. He is a hot-headed rebel with a past that may cause his future to be compromised. When the unexplained deaths of two Mayan children cause him to question medical science, he starts to investigate the research that his father has been involved in. Somehow, though, he ends up being investigated. The cause of the death this time is definitely murder.

Luke is scheduled to meet a former colleague whom he had feelings for before she betrayed his father by selling the results of his scientific research. Problem is that she ends up gunned down right in front of their meeting place, and he is the prime suspect. If the murderers can keep him on the run, Luke won't have time to investigate the mysterious deaths of Central American villages. That would be the same village that the woman he is in love with is going to. Across the globe, Luke must face his past and clear his name. All the while, he must find out what is going on with his dad's research and save the one he loves, and possibly the next generation.

STIGMA is an intellectually stimulating read. It has great, unexpected twists and turns. The plot is so exhilarating that you can't put the book down even if you wanted. Mr. Hawley has the extraordinary ability to balance technical information, suspense, and romance and have the reader emotionally charged throughout each scenario. STIGMA is on the top of my list of favorite books to read again and again.