Transplant

by Deborah Siminou

She thought she was chasing numbers.
Instead, she found humanity’s darkest ledger.

Ruby Simon is a quiet CPA living a predictable life on California’s Catalina Island. But when a routine audit reveals a trail of suspicious transactions, Ruby senses something is wrong—first in the financials, then in the uneasy silence that follows. What begins as a whisper of doubt becomes a revelation she cannot ignore when she exposes a deadly criminal conspiracy operating in the shadows of wealth, medicine, and power.

Reporting her discovery puts Ruby directly in the crosshairs of those who profit from the scheme. As threats close in, the FBI launches a joint task force led by her neighbor, Agent Robert Jones, pulling Ruby into a world of corruption, privilege, and escalating danger. The deeper the investigation goes, the clearer it the people behind this network will stop at nothing to protect it.

When the conspiracy strikes dangerously close to home, Ruby must find the courage to fight back. Caught between justice and survival, she risks everything to confront a system where greed has no limits—and human life has a price.

Transplant is a taut, morally charged medical and crime thriller perfect for readers who love strong female protagonists, high-stakes investigations, and dark conspiracies hidden behind money and power. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Catalina Island, this gripping novel blends elements of FBI suspense, medical corruption, cartel crime fiction, and moral dilemmas in the fight for truth.

Fans of medical suspense, conspiracy thrillers, and character-driven crime fiction will devour this book.

346 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2025

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some gruesome parts but it is integral to the story. It deals with the Mexican cartels and how some are branching out into other areas that actually assist them in selling their main product - drugs. In the story some "good" people manage to convince themselves that hey weren't doing much and if they didn't someone else would. Then they are on the hook for this very lucrative money and soon lose sight of the moral implications. There are multiple story lines that eventually integrate into the main story - each an important part of the overall picture.

Ruby was a CPA that couldn't let the red flags go, she had to reach out to others no matter the cost. Fortunately she had access to those that could help. But not all ended up being helpful.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maureen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Transplant by Deborah Siminou and was deeply moved by how the novel intertwines a personal journey with the dark realities of a drug and more cartels. Siminou vividly shows how the cartel’s influence spreads fear and upheaval, forcing characters into tough decisions and revealing the heavy consequences of involvement—whether by choice or circumstance. The story doesn’t offer easy answers, instead highlighting the complexity and humanity of those caught in the cartel’s shadow. Overall, Transplant is a gripping, thought-provoking read about survival and the far-reaching impact of organized crime.

Thanks to BookSirens for an advanced copy of this book.