Cutting for Stone is a sweeping, emotionally riveting first novel that unfolds as both a family saga and a medical odyssey. Set against the backdrop of Africa’s turbulent history, particularly in Ethiopia, the narrative follows Marion and Shiva Stone, twin brothers born to an Indian nun and a British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s subsequent disappearance, the twins grow up with a preternatural connection and share a deep fascination with medicine.

As Ethiopia teeters on the brink of revolution, Marion and Shiva navigate the complexities of their growing-up years. However, it is love that ultimately divides them: their mutual passion for the same woman sets off a chain of events that forces Marion to flee his homeland after completing medical school. He finds refuge in America as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital.

The novel explores themes of trust, betrayal, and redemption when Marion is left with no choice but to seek help from the two men he thought he could least rely on: his surgeon father, who abandoned him, and his brother, Shiva, whom he believes has betrayed him. Through their intertwined lives, Cutting for Stone delves into the intimate world of medicine and healing, offering a profound exploration of the human condition.

An unforgettable journey into one man’s remarkable life, this novel is also an epic story about the power, intimacy, and curious beauty of the work of healing others. It is a testament to the enduring bond between family, the impact of history on individual lives, and the transformative nature of love and medicine.