Josh worships his older brother, Max. They look alike, they sound alike, and they even have the same interests, including their favourite online role playing game, Genesis Alpha. But Josh and Max have a much deeper connection. When Max was very ill with cancer, it was Josh's stem cells, harvested before he was born, that saved Max's life. Then, suddenly everything changes. Max is arrested right in the middle of a game of Genesis Alpha for the brutal murder of a young girl.

As the family are flung into turmoil, Josh desperately tries to reconcile the brother he knows and loves with the monster they are talking about on television.

At the same time he also struggles with an unnerving sense of guilt: if his cells had not saved Max's life, would this girl still be alive?

But this is only the beginning, and before the end, Josh uncovers startling revelations - revelations that could have devastating implications not only for Max's future, but for Josh's as well.