Greg DeVillers was a top biotech executive, and Kristin Rossum was embarking on a career in toxicology at the San Diego Medical Examiner's office. They seemed to be happily married, living the American dream. But only months shy of their second anniversary, Kristin found her handsome husband dead from a drug overdose - his corpse sprinkled with rose petals. By his side was their wedding photo. The scene was reminiscent of American Beauty, one of Kristin's favorite movies. Authorities deemed it a suicide.

Until they discovered that the rare poison found in Greg's body was the same poison missing from Kristin's office. Until they discovered the truth about Kristin's lurid affair, about her own longtime drug addiction, and about the personal and professional secrets she would kill to keep hidden - secrets that would ultimately expose the beautiful blonde as the deadly beauty she really was...a deadly American beauty.