Thomas Randolph, M.D., is a world-renowned plastic surgeon on Manhattan's elegant Upper East Side. People come from around the globe to have him do their surgery: facelifts, tummy tucks, liposuction, breast surgery. He operates at the Park Avenue Teaching Hospital, New York's premier specialty hospital. Dr. Randolph is also a history and architecture buff. He is particularly drawn to New York City during the late 1800s: The Gilded Age. His favorite museum is The Frick Collection, which he visits regularly. In order to share his interests and enthusiasm, he leads Walking Tours of the Upper East Side, including his most-popular tour, "Mansions, Money, and Scandal." However, the political landscape at the hospital is changing and the administration is trying to force the doctors to give up their independence. They've turned up the heat on some of them, including Dr. Randolph, and both his private practice and his livelihood are under fire. At the same time, his marriage is unraveling but the shocking dénouement nevertheless catches him by surprise. Facing a combination of challenges, he increasingly seeks refuge in the world he inhabits during his walking tours. And then, in a moment, he is taken on an unforgettable journey, one that will transform his life.