This book is set in New York in 1969, an eventful time all over the world. Four young close-knit siblings decide to liven up their summer by having their fortunes told by a much lauded "seer". Supposedly, this woman can predict the day you will die. Based on the testimony of several people in the know, this lady is always right. After visiting the woman and having their fortunes told their lives are never the same. The Immortalists follows the lives of the four brothers and sisters as they set about living while knowing when they will die. The setting, the time period, the characters, the subject matter, the style are so absorbing. I can see why this the novel has been garnering so much positive attention.