James Patterson's novel Cradle and All follows former nun turned private investigator Anne Fitzgerald as she examines two miraculous pregnancies amidst global plagues and chaos. In Rhode Island, teenager Kathleen Beavier claims a virgin conception, while in Ireland, a similar miracle is reported by Colleen Galaher. The Catholic Church and the Vatican send investigators to determine if these events signal the second coming of Christ or the arrival of the Antichrist. As the world suffers from a deadly new strain of polio and other disasters, Anne and Father Justin O'Carroll discover that one child represents a divine Savior and the other a demonic force. The story culminates in a supernatural struggle where the fate of humanity depends on identifying which child is holy. Ultimately, the narrative explores themes of faith, sacrifice, and the eternal battle between good and evil.