“Lazas house,” she said. “Dat’s were he goin’.”

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Two women meet at a fated time. Sylvia - a nurse’s assistant and Meda, there to give birth. After the birth Meda is told that her baby died, because she was pregnant by her white employer. But they lied. Soon after, Meda becomes a surrogate mother for two white boys at an orphanage and Sylvia eventually ends up as a nurse at Lazaretto, a quarantine station for the sick and immigrants coming into Philadelphia. 

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Though the Lazaretto is where most of the story comes together, the author gives us much time to get to know each character. The boys and the orphanage, the little girl that Sylvia’s family takes in, Miss Ma who won’t talk much but has fits of laughter, her granddaughter who loves having relations with men that are “taken”, and  Meda’s brother Buddy and his card game friends. 
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Then all of these characters convene to the Lazaretto for a wedding. Those not there for the wedding party, are there to visit their family who live and work at the establishment. All of the white staff are given leave for the weekend. But as the boat of wedding guests enter the port, gunshots ring out across the river and things go crazy. Soon afterwards, telegraphs come in and the Lazaretto is officially on quarantine. Truths come out and suddenly everyone understands everything clearly. Yet again, Diane knows how to swoop you into a story that you cannot put down! 

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 Also, per the Author’s note, the Lazaretto was an actual place  that existed as a quarantine station. 
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If you haven’t read anything by Diane McKinney - Whetstone, what exactly are you waiting for?!