In the late summer of a long-ago year, a killer arrived in a small city. In the space of a few months, Alton Turner Blackwood brutally murdered four families. His savage spree ended only when he himself was killed by the last survivor of the last family. Two decades later, someone is murdering families again, re-creating Blackwood's crimes. Homicide detective John Calvino, who stopped Blackwood when he was fourteen, knows his family is the copycat's next intended target.

The books of Dean Koontz are published in 38 languages, and worldwide sales top 400 million copies. Eleven of his novels have risen to number one on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list, and several have been adapted into feature films and TV miniseries. Dean and Gerda Koontz live in southern California with their golden retriever, Anna, grand-niece of the famous and beloved Trixie.