First published 2000
Phil Ainsworth has lost everything that mattered. His young wife died without warning, leaving him adrift in grief. Then his sister dies too, and suddenly he must care for Betsy, his young niece who possesses an unsettling gift. The girl hears voices that others cannot hear. She sees things that should not be there. Phil inherits his mother's old house, thinking it might offer them both a fresh start. But Betsy's strange abilities grow stronger within its walls. The voices of the dead speak to her more clearly. She watches supernatural forces gather around them, drawn to the house like moths to flame. Phil struggles to understand what his niece experiences while wrestling with his own overwhelming loss. The old house holds secrets that refuse to stay buried, and Betsy's talent may be the only thing standing between them and the otherworldly dangers that press closer each day.
Genres: mystery, fantasy, horror, supernatural
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, grief, supernatural-powers
Setting: House
Period: Rainy Season
356 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ace