An unbearable loss.

A shattered life.

And a killer who wants more.

On the edge of the North Carolina woods, behind an isolated modern house, the watcher patiently waits. He knows all about the couple who live there—a talented surgeon and a successful businessman. He knows all about the people in their lives. He knows they are numb with grief. And he knows what is going to happen next—and why.

For Dr. Natasha McCarty and her husband, Ward, their son’s tragic death has shaped every moment of the last year. But to add to their pain, a new strangeness is suddenly engulfing them. Natasha’s hands have begun to shake. A prized memento has been stolen. Then a sordid scandal explodes out of nowhere, one that threatens everything they’ve built, and brings friends, strangers—and enemies—into their lives. And now, as the anniversary of their son’s death approaches, for reasons they can’t guess, from a place they can’t see, an extraordinary evil will emerge before their eyes. Because a killer has chosen this day as their last.