Patricia Campbells life has never felt smaller. Her husband is a workaholic, her teenage kids have their own lives, her senile mother-in-law needs constant care, and shes always a step behind on her endless to-do list. The only thing keeping her sane is her book club, a close-knit group of Charleston women united by their love of true crime. At these meetings theyre as likely to talk about the Manson family as they are about their own families.

One evening after book club, Patricia isviciouslyattacked by an elderly neighbor, bringing theneighbor’s handsome nephew, James Harris, into her life. James is well traveled and well read, and he makes Patricia feel things she hasnt felt in years. Butwhen children on the other side of town gomissing, their deaths written off by local police, Patricia has reason to believe James Harris is more of a Bundy than a Brad Pitt. The real problem? James is a monster of a different kindand Patricia has already invited him in.

Little by little, James will insinuate himself into Patricias life and try to take everything she took for grantedincluding the book clubbut she wont surrender without a fight in this blood-soaked tale of neighborly kindness gone wrong.