A mysterious outsider torments two Haitian American sisters, forcing them to confront dark secrets from their family's past in this powerful psychological suspense novel from the acclaimed author of Jackal . What would you sacrifice to become American? Everything about the Beauclaire family seems normal--almost perfect, even. They immigrated to New York City from Haiti years ago, looking for their own piece of America's promised riches. They go to church; they're good neighbors; and their two daughters, Judith and Beatrice, have typical sibling rivalries that keep things interesting. But beneath this polished exterior, something is just slightly off. There's malice waiting . wanting to reveal itself. When their mother unexpectedly dies, Judith and Bea are overwhelmed by a mob of relatives, friends, and church ladies.

Amidst taking care of the funeral, they meet Libète, who claims to be a close friend of their mother's. Bea welcomes her, but Judith is immediately suspicious--their mother never mentioned Libète, and yet she seems to know everything about them . After a series of unsettling events--a disfigured doll appearing in their attic, childhood photos of Bea vanishing, and a mysterious illness suddenly afflicting their father--Judith and Bea are forced to dive into a hidden world of mythos and question Libète's role in it all. What they learn could threaten the bedrock of the entire Beauclaire family . and reveal a rot that goes deeper than the roots they first made in this place.