Anticipating a peaceful and relaxing year in which to write and illustrate a book, college professor Jan Ryerson and his artist wife Alix move to the isolated Cape Despair Lighthouse on a desolate stretch of Oregon coast. But their well-laid plans are twisted awry shortly after their arrival. Jan experiences several terrifying blackouts, but conceals them from his wife, fearing that she will leave him if she knows that he will soon be blind. The villagers, suspicious of the couple from the start, become increasingly hostile and resentful. And when the murdered body of a young woman is discovered, they are quick to blame the stranger in town…

“…one of America’s Fines writers of any genre. Muller is must reading for all mystery fans.”— Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Pronzini makes people and events so real that you're living those explosive days of terror.”— Robert Ludlum

“Pronzini is the master of the shivery, spine-tingling it-could-happen suspense story.”—Publishers Weekly