"Leave-the-lights-on-tonight frightening, with a quiet edge of horror
that is much more effective than gore." -- NPR
From Laura Kasischke, the critically acclaimed and nationally
bestselling poet and author of The Raising, comes a dark and chilling
thriller that combines domestic drama with elements of psychological
suspense and horror--an addictive tale of denial and guilt that is part
Joyce Carol Oates and part Chris Bohjalian.
On a snowy Christmas morning, Holly Judge awakens with the fragments of
a nightmare floating on the edge of her consciousness. Something
followed them from Russia. Thirteen years ago, she and her husband Eric
adopted baby Tatty, their pretty, black-haired Rapunzel, from the
Pokrovka Orphanage #2. Now, at fifteen, Tatiana is more beautiful than
ever--and disturbingly erratic.
As a blizzard rages outside, Holly and Tatiana are alone. With each
passing hour, Tatiana's mood darkens, and her behavior becomes
increasingly frightening . . . until Holly finds she no longer
recognizes her daughter.