Ben and Caroline Tierney had several reasons for moving their family to the Crofts, an old mansion nestled near the mountains of upstate New York. Having lost her job and struggling with a recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder, Caroline throws herself into renovating the old house with the hopes of opening a B&B. Ben tries to placate his volatile wife, even though his heart isn't in the renovation, and eight-year-old Charlie increasingly spends more time in the woods with a presence he calls The Watcher. In the meantime, Ben feels strangely compelled to learn as much as he can about the home, its former inhabitants, and the nearby village of Swannhaven. The locals indulge his curiosity and accept him as one of their own, but little does he know the cost of learning the town's secrets. VERDICT Debut novelist Duffy expertly builds suspense, leaving readers eager to know what happens while simultaneously dreading the outcome. This creepy page-turner will appeal to fans of Stephen King and anyone who loves a good ghost story.—Vicki Briner, Westminster, CO