T. Kingfisher’s horror fantasy novel follows a young woman named Selena who is in the middle of an unhappy marriage, barely has any money, and only has one true friend: a dog named Copper. Desperate for a fresh start, Selena flees a remote desert town called Quartz Creek in search of her aunt. Instead, she discovers that her Aunt Amelia is dead and that Quartz Creek is inhabited by more than people. Ancient gods and malevolent spirits claim that the land belongs to them, and Selena is visited by disturbing apparitions that seem to want something from her.