Christine Scavello has a son, Joey. An ordinary boy, just 6 years old. Mother and son visit a Supermarket and are accosted by an old eccentric woman who appears to have an unnatural interest in the boy. She insists that Joey "has got to die". This obviously terrifies the boy, but Christine assumes that the incident is just that of an old, mad woman.

But then there are other frightening incidents, and although the Police are called, they do not believe all that Christine has to say. So she goes to Charlie Harrison, who runs a detective agency. He agrees to investigate and become embroiled in a plot, which is almost impossible to believe.

The old lady is the leader of a "church" group, and with other members, set out to kill the young boy.

Ah, well, yet another superlative story. It is very obvious that Dean Koontz is my favourite author, but nevertheless can only praise this book again. Super characters touches of humour among the horror and classically good writing. He does not insult the readers' intelligence, but puts together a complex plot with consummate ease. All his books have a perfectly logical beginning, middle and end and are always hard to put down.