Ellie Saks is dying to escape the city. She's sick of dead-end jobs, her mother's disapproval, her loser ex-boyfriend, clay, who won't take a hint, and the memories of terrible incident that occurred years ago. When her best friend suggests a summer in the Hamptons, full of glitzy parties, cool cocktails, and hot dates, Ellie's on the first jitney out. To fund all this glamour, Ellie takes a job as a nanny. From the outside, the family's beachfront home is perfect. But then Ellie meets four-year-old Brandon, who hasn't spoken in months. The boy's icy stare and demonic laughter make clear to Ellie that he is trou-bled, haunted by something too horrible for words. She begins to receive threatening messages and dis- turbing gifts. But it's not until she barely escapes a harrowing experience that she realizes her life may depend on figuring out who's behind it: Clay? Brandon? And why? And every once in a while in a crowd, she sees a face she hasn't seen in seven years-the face of a boy who died long ago. It would seem that Ellie's summer of fun has turned into a summer of horror-one she'll never forget . . • if she survives it at all.