"Spencer is an American master. . . . A smart, haunting thriller . . . takes the reader deep inside the ever-widening mystery of human connection and animal need. An enthralling literary ride."-Jayne Anne Phillips, author of the National Book Award finalist Lark & Termite

A man, a woman, a child, and an unforgettable dog combine forces in this gripping and surprising psychological thriller, the most stunning novel yet from Scott Spencer.

Can we ever get away with murder Are there secrets that cannot remain hidden no matter how deeply we bury them And do the things we hide control our destinies even more than the things we choose to reveal

Here is the story of Paul Phillips, who has been on his own since he was a teenager, leading a life of freedom and independence, beholden to no one and nothing. On his way home after a particularly trying day, Paul discovers a man beating his dog, and in a few fateful moments is plunged into a world of violence and onto a tumultuous journey of self-knowledge, guilt, and redemption.