The death of Albert Abbott in his home in 1957 - in a house fire rumored to have been set by his wife, Helena - was a story that had long been all but forgotten by the gossips in town. Still, Albert rose from his grave each day and attended church with the other ghosts - never speaking or acknowledging anyone else, living or dead.

After a long search through state records, Stephanie discovers that Helena is still living, a resident in an assisted-living facility in Lavonia, a town in far northern Georgia that in many ways resembles their own town, and the three students travel with town librarian Miss Roberts to visit her.

But when they arrive, what they learn from Helena changes their understanding of their local legend - and a new friend, Toccoa student Janie Sawyer, joins them as they learn about a past tragedy, and uncover a much deeper mystery in the Great Smoky Mountains...