Johnny learned to play the blues, Delta style, when he was just a kid.

He learned about the curse back then, too, the one that strikes down the best and brightest musicians in their twenty-seventh year. But Johnny's a grown man now, and grown men don't believe in such silliness.

Until he receives a special present on his twenty-seventh birthday.

A present that won't leave him alone.

"I've been a fan of Annie Reed's stories for a long time." —Marcelle Dubé, author of THE SHOELESS KID

"The appearance of a new Anie Reed story is a treat." —Dave Hendrickson, author of CRACKING THE ICE