"Zell Dorsey was the Devil. Not even a man as kind as you stands a chance you when the Devil sets you in his sights."

In the small coal-mining town of Jubilee,West Virginia, Phinnie "Skinny" Caldwellhas spent thirteen years haunted by theday her mama ran offff to the desert with amysterious man named Zell Dorsey. Takenin by her iron-willed grandmother, thetwo mourn their shared loss and Skinnylearns to brace herself for just about anything-except Zell's return.

But Zell's homecoming dredges up morethan unanswered questions. A thick, oilysickness is spreading through the community,turning everyone Skinny loves intoviolent creatures. Desperate to save hertown and learn the truth of what reallyhappened to her mama, Skinny turns toher best friend-and the closest thing she'sever had to a father-Happy Walker. Onlynothing can prepare them for what they'llfifind. Behind Zell Dorsey's human façadeis a creature older than the Appalachiansthemselves. And he's come back to fifinishwhat he started.

This book is a testament to the resilienceof grieving mothers, the powerful embraceof found family, and the tenacityof the beautiful people of Appalachia, aplace where the accents sing and the teais always sweet.