Monica Starling has everything she ever wanted. She's a third-grade teacher in Steubenville, Ohio, where she grew up and knew she wanted to return. She lives in a beautiful condo less than a quarter mile from her parents. Her landlord has the residents for pizza and Pittsburgh Steelers' football games every week, and she has the perfect guy...an old friend and her father's assistant CPA. It's her dream come true.

She takes her class to visit the Wheeling-Penn Steel Mill, which has been abandoned for years. Monica doesn't know what it is that she's afraid of, but she is not looking forward to the visit. She remembers the kids in high school who used to talk about ghosts and other strange occurrences at the cold and empty mill.

Then there's the murder last year. It wasn't at the mill, but the little girl who was brutalized was a student of Monica's...and a third grader. The trip goes well. Monica feels silly that she was afraid. Then another murder happens...similar to the last.

Could there be a slayer in Steubenville? Has a serial killer descended upon the quiet Midwest town? It's not possible that the murderer is a resident in the town? Not Steubenville. Monica begins to wonder. Is the fear because of the murderer? Could it be a neighbor, a friend...someone in her own family?