From Edgar nominee F. R. Tallis comes a new novel of psychological suspense that reinvents the classic haunted-house tale.
In the scorching summer of 1976-the hottest since records began-Christopher Norton, his wife Laura, and their young daughter Faye settle into their new home in north London.
The faded glory of the Victorian house is the perfect place for Norton, a composer of film soundtracks, to build a recording studio of his own. But soon in the long, oppressively hot nights, Laura begins to hear something through the crackle of the baby monitor. First, a knocking sound. Then come the voices.
For Norton, the voices mark an exciting opportunity. Putting his work to one side, he begins the project of a lifetime-a grand symphony incorporating the voices-and becomes increasingly obsessed with one voice in particular … someone who is determined to make themselves heard.
"Well-rounded characters and evocative prose distinguish this supernatural thriller from Edgar-finalist Tallis…Fans of subtle horror will find a lot to like."
Publishers Weekly
"If you're looking for the best in popular fiction, Tallis is well worth seeking out."
Washington Post, praise for the author
"The long-unoccupied Victorian house in north London badly needs repairs, but it has a room ideal for a recording studio for composer Christopher Norton and his pregnant wife, Laura, who instantly spots another room for a nursery…Tallis…is a master of psychological suspense, and this novel, which reaches its climax during the London heat wave of 1976, is utterly gripping."
