The death of the matriarch of a cursed Southern town unleashes a long-dormant supernatural entity. Elinor Caskey, at the end of her life, prepares to leave Perdido, the town she has shaped and sustained. However, her passing breaks a sixty-year-old seal, allowing a malevolent force to re-emerge and threaten the very existence of the town and its inhabitants.

The novel is recognized as a significant work within the Southern Gothic and horror genres, often lauded for its atmospheric dread and exploration of familial curses. Critics and readers frequently highlight Michael McDowell's skill in crafting unsettling narratives rooted in the American South. The book is noted for its slow-burn tension, building to a terrifying climax that tests the resilience of its characters and the town itself. Its thematic depth, concerning the weight of the past and the inescapable nature of certain legacies, contributes to its enduring impact.