A group of boys in Lima inadvertently summon an ancient, malevolent force that inhabits the corpse of a murdered drug runner, setting off a chain of events that converges on a massive supertanker. The narrative follows Matthew Cotton, a weary second-in-command on the MV Lysicrates, as he navigates the mundane isolation of life at sea, unaware that a stowaway and a supernatural entity are bringing a lethal threat aboard. The story shifts between the gritty, desperate streets of Peru and the claustrophobic, metallic confines of the ship, utilizing a third-person perspective to track the converging paths of the human and inhuman characters. As the vessel departs, the crew finds themselves trapped in a confined environment with an entity that defies logical explanation and threatens their survival.

This novel is characterized by its aggressive pacing and its effective use of a confined maritime setting to heighten the sense of dread. The narrative structure relies on the juxtaposition of mundane shipboard life against the intrusion of an ancient, unstoppable force. Readers often note the author's ability to maintain a high level of tension throughout the transition from the Peruvian backstreets to the open ocean. The work is frequently cited for its grim tone and its commitment to the conventions of supernatural horror, providing a bleak look at the intersection of human vulnerability and ancient evil.