From page "when a 12 year old fires a gun at his own head while his little sister looks on—the novel seizes and holds us." The story takes you into the nightmare world of a child psychopath and his terrifying dog who torment a woman and her children...Dust Jacket A gripping First novel by an author hyped by his publisher as a "new master of terror and supense." It was nominated and was a finalist for the 1987 Edgar Award for Best First Novel.