Lisa Small, the mother of Chloe, is married to Henry, university researcher working on his dissertation entitled “The Growth of a Cucumber Without Light.” Following a marital fight, she leaves their home, not knowing whether she will ever return. After driving around for some time, she ends up in a hotel near a river, where she books a room.
That night she dines with Gerald, who she has met in the hotel restaurant. Gerald is a businessman on the road. He is a widower and has a daughter, called Sandra. He asks Lisa if she wants to accompany him during the next few days as he has planned some visits to old friends. She agrees.
The two of them go to his home, which turns out to be in the vicinity. It is situated on a dead-end road. Her bedroom offers a view of the adjoining woods. She meets his daughter Sandra. Gradually it dawns on Lisa that nothing is what it seems to be. Her life takes a decisive turn.
In this novel the author takes the reader to an apparently innocent world, where spine-chilling scenes take place behind the doors of detached houses.