There are three ways up to Castle View from the town of Castle Rock: Route 117, Pleasant Road, and the Suicide Stairs. Every day in the summer of 1974, twelve-year-old Gwendy Peterson has taken the stairs, which are held by strong, if time-rusted, iron bolts and zig-zag up the cliffside. Then one day when Gwendy gets to the top of Castle View, after catching her breath and hearing the shouts of kids on the playground below, a stranger calls to her....

Percy stopped and stared at M.C. "Don't you realize anything, M.C., unless it is told to you? Do you ever try to figure things out? I mean really figure things out? We are practically at the coast, right? I mean all we need is a boat to get to Genesis. But these people in all of their simplicity are not the least bit interested in getting to Genesis. Have you wondered why? Maybe it is not what we think it is. Maybe we are all crazy. Yes, I burned...

Dennis McFarland's acclaimed debut novel, hailed by the New York Times Book Review as "a rare pleasure . . . Remarkable from its beginning to its surprising, satisfying end" Musician Marty Lambert's life is already falling apart when he receives the phone call that changes everything. His brother, Perry, has killed himself in New York, and Marty-with his marriage on the rocks and his record company sliding into insolvency-decides to leave San Francisco...

As Debra slowly regains consciousness, she realizes she has been, kidnapped and is positive Rita is behind it. While she is figuring a way out of her predicament, Ted finds himself alone at the Halloween carnival and decides to summon Middle C for help to find Debra. Paul is still working on locating his missing player piano and has given up on dating after discovering Mildred's revenge in disposing of his beloved piano. Will Debra be able to help...