Looming large over Crawford, Virginia, knitting together the fears and superstitions of its inhabitants, is the legend of the Gypsy Man. Everyone knows he was kidnapped and returned as an infant, growing into an odd and dangerous adult, only to disappear again during World War I, and return to Crawford--the story has it--to steal children. A certain truth lies behind the myth: the inhabitants of Crawford, each haunted by individual fears, are joined by their common history. Penny Bone is terrified of the phantom, even as more fearful things happen in real life. Henry Gault, her six-year-old daughter's teacher, scoffs at the tale, trusting in reason and foresight to safeguard what is most precious to him. Meanwhile, Penny's husband, John, is in prison for an accidental murder. In this suspenseful and perceptive narrative, these strong and durable characters remind us why life is worth living, as they struggle against the truths of life and death.