In the Amish countryside of Kentucky, there is a house. Everyone knows about it. They whisper about the things that happen there. Creepy things. Terrible things. It would be better if they shouted: Run.

Six weeks ago, fragile mother of two Pammie LaRue moved in with her beloved partner Conor. They ignored the knocks on the walls. Whispering voices. Water pooling, with no obvious leak.

Eight days ago, Conor went missing, without a trace. Unless you count the drag marks in the crawl space under the house . . .

Neurosurgeon Noah Archer doesn't believe in ghosts and demons and haunted houses - he knows from terrible experience just how real they are. But despite his work with the Enlightenment Project, which pits cutting-edge scientific research against the darkness, he's no exorcist.

Still, when Pammie pitches up on his doorstep late one night, children in tow, Noah helps. He enters the house. But in doing so, he's made a terrible mistake. Because once the darkness has its claws in you, it won't let go . . .