A man, a woman, a child, and an unforgettable dog combine forces in this gripping and surprising psychological thriller, the most stunning novel yet from Scott Spencer--named one of "Publishers Weekly"'s Top Ten Books of 2010. Can we ever get away with murder? Are there secrets that cannot remain hidden no matter how deeply we try to bury them? And do the things we hide control our destinies even more than the things we choose to reveal? Paul Phillips has been on his own since he was a teenager, leading a life of freedom and independence, beholden to no one and nothing. Once he thought his life would have no particular rhyme or reason, touched only by transient strangers. Then he met the beautiful, intelligent, loving Kate Ellis, who offered order and constancy. But Paul is a man of deep convictions, and the compromises we all make to get along in the world elude him. On his way home after a particularly trying day, Paul discovers a man beating a dog, and in a few fateful moments is plunged into a world of violence and onto a tumultuous journey of self-knowledge, guilt, and redemption.