in the golden summer of 1914 jeanmarc montjean recently graduated from medical school comes to the small french village of salies to assist the village physician his first assignment is to treat the brother of a beautiful woman named katya treville as he and her family become friendly he realizes they are haunted by an old dark secret but he cant help falling deeply in love with katyajeanmarc is warned by katyas brother that she is delicate and that he should curb his attentions but he is young hopeful and in love and he is certain that katya returns his affections when jeanmarc learns that the trevilles are planning to leave the village forever he insists on a final meeting with katya that meeting and the events that follow turn what was an idyllic romance into an unending nightmare katyas secret is revealed in a thrilling tale that is part love story and part psychological thriller and the chilling climax will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned