Val Haverford's sci-fi and Western novels made him a household name. But that was a decade ago. Creative stagnation led Val to withdraw into his idyllic cabin at the edge of Chicago's lakefront, as far from the press and prying fans as possible. When a number of people disappear after violent attacks, Val is pulled into a plot darker than any he could pen. As he digs into a dystopian conspiracy with disturbing similarities to incidents in his youth, he's warned to watch his step-by a captivated reporter, his fast-rising competition, even his agent-before he becomes a target himself. But Val's fading health won't let him quit. He has one chance to revive his career and reconcile the past before he-and everyone he loves-is silenced for good.