Book excerpt: On Ballard Island, an island plagued with a supernatural history, the death of a wealthy merchant sets off a frenzy of speculation, theories and superstition as to the creature that claimed his life. Little does the Island know, one of the most respected individuals in town is seeing through a plan years in the making. Tim Sullivan, the local Sheriff, tries to unravel the clues while dealing with the supernatural overtones of the case. Enter the local psychic and a renowned Professor, who each try to track down the culprit as the moon waxes and wanes. After the slaughter of a family, all three must make an unlikely partnership to discover the person behind the murders and stop him before the moon rises full.