Ping and Tolly love spending their vacations in the ancient manor house, but this summer, things are different. Granny Oldknow's story of a mad alchemist digs up the past and brings the odd Melanie Powers knocking on the door, in search of a certain unspeakable book. Granny Oldknow, Ping, and Tolly soon find themselves defending Green Knowe from black magic. Plagues of maggots, wayward ghosts, nests of snakes--the attacks are as weird as they are relentless.
Will the three lose their beloved manor house? Or will good conquer the worst that evil has to offer?