Beth Pearson has never much liked her younger sister, Francie, and it is with great reluctance that she returns home to Maine to attend the funeral of her equally unlovable father. Francie, now 14, is as sullen and pouty as ever and, now that both parents are dead, she may become Beth's responsibility - the last thing Beth wants. But the bonds of family loyalty are stronger than Beth expected, and she finds herself deeply upset about the clearly unsuitable 21-year-old boy named Andrew whom Francie has been dating. Beth decides to take Francie back with her to Philadelphia - but Francie wants to stay behind with Andrew. Why, after all, should she listen to a sister who has always hated her? Beth takes matters into her own hands and visits Andrew's mother to break up the relationship. But what she unleashes in the name of sisterly love is an orgy of violence and death. The story races to a shattering climax when Beth realizes the full extent of Andrew's madness...and that it is up to her to save her little sister's life!