Kingfisher masterfully crafts a setting that is both familiar and deeply unsettling. The house, once a symbol of comfort and family, becomes a character itself, exuding an oppressive atmosphere that mirrors the unraveling sanity within its walls.

The novel delves into the complexities of familial bonds and the secrets that can fester beneath the surface. As Sam digs deeper into her mother's erratic behavior, she unearths long-buried truths that have haunted her family for generations.

As Sam grapples with her mother's increasingly disturbing behavior and the growing unease within the house, the line between reality and delusion begins to blur. Kingfisher masterfully cultivates a sense of creeping dread, leaving the reader questioning what is real and what is a product of a disturbed mind.