Book summary

Megan, Dan, and Nikki, their teenage daughter, pick up a hitchhiker during a blizzard. Brand, the new passenger, projects an eerie presence, and quickly attacks the emotional weak points of these good Samaritans. Megan has turned to religion after being mugged; Dan is dealing with feelings of inadequacy about his ability to protect his family; and Nikki has become sexually obsessed with Brand, fueling her parents' anxieties. Brand needles into each of them, rupturing the bond between each family member as he becomes a haunting, ever-present figure in their lives.