Jillian Slater is asked to travel to New Orleans from California for her father’s funeral, although there has been a long estrangement from that side of her family. She stays at the boarding house run by her frosty grandmother, with its interesting residents and housekeeper, and the ambience of being a former church (St. Silvanus). After returning to California, her job and living situation fall apart, and she flees to her grandmother’s house as a last resort, while hoping to reestablish herself elsewhere. When her father’s death turns out to be suspicious, and strange things start happening around the house, her life becomes even more unsettled.