12-year-old Martin Jessup, teller of tall tales, is on the move to a new home in a small town. With Dad in the military, moving is a fact of life. Settling into his new home, Martin is intrigued by a deserted house across the street. Martin and his new friends, Granger and Holly, form a club that meets in the deep end of an empty swimming pool. The friends tell Martin that the house is all that remains of an unsolved mystery. One night, Martin sees a light in the deserted house and their adventures begin.