Taryn Cornick believes that the past is behind her -- her sister's death by violence, and her own ill-conceived revenge. She has chosen to live a life more professional than personal. She has written a book about the things that threaten libraries -- insects, damp, light, fire, carelessness and uncaring. The book is a success, but not all of the attention it brings her is good. There are questions about a fire in the library at Princes Gate, her grandparents' house, and about an ancient scroll box known as the Firestarter. A policeman, Jacob Berger, has questions about a cold case. There are threatening phone calls. And a shadowy young man named Shift appears, bringing his shadows with him. Taryn, Jacob, Shift -- three people are driven towards a reckoning felt in more than one world.

Part one: Insects -- Part two: Fire -- Part three: Light -- Part four: Damp -- Part five: Carelessness -- Part six: Uncaring -- Epilogue.