An unlikely criminal, Andy Durant is robbing gas stations to buy back land once connected to his wife€s farm in upstate New York. But when he€s shot and killed during a robbery, he leaves his wife, Grady, and their three children to fend for themselves. Moving back to the debt-laden farm, Grady ignites a plan that involves getting in the middle of an adjoining neighbor€s marriage. Meanwhile, one by one the whole family is charmed by Royal Provo, a young and charismatic orphan working on the property. When the money Andy Durant stole resurfaces, all find themselves in escalating danger. Under the Dog Star is chillingly good storytelling.