I kept hearing how creepy this book was and I didn't get that at all, but I also don't get scared. I still enjoyed the story as more of a police procedural though. Jake may have seemed like a weird little boy that talked to himself/imaginary friend but it was actually very sweet-the rain that he was that way. Tom is a good dad just trying to get through raising a son on his own. Pete is a very good cop that takes his job seriously and can't forget the one case he still needs to solve. It turned out as a surprise to me as to who he actually was.