Alex, a twelve year old boy, who does not like change, finds himself unwillingly pulled along by events he can't control. The story begins with the seemingly harmless decision of his parents to change their vacation plans. Instead of going to the beach they will spend the summer at Lake Kanakondah—a lake Alex can't find in a computer search. Soon he'll be harassed by a ghost that might not be a ghost, a monster that might not be a monster, and a villain that is truly a villain. With the help of his older sister, Samantha, and two new friends, Seth and Maizy, Alex will learn that solving each mystery only pulls him deeper into a dangerous adventure. In the end Alex, who has always let his older sister fight his battles for him, will find himself alone to fight the final battle.