Iconic author John Rothstein hasn't published a book for decades, and a deranged fan named Morris Bellamy is livid. Bellamy kills the author and empties his safe of cash, also discovering a secret stash of notebooks containing at least one more novel. The killer decides to hide the money and notebooks, before being locked away for another crime. Decades later, a boy named Pete finds the notebook, but later discovers he and his family are in danger from the vengeful and psychotic Morris when he's finally released from prison.