"In the sleepy village of Barton Mallet, the old ruins of Blackstone Mill watch over the residents and their quiet lives. Ben Knot and his friends are looking forward to a summer of fun and freedom once their last year of high school is over. The class of 1994 have been through a lot together, but teasing turns to bullying when the Knot gang targets young Mark Cherry. As violence escalates, the group fractures and tragedy strikes. Before the summer is over, one of them will be killed. Murdered by someone they called a friend. Thirty years later, Ben is an award-winning architect who has moved his family back to Barton Mallet. His girlfriend, Dani, is a lovely stepmother to his children--budding actor Nate and star athlete Lily--and even though the family is happy, Ben has never been able to forget the tragedy of the past. And it's a past that is quickly coming back to haunt him with the murderer's imminent release from prison. Then Nate lands the leading role in a new horror film, and Dani jumps at the chance to propel him toward stardom. But when the film crew descend on Barton Mallet, the dream starts to turn into a nightmare. The film is not quite what it seems. Ben's children are being pushed to the limit, and his paranoia makes him question the filmmakers' motives. Ben is desperate for answers and will stop at nothing to keep his family safe. If the first cut is the deepest, then the last cut is going to end it all"-- Dust jacket flap.