The story opens with a grisley murder set in the dank catacombs beneath New York City's Grand Central Station. The victim is a young boy whose heart has been torn from his chest. The police discover another boy lurking nearby — Adam, an odd-looking, bald-headed mute who lives in the network of tunnels. Melissa, a social worker discouraged by the ineffectiveness of the system to provide for Adam, quits her job and whisks him away to a rural community. Soon after their arrival a herd of sheep is slaughtered and bodies start to drop all over town — Adam proves to be the bearer of many disturbing talents. The interest of Child of Shadows lies not only in the twists and turns of the plot, but also in the exploration of Melissa's psychological history.
