When Jemima moves to Hollow House, her grandmother's old home in Sleepy Hollow, she is greeted by an eerie voice warning of an impending storm and a falling tree, all within the first few seconds of arrival. Following an encounter with a figure from a painting, Jemima is convinced that the house is haunted.It falls to Jemima and Jake, her boyfriend, to solve the puzzle. Who is the haunter? And what about the magical tree people? Meantime, back in England, Jake's brother is missing. The police visit the States to interview Jake. With some help from Jemima's stepmother, Ciggie - and Malcolm, her elegantly dressed pet mouse - they learn that all of the answers lie within their own interwoven family.
