When Charlie takes the photograph of the unknown animal swimming in the river that night, he has no idea of the effect it will have on his life and the weird events it will set in motion. Why is Peter, the boy with the strange, staring eyes, so obsessed by the picture? And what is it about Peter that upsets everybody so much - even his own father? When Charlie tries to help Peter and protect him from the bullying, he is led deeper into the secret, mysterious life of the river bank, and the creatures that inhabit it.