Just Stay Away

When a mysterious neighborhood boy befriends his young daughter, stay-at-home dad Craig considers him a godsend--until it becomes clear that there's nothing angelic about him at all.

Craig Finnigan is determined to finish his book this summer, but being an aspiring writer while wrangling his seven-year-old daughter is not easy. So when Alice makes fast friends with a neighborhood boy, Levi, Craig is happy she has a distraction from her constant visits to his home office.

But that happiness soon turns to misgivings as Levi's behavior evolves from that of a shy, odd boy into something far more disturbing. Strange noises in the middle of the night and things disappearing from their home could be explained away--maybe it's the water heater, or maybe Craig simply misplaced his flash drive. Craig can't explain his paranoia, but he feels sure Levi is behind it.

As Levi's visits to their backyard become more and more frequent, Craig finds himself the unwilling participant in a game he never asked to play...and one he's not sure he can win.

BUY THE BOOK

Published Oct 1, 2023

288 pages

Average rating: 6.43

7 RATINGS

|

Community Reviews

siemelle900
Nov 28, 2025
4/10 stars
Problem: A 9 year old who is definitely psychopathic harasses and puts your family in danger.

Solution: Immediate alarm system and an electric fence.

You see how easy that was? I’m a problem solver!

For real, though, I’ve read books where bad decisions were made, but Craig takes the crown on this one. He can’t be a part of my horror movie survival squad. He’s a liability. He would get us chainsawed. Craig. Craig? Craig. Just go to the corner and think about your decisions.

Two stars are for Felix the cat.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.