In this riveting new thriller, an American exchange student's fantasy summer in Italy turns into a terrifying ordeal. Tess Alessandro is living a dream: she was chosen for an extraordinary exchange programme in Rome, where she will spend the summer experiencing the sights, sounds, and flavours of Italy. Sofia, Tess's Italian counterpart, is living with Tess's family while she is away. Her host parents may not be fluent in English, but they appear to be pleasant enough. Until Tess's hosts forced her to join their video chat the next morning. Sofia is standing over Tess's sleeping parents, with a knife. "If you don't do everything we say, they'll die." Tess is compelled to commit a series of crimes without her passport, cash, credit cards, or identification.