[1] The novel is told from the point of view of Colquitt "Col" Kennedy, a well-to-do middle-aged woman who lives with her husband Walter in a quiet, affluent Atlanta neighborhood.

They meet the architect and owners shortly after learning about the home, see the plans, and decide it is a beautiful house.

The pair decide to go public with their story — and risk their own reputations and careers — to warn others about the house's dangerous power.

King's extensive synopsis is supplemented by a detailed statement written by Siddons herself that explores some of the novel's themes.

In 2006, The House Next Door was adapted into a made-for-TV movie starring Lara Flynn Boyle and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.