Violet Ives has a secret hobby that nobody else is aware of: exploring and photographing derelict buildings. Her world is turned upside down when she is arrested for trespassing at an abandoned church. After the latest in a line of apparent behavioral problems, her parents decide to send her away to Hollydale, a Bible school with a reputation of turning wayward teenagers into functional adults.

Disaster quickly turns into delight when Violet discovers Bradway, a dying coal mining town in southeast Ohio where Hollydale is located. Loaded with deserted structures, Bradway is a perfect fit for her hobby. Violet soon meets Madeline Pierce, an extroverted older student who becomes a fast friend and helps her integrate into Hollydale. She also must attend regular counseling sessions with the school chaplain who is charged with channeling Violet's rebellious behavior into a more positive demeanor.

Almost immediately, Violet discovers a ruined school on the outskirts of Bradway, the remnant of a tragic fire in which nine people were killed thirty years prior. Unable to resist the temptation, Violet delves into the mystery, her suspicions leading her on a trail through Bradway that could prove highly treacherous.