Cullen "Cubby" Greenwich has just published his sixth novel, One O'Clock Jump, which has gotten positive reviews from the literary world. Shearman Waxx, a prominent literary critic, gives a critical, albeit slightly false, critique of Cubby's newest book.
Cubby, against the advice of his wife, Penny Greenwich, a children's book author in her own right, strives to learn more about his new adversary. Cubby discovers that he and the reviewer have a favorite restaurant. Cubby is accompanied to the restaurant by his six-year-old prodigy son, Milo. When Shearman Waxx just says "Doom" in the men's room, it foreshadows the impending catastrophe.
When the occupants of the house get home, they continue about their usual lives, until Shearman Waxx is spotted going around the house. He finally departs with Cubby raging at him the entire time. That night, they activate security and alarms, but are woken in the middle of the night by Sherman Waxx in their bed, who repeats the phrase "Doom." The crazy book critic tasers Penny and Cubby many times. When Waxx leaves, the electricity is turned back on, and the alarm system reports that it is completely working and undisturbed.
Cubby is informed of the tragic method in which the writer's family was slain after receiving a chance call from a fellow writer who had previously undergone a similar slandering at the hands of Waxx. Greenwich is encouraged by the author to forsake his house and flee.
A chain of violent events is set in action, beginning with the demolition of the Greenwich home. The entire family, including rescued pooch Lassie, flees to the imagined safety of a friend's real estate investment project. Milo is clearly being targeted after a sudden barrage of rifle rounds into the living area. When their actions are soon countered by the rising aggression of their pursuers—of which there are now more than one—it becomes clear that they need to obtain weapons and intel.
The family finds safety with Penny Greenwich's apocalyptic-fearing family, who are in their well-fortified bunker after being alerted ahead of time. Not happy with being forced to play the part of recluse prey, the family sets out on a mission of exploration to figure out who they're dealing with and what they can do to stop him.
Their quest brings them to the hometowns of two former artists, where they try to process the violence with which they and their families were treated. Along the way, the family deals with the mounting strain and the looming shadow of death with caustic humor, and Milo escapes into his more sophisticated scientific endeavors.
The plot follows the Greenwich's through a series of dramatic and exciting occurrences as they seek clues into their tormentor's background and uncover his secret objectives. They collaborate with Truman, a retired sheriff who is also investigating Waxx. Two Waxx colleagues come on the scene and murder Truman but are slain by Cubby and his wife. They kidnap Waxx while retreating. They take him to his home and meet his mother, Zazu, who exposes herself to be the head of a group that tries to dominate society by eliminating individuals who produce good symbols of hope and happiness via their artwork.
Zazu instructs one of the pursuers, her grandson, to ensure that Waxx is in the car. He stabs Waxx to death, infuriating Zazu. She pulls out her hidden gun and murders her grandson before shooting Cubby. Cubby collapses and dies on the floor. Milo's previous scientific achievements are activated. Time is reversed, and Cubby is spared, but Zazu dies.
The story concludes with the family returning to the bunker, perceiving it as a safe haven from Zazu's group and the world they aim to establish.
