Loyalty and betrayal meet in Newfoundland during the tumultuous War of American Independence. Jonah Squibb returns to the Royal Navy to defend his beloved island from Yankee raids and predation. The task is a welcome respite from grief at the death of his wife and the estrangement of his son. The future holds other heartaches, however, as the war at sea intensifies and he is called upon to achieve a great deal with very little. Victory and defeat are never more than a hair's breadth apart as he is pushed to the limit of his skills and endurance. The novel is a sweeping drama of battles on the Grand Banks and romance and intrigue in St. John's harbour.