A book of mystery and romance that takes place in a small town, Robert's Landing, located on the Chesapeake Bay in southern Maryland. The main story takes place in the early 1950's. The main character, Johnny Barton, has recently returned home to Baltimore from the Korean War and decides to visit his old army buddy, Wilber Henry, who lives in Robert's Landing. Johnny has lived his whole life, except for his army days, in the city of Baltimore but has always dreamed of living in a remote small town on the Chesapeake Bay. Wilber and his family are happy to have Johnny come to Robert's Landing and hope to persuade him to make Robert's Landing his permanent home. With the Henry's help Johnny get's a job at a local restaurant where he meets the love of his life, Lori Lattimore. The problem is that she is engaged to Ralph Roberts, the son of the most important and richest man in southern Maryland, Aaron Roberts. Ralph is a spoiled brat and he and Johnny have their problems. Aaron Roberts rules everything in the county and if Johnny gets on his wrong side he wouldn't be able to remain in Roberts Landing for long. Johnny loves Roberts Landing and Lori but to have any chance with Lori he has to deal with the power of Aaron Roberts and his son Ralph. Strange things begin to happen while Johnny is in Roberts Landing and old mysteries about Roberts Landing start to come to light. Terrible things happen that turn Johnny's life upside down. Terrible things also happen to the whole town that change Robert's Landing forever. The story is presented as a flashback years later. The story is told by the famous author James Walker, who resides in Robert's Landing, to his long estranged granddaughter Abby Gibbons. Abby, who longs to be an author, just recently found out James Walker was her Grandfather and visits him in Robert's Landing. James decides to help Abby develop a story and tells her about an idea he has wanted to turn into a novel but he decides to give the story idea to her. He recites the flashback story to her so she can develop the novel. In her following days in Robert's Landing Abby comes across things that relate back to the story line her Grandfather has told her and she realizes that the story may actually be true. What she learns leads to more mysteries and strange happenings.
