After discovering a mysterious snake-stone among his few childhood belongings, a talented young diver named James sets out to uncover the truth about his origins. James, an adopted teenager training for a national competition, finds his focus fractured by the sudden need to understand his biological history. He leaves his familiar life to search for his birth mother in the Derbyshire Peak District, facing the uncertainty of what he might find. The narrative alternates between James’s present-day search and the past, utilizing the birth mother’s own voice to reveal the circumstances of his conception and early life.

This novel is frequently noted for its sensitive handling of the complexities surrounding adoption and the search for identity. The dual-narrative structure allows readers to connect with both the protagonist's current confusion and the historical context of his birth mother's choices. The prose is characterized by a restrained, reflective tone that avoids melodrama while addressing significant emotional stakes. It serves as a thoughtful examination of how understanding one's past is often a prerequisite for navigating the future.