A man plagued by prophetic dreams abandons his family to prevent a vision of his daughter's death from coming to pass. David Winkler, a hydrologist with the ability to foresee future events, finds his life fractured by the weight of his own premonitions. After witnessing a tragic accident in his youth, he spends his adulthood attempting to outrun the inevitable, eventually fleeing his home in Ohio when he dreams of his daughter Grace drowning in a flood. The narrative follows his long, isolated exile on a Caribbean island, where he grapples with the morality of his flight and the lingering uncertainty regarding his daughter's fate. The story unfolds through a non-linear structure that oscillates between his past life in Alaska and Ohio and his present existence as a recluse.

This novel is characterized by its lyrical prose and the deliberate, atmospheric pacing that defines the author's early work. The narrative invites readers to consider the tension between scientific rationalism and the inexplicable nature of human intuition. Critics often highlight the meticulous attention to environmental detail, which serves as a metaphor for the protagonist's internal state. The work is regarded as a somber meditation on the consequences of avoidance and the enduring nature of parental love. It stands as a significant entry in the author's bibliography, showcasing his ability to weave complex emotional landscapes into a singular, haunting premise.