This book has a complex plot that takes some surprise turns. There is mystery and suspense as Franny, the major character, struggles to discover who she is. Her husband and the ship's Captain are multi-dimensional. The setting in Ireland, Australia, and on the ocean provides local color which I found interesting. The novel has grand themes of self-discovery and resilience in the face of adversity. Much of the story is pessimistic, but at the end, the narrator finds life and redemption.