The secrets of a troubled family play out over three generations in the two books of this far-reaching novel. The first book tells the story of Caroline, who was abandoned by her mother and left to fend for herself and her puritanical father. An illicit liaison with a priest leads to dire consequences, including her subterranean imprisonment and the birth of her son, Dylan. This illegitimate boy and his struggles are the subject of the second book, which follows his childhood of darkness and his quest to defy his past and become a good man. Taken together, these compelling volumes vividly paint the saga of tragedy, deceit, courage, and resilience of an ill-fated family.