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Bob Baker is going through a divorce and working at an insurance job where he finds no joy. Needing a break, he and his girlfriend, Karen (another employee at the agency), head to Mexico. Bob enjoys the scenery and the water. He was a competitive diver when he was younger and has always enjoyed being in and around the water. When he realizes things are not going well with Karen, he sneaks out in the night, missing his flight, and heads further away from the tourist area. He saves a young, local boy struggling in the surf and seems to be saved by a young blonde who takes him as his lover. But Bob is drowning, and like many in that predicament, clings too tightly to his rescuer, which leads to her leaving. After a drunken attempt at a cliff dive and a slight thrashing by local police, Bob, naked and without a dime or passport, is taken in by the mother of the young boy he rescued.
Brewer’s novel is a great example of literary fiction. His skill and experience as a writer are on full display, and he deftly weaves together sentences and local mythologies to create a mentally engaging read. He demonstrates clear control over the story and pacing and creates a character at odds with himself and the world, a trait common to the genre. The story is a bit too predictable with a protagonist whose personality is rather flat and primarily defined by the woman currently in his life. However, readers will still undoubtedly relish in Brewer’s excellent prose and enjoy being swept away by a character-driven story that strips off the material trappings of New York for something more meaningful.