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This book opens with the mysterious disappearance of Liam Sullivan's father, Ward, in Ireland. Ward's wife, Colleen, and his son, Liam, struggle for years after Ward's disappearance to understand what really happened. Meanwhile, young Liam has taken a liking to solving mysteries. One day, an unexpected visit from the Irish Garda spins everything Colleen and Liam suspected about Ward's disappearance out of control.
A series of clues eventually emerges, and Liam begins using his detective skills to follow them to find Ward. The adventure leads Colleen, Liam, and Liam's grandfather back to Ireland, where Liam, after years apart, reconnects with people who seem to have what he has always wanted most: time to focus on himself. For the others in Liam's family, too, their trip to Ireland turns out to be the healing they all needed.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this novel is its focus on time. This focus is best conveyed through Liam's attention to it. For Liam, time is important. It passes too quickly. It changes people. His mother, because of her professional work, never seems to have enough time for Liam. Thus, one of the novel's central lessons is that, because no one seems to have enough time and it passes so quickly, making an effort to set aside adequate time for friends, loved ones, and the moments that matter is increasingly important. This book is quite the adventure, filled with mystery and fantasy. People who enjoy both genres will definitely enjoy this book.