[1] The story is set on and off the Rhode Island coast where James Pfeiffer, age 20 and just expelled from college, starts working on a broken down scallop trawler against the wishes of his family.

James comes to learn the very real dangers that exist in the present and truth about his father's past.

[4] The story was adapted for television in 1996 for Hallmark Hall of Fame, entitled just Calm at Sunset.

Directed by Daniel Petrie it starred Peter Facinelli as James Pfeiffer, Michael Moriarty as his father Russ, Kate Nelligan as his mother Margaret and Gretchen Mol as his girlfriend Emily.

Its music, composed by Ernest Troost, was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.