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Thomas Blake, a famous writer of detective stories which are on The New York Times bestseller list, is in a state of dismay. He hasn’t written a word since the passing of his wife, who was his source of strength and support. Now in his late fifties, he is acutely aware of his aging status and the physiological changes that come with it. In a local café in Del Mar, California, a small group of surfers half his age senses his sorrow and invites him into their lives. During their trip to Ensenada, Mexico, Thomas’s forlorn spirit begins to awaken. He revives the surfing skills of his youth, rescues a friend from a near-death experience, and helps to bring a daughter and her estranged father together again. Through their relationships and adventures with one another, each character’s life is transformed and revitalized.
The author, writing in the third person, provides the reader with a great amount of insight into the personalities of his characters—their fears, desires, worries, and ambitions. Klein offers a glimpse into the culture, environment, and social mores of the California Pacific Coast beach life. One can almost sense the waves crashing against the shoreline in his vivid descriptions of the beaches of Del Mar and its surrounding region, such as, when referring to the early morning, “He walks to the water and sits on the cool sand and stares out over the ocean at a sky cast in a dark pink hue.” Similarly, the reader can capture the ambiance of Mexico in his vivid imagery: “Salty air doctored with smells of Mexico blows in through the window. Musty fragrances of dry hot earth.” There is much to be taken away from this soul-searching allegory and its meaningful message of being true to oneself and living life in the moment.