I must admit that the reason I first selected this book was the book-jacket photo – very intriguing. However, since I neglected to read the brief story line, also, it was rather a shock to discover (well into the story) that the book basically was about gay love – particularly between two of the three main characters, paralleled by the story of John Steinbeck and one of his friends possibly also having been in the same sort of relationship. However, the book was well written, the characters sensitively portrayed (including that of the 3rd main character, Ben’s daughter, 16 year-old Caddie) and except for several unnecessarily overly descriptive scenes between the two men, as well as the quick tying everything up neatly at the end – I found it a rather engrossing tale, especially the deep sea diving descriptions.