The small Outer Banks island of Killakeet is a quiet backwater. Josh Thurlow grew up there, the son of the lighthouse keeper. When he was a boy, he lost his younger brother Jacob at sea and is haunted by the experience. He moved to Alaska as a Coast Guard officer, but just as World War II broke out, he was reassigned back to Killakeet and put in charge of its small cutter, the Maudie Jane. Soon after he arrives back, he meets Dosie Crossan, a single woman who is trying to sort out her life after making several poor choices.

When the war begins, the Germans send a U-boat to the North Carolina waters to sink merchant ships. It is captained by Otto Krebs, who is haunted by his own memories. On a recent visit to the orphanage where he grew up, he fell in love with Miriam, only to see her die in a British air attack. One of the orphans, Harro, is now a crewman on his U-boat.

Otto and Josh soon begin a running battle in the waters off the island. And while it is Josh’s mission to sink Otto’s boat, the two men gain a respect and understanding of each other. But then Otto’s superior officer, Vogel, arrives in his own boat. Vogel has no qualms about sinking passenger ships and terrorizing civilians. He orders Otto to join him in an attack on Killikeet. The Germans fire the town, but when Vogel rounds up the villagers on the beach and prepares to kill them, Otto and his crew help Josh and his crew repel the attackers.

Meanwhile, Harro has been washed overboard. He lands on Killikeet where he is met by Willow, a strange, quiet girl who was an infant friend of Josh’s brother, Jacob. Willow is convinced that Harro is Jacob, and soon convinces Josh’s dad that his long-lost son has returned. Josh isn’t convinced, even though the doctor claims he has fingerprint evidence. But Josh likes Harro and when the other Germans are imprisoned, agrees to hide Harro and let him stay on the island. Harro eventually marries Willow and takes over the lighthouse duties.

Meanwhile, Vogel tries to sink Otto’s submarine. It is damaged and sinking. All the crew get away except Otto. In a final chapter, Dosie is an old woman. She and Josh married and Josh has since died. Harro gives tours of the lighthouse. Dosie finds an old piece of jewelry on the beach one day, one that Otto wore that Miriam had made. In the piece of jewelry is a piece of red glass. Dosie has an old letter written by the priest at Otto’s orphanage. He says Miriam got the glass from a small boy that was brought to the orphanage. Dosie compares the glass to the pieces Jacob played with when he was a little boy, and they match.

The story was OK, although the plot was very contrived and predictable. The writing, and in particular the dialogue was, in places, simply awful.