Unsure of his parentage and beytrayed in love, Theo Shortcourse is on the run, but saved from despair by his unquenchable spirit. Theo Shortcourse has always been overshadowed by his charismatic nephew, Pat Bain- three years older than him and the favourite of Theo's beautiful, manipulative mother, Sparrow. Now Pat is the most powerful figure in the Irish Government and Theo is up for murder. As he hides from his pursuers in the river delta, he thinks back over his life and upbringing in the small town of Monument, a story whose tangled themes of blood and tribe, politics, church and law, desire, betrayal, violence and guilt reflect the blasted hopes 20th century Ireland.