The new bestseller from the author of Chocolat. When Grosjean's estranged daughter Mado returns to Le Devin, she brings with her an energy that ruffles the local community. Divided squarely into two warring communities, the islanders' traditional feuds and superstitions persist. In enterprising spirit, Mado arranges to build a reef to divert the current that has been gradually shifting the Salannais' beach towards their rivals on the other side of the island. In doing so, she sparks off a chain of events that brings not only hope but also revelations of a past tragedy.