In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex is assaulted by something no one could believe—a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance.

Brendan gets involved in a 'Fathers Only' treasure hunt for the sake of his 7 year old niece Sophie. But what Brendan begins to realise is that the parents imagination may have got the better of them and it might not be so easy bringing home Sophie's Fortune.

Five vastly different but closely related people are forced to re-examine the myth of the monster from their recent past.