After embarrassing themselves at the social event of the year in high society Philadelphia on New Years Eve of 1942, Maddie and Ellis Hyde are cut off financially by Elliss father, a former army Colonel who is already embarrassed by his sons inability to serve in WWII due to his being colorblind. To Maddies horror, Ellis decides that the only way to regain his fathers favor is to succeed in a venture his father attempted and very publicly failed at: he will hunt the famous Loch Ness monster and when he finds it he will restore his fathers name and return to his fathers good graces (and pocketbook). Joined by their friend Hank, a wealthy socialite, the three make their way to Scotland in the midst of war. Each day the two men go off to hunt the monster, while another monster, Hitler, is devastating Europe. And Maddie, now alone in a foreign country, must begin to figure out who she is and what she wants. The novel tells of Maddies social awakening: to the harsh realities of life, to the beauties of nature, to a connection with forces larger than herself, to female friendship, and finally, to love.