Late in his life and over a period of several months, Frank Ross places six coins under a rock on the slopes of a mountain in Scotland called Ben y Vrackie. Both the coins and the mountain have resonance and significance for Frank, as well as, in due course, for six other people. The book follows his life from his childhood into his early sixties. During this time he encounters twelve people who are to have a profound effect on him. Six are kind; six are not. The narrative examines the ancestry of all the characters and the consequent effect on their personality and behaviour, and thus how they interact with Frank.
Frank Ross is essentially a decent man who reacts in a singular manner to events and actions that he sees as either good or bad. This is a novel about retribution and love, but mainly about love.
