After Tova Sullivan s husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, but wouldn t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it s too late... Shelby Van Pelt s debut novel is a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.