SANDCASTLES chronicles the lives of a family with strong a Irish heritage and Catholic values set in a Connecticut seaside town involving four life-long friends -- Honor, John, Tom and Bernie -- whose seemingly idyllic lives are really wrought with turmoil and emotional turbulence.

Honor and John are artists who shared a passionate connection, got married and had three daughters. On a trip back to Ireland, something tragic happens on a cliff involving John and his daughter Regis, something so tragic that John would spend the next six years in prison and nearly lose his family.

Bernie, who is John's sister and Honor's life-long best friend, is the administrative nun at Star of the Sea Academy. She and Tom had a young romance before she ultimately chose to spend her life devoted to God instead of marrying Tom -- resulting in much emotional second- guessing for both of them, as it's obvious they never got over each other.

Ms. Rice pens a lovely novel. She captures the complex emotions of a tormented family -- a family troubled by secrets. The scenery and setting of the book are beautiful, as there's a theme of harsh ruggedness that matches the emotional state of the characters. In the end, Rice makes the case that secrets that form our mental prisons may often be more damaging than the truth.

This review is from the hardcover edition.