Inthespringof1909,fourdozenintrepidindividualsendeavoredtoconstructalighthouseatopa130footescarpmentoverthefrigidwatersofLakeSuperior.Therewerenoroadsortownsnearby.InRefugeFromtheSea,AbbySimon,heroineoftheBlackOtterBayseries,discoversajournalwrittenmorethan100yearsagobyoneofthemenbuildingSplitRockLighthouse.Entrancedbythecourageandcommitmentofthisfellowshipofstrangersstrugglingagainstthewilderness,Abbyengagesthetownsfolktohelpuncoverhiddencluestothishistoricundertaking.ButwhenthejournalcomestoasuddenstopwiththewriterfallingintotheicydepthsofLakeSuperior,Abbyismoredeterminedthanevertouncoverhisfate.RefugeFromtheSeaisamysterywithoutamurder,alovestory,andatalltaleofheroicdetermination,allsettothebackdropofthetemperamentalLakeSuperior.