Chrissie Reid, a young battered wife living on a small Orkney island in 1906 finally turns on her husband, Jack. After a particularly brutal attack, she is driven to offering him poison. With no memory of that night, she believes she has killed him, especially when she finds evidence of a body buried in the byre.
Set against a backdrop of love and tragedy, the story follows fifteen-year-old Isa Muirison as she leaves her comfortable life to be with Davie, a whisky runner, in his hostile island community. Faced with rejection from Davie's mother and his former sweetheart, Chrissie, Isa's determination to fit in is tested when a devastating tragedy strikes. Meanwhile, Chrissie grapples with her tumultuous relationship with Davie's violent brother, Jack. As their lives intertwine, both women seek peace and acceptance amidst the turmoil.