Percy Talbott, a recently released inmate from a Maine prison, relocates to the small, waning, town of Gilead, whose remaining residents seem to have long since grown numb to the commanding countryside that encloses them. Soon the skeptical citizens of Gilead begin to speculate about her background and criminal past and Percy becomes hard pressed to find a room and work. Finally, Percy finds a job with Hannah, the indomitable owner of the Spitfire Grill, and begins to develop a strong connection with she and her niece-in-law, Shelby. Through their deepening friendship, each woman experiences a personal redemption and, through their solidarity, the narrow-minded citizens of the community are reawakened and reunified.