This gripping novel centers on Jane Field, a woman of modest means who becomes entangled in a web of deception to secure a better life for her daughter. When Jane assumes the identity of a deceased relative to claim an inheritance, she finds herself caught between the guilt of her lies and her desire to provide for her family. Set in a small New England town, Freeman's story delves into themes of morality, maternal sacrifice, and the social pressures faced by women in the 19th century.