Set in a small town called Buell in Pennsylvania, the novel starts by introducing the two close friends, Billy and Isaac, who are also affected by the closure of the town’s steel mill. One dreadful night, Billy and Isaac are ambushed by a group of homeless men who try to assault them. Billy kills one of them, and scared about the repercussions they flee the scene intent to not admit their wrongdoing.
They get help from the town’s policeman, who hides the evidence of their being at the scene of crime, mainly because he is romantically involved with Billy’s son Grace. Isaac decides to take his disabled father’s money and flee town, mainly because of jealousy towards his sister, who had a chance to explore the world outside the small town. Meanwhile, Billy gets arrested but refuses to admit to Isaac’s involvement in the crime, despite the dreadful suffering he endures in prison.
Billy is eventually released from prison, but not before he gets critically stabbed by the inmates while the guards passively watch. He is rendered disabled, and after the new and spiritually reborn Isaac returns home with intent to admit to his crime, Billy tells him to let it go.
