The Complicities is set in the eastern part of the United States. It follows a couple, named Alan and Suzanne, whose relationship is at a precipice. After decades of a seemingly loving marriage, Alan has been arrested and accused of perpetrating a decades-long scheme involving financial fraud. Suzanne and the rest of their family is destroyed by Alan's arrest and their wealthy, seemingly positive and fruitful lives are upended.
As a result of Alan's financial crimes, Suzanne files from divorce from him. She was destroyed by the revelation and doesn't want to be associated with her former husband and his crimes. Eventually, Alan is convicted and goes to prison for his crimes, leaving Suzanne alone. Their divorce is granted and processed, and Suzanne decides to head to a middle-class Massachusetts beach town. There, she creates a new identity for herself, hoping to never be associated with her criminal husband again.
But she quickly learns that it will be hard for her to escape her past life. Her former husband calls her seemingly continuously from Norfolk State Prison, but she never answers the call and ignores him. After all, he committed the financial crimes, she didn't. But that couldn't further from the truth: she was complicit and involved in her husband's crimes.
Surprisingly, Alan is released early from prison, something which shocks Suzanne and the rest of the world. Shortly after he is released, those who he wronged start to demand restitution. Alan isn't in a position (and largely isn't willing) to provide them with restitution and neither is Suzanne, who starts to make very impactful decisions about her life and Alan.
Eventually, Alan moves on from Suzanne and marries someone new. He also tries to make amends for those he hurt, including his son, his estranged mom, Suzanne, and the people who were involved in his financial scheme. But one truth remains: Alan (and Suzanne) hurt so many people, something which that have to wrestle with very consistently. And their actions will haunt them, it appears, for the rest of their lives.
