Jesse Thomas, a humble, unassuming war hero from a tiny northeast Mississippi town, has dealt with a lot in his short life, including the tragic loss of his parents in a car crash. But what troubles him most is the disappearance of his wife, Mary, over a year ago. Cleared as a suspect by investigators, Jesse is perplexed that no one talks about her anymore. It’s as if she never existed.

Only one clue was left behind: the remains of Mary’s dog. Although dismissed by law enforcement, Jesse thinks it’s significant to the case. Other than sympathy, it’s difficult to get much else from enigmatic sheriff Frankie Weatherford, Jesse’s legal guardian and the father of Brax, Jesse’s best friend growing up. Mr. Frankie, who’s like a second father, wouldn’t have anything to hide … would he?

The more Jesse pokes around, the more hostility he encounters, especially from a pair of seedy childhood acquaintances who radiate envy and hatred toward him. Do they know what happened to Mary? Does Brax, a once-promising athlete whose life is in ruins, know more than he’s telling? Can Johnny Coats, a hard-to-read friend of the sheriff, be trusted? And how far will Jesse go to protect Ellie, his soulmate since middle school?