Olsen introduces the reader to the three Knotek sisters in the present day: Nikki, Sami, and Tori (the book is also dedicated to the three of them). All three women are successful, seemingly ordinary adult women living in the Pacific Northwest. Nikki lives in suburban Seattle with her husband and children. Sami lives in the Knoteks’ hometown and teaches elementary school. Tori resides in central Oregon and works in social media. Despite how normal all three of them appear to be, they all suffer from flashbacks to their traumatic childhood. While each has a different father, surviving their mother’s abuse has given the three sisters an unbreakable bond.

Michelle “Shelly” Lynn Watson Rivardo Long Knotek’s hometown of Battle Ground, Washington, was named for a bloody battle between the indigenous Klickait nation and the United States Army, which seems fitting given Shelly’s violent disposition. In the 1950s, Battle Ground is a quintessential American small town. Shelly’s father, Les Watson, is well known in the community for his charm and his family-owned businesses, including nursing homes and a bowling alley. He meets 17-year-old Lara Stallings, who works at his bowling alley. He is a decade her senior but lies to her, telling her that she is four years his junior.