Thieves have stolen secret, genetically engineered new species embryos from Greenbough Energy’s research division. Betrayed by one of their own, the embryo tank is lost in an Ozark lake. While the thieves elude Greenbough agents and search for the tank, the tank is found by a backwoods family of ne'er-do-wells. The demented matriarch, Arletha Creed, adopts the strange new creatures as reincarnated relatives. Celia Prescott, one of the wealthiest widows in Missouri, has hired ex-police officer Lee Picket to guard against the growing feud with the Creeds and to spy on her daughter, Jessica. Lee unravels Jessica’s lies, but not in time to prevent a lethal clash between wills, agendas, and the predatory new species.