When fifteen-year-old Judy Adams runs away with Alvin Neelley, she entangles herself in a web of lies and criminality. After committing two murders Judy has two choices: she can remain with her husband, Alvin, and become a serial killer or turn herself in to the police.

Seven months later she is sent to death row in the women's prison of Alabama. Judy can't understand how she became a murderer and the victim of Alvin, whose physical and psychological brutality reduced Judy to being his puppet. Slowly an idea takes shape. In whatever time she has, can she write to victims and family members of victims to tell them of her remorse? Will they be willing to read and believe what she has written?

This book chronicles thirty-nine years of the author's relationship with Judy in various roles, as chaplain, spiritual director, confidante, grief counselor, and friend.