Members of the Barrington family are shocked at the arbitrary and vindictive nature of their wealthy matriarch's will. While the palatial home goes to her prodigal step-grandson, hardworking Louise receives only the copyright to her grandfather's musty novels--long out of print and never popular. When she peruses one of these volumes, she discovers stories her beloved grandfather once read to her. But as she looks more closely, Louise becomes convinced the book's Japanese POW camp episodes are more fact than fiction--and could contain clues to secrets long since hidden.