Shortly after arriving in Bright Leaf, North Carolina, the tobacco capital of the South, Maddie Sykes learns that it isn't quite the carefree paradise that it seems. Although Maddie believes the misfortunes of the female factory workers is a coincidence, she inadvertently uncovers evidence that suggests otherwise. Maddie wants to report what she knows, but in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive, she doesn't know who she can trust - and fears that exposing the truth may destroy the lives of the proud, strong women with whom she has forged strong bonds.