Eleanor Sawchuck wants to spend her last years in peace, enjoying life while she still can, perhaps even pursuing a December romance. Her book club is concentrating this month on "the nature of evil," tackling a victim's memoir about horrible abuse she suffered as a child. Although Eleanor agrees with her friend who objects, "We want to enjoy ourselves here. Exercise our brain cells as we did with Heart of Darkness, not give each other nightmares," all four women end up reading it. Then the unthinkable happens. The alleged perpetrator of that abuse, now an old man, moves into their complex. Eleanor's world is transformed into one of suspicion, doubt, disgust, and guilt over her helplessness. Over time, however, she finds herself becoming complacent. Who knows if any of it is true? But then a child who regularly visits the nursing home goes missing.