When author Valarie Veanes Upson opened a message that had been sitting in her inbox, she was hours away from news that would shatter everything she knew about her family. A stranger, Diane Jones, wanted to discuss something important in person. The next day, Valarie heard a story about her grandmother and Diane’s grandfather that set her on a years-long journey to discover the truth about the grandmother she had known all her life.

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At the height of the Great Depression, Valarie’s grandmother, Bethel Veanes, and Diane’s grandfather, Claude Jones, had murdered a man. They were caught, tried, and convicted. Bethel and Claude were sentenced and served prison terms; but times were different then. For generations, the Veanes family was never told of their beloved grandmother’s past. This shocking surprise lit the spark for Valarie to learn the history that had been hidden from her family.

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With precision, Valarie deftly details the fascinating story of Bethel Veanes—her tragic upbringing, the disturbing manipulation from a family member, and the horrific abuse she endured after she was convicted and incarcerated.