Kristin Ginelli, a former Chicago cop and current college teacher, lives the hectic, distracted life working parents will recognize. Even though she is on sabbatical to finish her doctoral dissertation (before she gets fired!), she still has to juggle raising her twin boys, caring for her aging, former in-laws, and planning her upcoming wedding. Then she gets pulled into volunteer teaching at a women's prison. The suspicious conditions at the prison and the increasing fear of the prisoners cause her detective instincts to kick in. What is going on behind these walls to terrify the women and even some of the guards? Choosing to find out puts Kristin's life in danger.