An adventurous vacationing couple wanders into an apparently empty unmapped section of backwoods South Carolina and gets lost when their GPS unexpectedly fails. They happen upon an enigmatic old black horse-cart driver named Owen who gives them not only directions to the highway, but also a cryptic warning to stay away from Longpoke Road.

Zach is an investigative reporter with a disarming manner that gets people to open up. Before long, a friendship forms and Chester reveals his late wife was murdered by the KKK for attempting to end centuries of local racism at her private liberal arts school. More probing leads to troubling links between the mysterious area they just drove through and the long-lost family of Chester’s best friend. It all seems tied to a dangerous meth-dealing Klan leader who runs a seedy barbecue joint in the next town.

Chloe suddenly fears their recent trespassing may have put Owen’s life at risk. As more disturbing pieces fall into place, Zach suspects the old man is not the only one in danger and that the situation is far worse than first imagined. Further investigation reveals that Longpoke Road hides a vast criminal enterprise, which likely includes slavery. But even that pales in comparison to the reality they will confront.

When the dust settles, Zach, Chloe, Chester, and Annie find their lives forever changed and entangled in ways that leave them all questioning what happened and who they really are.