In the summer of 1867 a sudden change in the fortunes of the Feeney family saves them from their life of struggle and poverty in the mean backstreets of York. But what will save the Feeney family from itself? Patrick and Thomasin Feeney and their children, Erin, Richard and Sonny, each have different dreams - and as these dreams grow under the influence of their new-found wealth the old bonds between them begin to break. Estranging husband and wife, dividing father and son, setting brother against brother.
But it is Richard, as dishonest and selfish as he is handsome and charming, whose final betrayal threatens to bring down the judgement of God.