After decades abroad and at the behest of her aging, narcissistic mother, Agnes returns to Australia. Though apprehensive, she hopes to uncover the cause of her lifelong angst, a string of failed relationships, and the dark clouds where her memories should be. Sydney's shimmering beauty and iconic landmarks are comforting at first. But a chance encounter outside her childhood home resurrects a cataclysmic event, setting in train recollections of shocking abuse. Told with searing candour, remarkable insight and even more remarkable wit, Agnes's indomitable spirit shines through. Her youthful innocence sustains her and intermittent kindnesses from outsiders provide stark relief. Through years of therapy and the cathartic process of writing, 'Agnes' can finally transcend her suffering - and Judy King, by now in her eighties, triumphantly reclaims her life.