After completing his 15 year prison sentence, an ex-con tracks down his former partner, now known as Carrie Hopewell, in Banshee County Pennsylvania who it turns out is now married to the local DA and has two children. He takes her at her word when she says she doesn't have any of the cash they stole. Later at a roadside bar, he meets the county's new Sheriff, Lucas Hood who has literally just arrived in town and has yet to meet anyone. When Hood is killed during an attempted robbery, the ex-con assumes his identity. The town's youthful mayor wanted to bring in an outsider as Sheriff to deal with their local power broker, Kai Proctor, who seems to have everyone else in his pocket.

Anastasia breaks into her father's extremely secure home to make a deal for her safety. Proctor and Longshadow make a deal to build a hotel on the reservation. Hood performs his brand of an arrest on a rapist, ultimate fighter champion.

A motorcycle gang invades Banshee. They attack Carrie and Sugar at the town Spirit Festival. The killing of one of the bikers by Deputy Kelly during the attack triggers a chain of violent events.

An ex-prison mate friend of Sheriff Hood named Wicks shows up unexpectedly in Banshee. Wicks causes Hood to remember all the pain and torment he went through in prison. Proctor blackmails the local Reverend to sale his house.