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.
