In the mid-19th century, the Pyncheon family estate, an ancestral mansion marked by longstanding curses and grievances, stands at the center of a bitter dispute. The patriarch, Jaffrey Pyncheon, is determined to gain control of the house, relying on a dubious claim that his brother Clifford has committed murder. Clifford is subsequently imprisoned, tearing apart the family and leaving behind Hepzibah Pyncheon, his devoted sister, who tries to maintain some semblance of normalcy in a house burdened by dark history and unresolved tensions. Estranged and isolated, Hepzibah opens a small cent shop within the dilapidated mansion to make ends meet.

As time goes on, various characters with vested interests in the mansion's fate come into play. Phoebe Pyncheon, a young and lively relative, arrives and brings a breath of fresh air to the house, bonding with Hepzibah and aiding her in rejuvenating the home. However, looming threats from Jaffrey persist, as he continues his efforts to seize control of the property and uncover a supposed hidden treasure within its walls. As tension mounts, hidden truths, long-buried secrets, and past injustices surface, setting the stage for a dramatic unraveling of family ties and legacies. The resolution of these conflicts becomes pivotal to the Pyncheons' future.