1940. When the Soviets invade the Baltic state of Latvia and occupy the capital city of Riga, they confiscate Max Talan's business and the family's house and bank accounts. Then the Nazis arrive; they kill Max and begin to round up Jews. Fearing for her newborn son and her young daughter, Ilana, Miriam Talan asks her housekeeper to hide them and conceal their Jewish roots to keep them safe until the savagery ends. Three decades later, in Chicago, Sarah Byrne is mourning the untimely death of her mother, Ilana. Her estranged grandmother, Miriam, attends the funeral, opening the door to shocking family secrets. Miriam begs Sarah to find the son she left behind in Latvia. Traveling to the Soviet satellite state, Sarah begins her search with the help of Roger, a Russian-speaking professor. As they come closer to the truth, she realizes her quest may have disastrous consequences. - adapted from jacket