Set in 1971 in the fictitious coastal town of Compton, North Carolina, Blood Will Tell follows Amanda Blackstone on her quest to become a hotshot investigative reporter. An early assignment at her first job leads her into the corrupt world of the town’s wealthiest and most powerful man, where an overheard threat uncovers corporate embezzlement, a suspicious suicide, blackmail, and a long-buried family secret that ends in murder.

Seasoned reporter Patrick Maguire tries to rein in Amanda’s impulsive instincts while together they navigate the ethical and physical dangers of reporting during the backdrop of the turbulent 1970s. As her feelings for Pat grow, Amanda realizes her rookie mistakes may have put both their lives in danger.