Shyne is a young African American on death row in New York State. One of a set of triplets, his life has been overshadowed by the early death of one of his brothers - a tragic accident for which he was blamed, and which he's never been allowed to forget. Shyne is accused and pleads guilty to the rape and killing of a three-year-old girl. On the day of his execution, when the novel begins, the six witnesses to his death sentence are travelling to the penitentiary. However, in the course of this dramatic day, readers come to realise that Shyne is in fact innocent.