The Spence Women is the contemporary story of three women - Pearl, Audrey, and Maegan Spence.
Pearl at 82 is the matriarch who holds the family together. Before the story begins, she has migrated with her husband from Ozark country to a small desert town in California near where her brother has already settled.
Audrey is Pearl's daughter who makes unwise choices with two men - Roger Hemmings who abandons her and Dixson Dupre who abuses her.
Maegan is Audrey's daughter by Hemmings who provides a generous monthly child support check and remains anonymous to Maegan.
The novel chronicles Maegan's obstacle filled quest to find her biological father Hemmings, the circumstances leading up to that quest, the quest itself, and the revelations resulting from that quest.
Pearl on occasion acts as a Greek Chorus commenting on the unfolding events. The story is set in the mythical town of Beaumont Valley, as well as locations in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and Phoenix.