Wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, Jack Larner retaliates violently against a sadistic prison guard and is cast into solitary confinement. In the darkness and isolation of his tiny cell, he undergoes a bizarre and inexplicable transformation. When he emerges he appears quite normal, but with one exception: when in Larner's presence, no one can tell him a lie.

Larner considers this transformation to be a curse, but when the prison authorities learn of it they enlist Larner's help in extracting willing confessions from suspects they could never have convicted. Larner is eventually set free, but is constantly hounded by various branches of the security state, forcing him to come to their aid. Larner soon learns that a man can be just as imprisoned walking the streets as he is behind bars.

As you read Jack Larner's story, you might find yourself wondering what your own life would be like, if no one could tell you a lie.