Circumstances force the spirited Mary Yellan to travel to the ominous Jamaica Inn in Cornwall to live with her downtrodden Aunt Patience. The Inn has no guests, and Patience’s violent husband Joss Merlyn is the ringleader of a dangerous group of smugglers. Mary finds her moral resolve immediately challenged, complicated further by her attraction to Joss’ enigmatic brother, Jem.

When Mary witnesses Joss’ drunken confession to murder and ship-wrecking, she is compelled to confide in the local vicar, Francis Davey, and his sister Hannah. A secret outing to the market with Jem leads to some overwhelming feelings. And her return to the Inn is met with an unpleasant surprise.

As the net tightens on the smugglers, Jem is taken into custody and Mary struggles to know who to trust. Jem begs Joss to give up his anonymous superior and save them both. Meanwhile, Mary is unaware of the true danger she faces. Will Jem be able to save her? Or will she find the courage she needs to defeat the evil?