Set in the summer of 1959 in Sunnylakes, California, The Long, Long Afternoon opens with the mysterious disappearance of Joyce Haney, a wife and mother, leaving behind two frightened children and a bloodstain on the kitchen floor. As neighbors organize search parties, Ruby Wright, the family's maid, becomes a central figure in unraveling the mystery. Ruby's intimate knowledge of the family's secrets and the community's undercurrents of prejudice and mistrust position her as a key to understanding the events that transpired. The narrative delves into themes of inequality, broken dreams, and the quiet desperation lurking behind the facade of suburban perfection.