This novel is about Sam Spade, a detective, who is recruited to participate in the dangerous quest to find the elusive Maltese Falcon.

The book Kindred tells the story of Dana, a modern black woman in 1976, who is celebrating her birthday with her husband when she is abruptly snatched from her home and is transported back to 1819 to save Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, from drowning.

Ng opens her novel with a death, "Lydia is dead but they don't know this yet." (Ng.1)