In 1661 Madrid, Ana is still grieving the loss of her husband when her niece, sixteen-year-old Juliana, suddenly vanishes. Ana frantically searches the girl¿s room and comes across a diary. Journeying to southern Spain in the hope of finding her, Ana immerses herself in her niece¿s private thoughts. After a futile search in Seville, she comes to Juliana¿s final entries, and, discovering the horrifying reason for the girl¿s flight, abandons her search.<br><br>In 1992 Missouri, in her deceased mother¿s home, Rachel finds a packet of letters, and a diary written by a woman named Juliana. Rachel¿s reserved mother has never mentioned these items, but Rachel recognizes the names Ana and Juliana: her mother uttered them on her deathbed. She soon becomes immersed in Juliana¿s diary, which recounts the young woman¿s journey to Mexico City and her life in a convent. As she learns the truth about Juliana¿s tragic family history, Rachel seeks to understand her connection to the writings¿hoping tha