In a situation at a Center for Women where abortions take place, a man holds women, from all different avenues, hostage. We learn about each of the women and the gun man - not in chronological order but beginning at the later stages of the hold up and going back in hourly increments through a series of events leading up to the stand off.
One thing I did disagree with is that the crisis pregnancy centers are shown to be underhand and dishonest in trying to get women to choose life for their child. Having volunteered at a non profit crisis pregnancy center in Texas for over 20 years I have never come across this. The women counselors, nurses and staff are trained to focus on the women and their best interests. We do offer free pregnancy tests, ultrasound (not a fake one that is shown in the book) and parenting classes. We also help with diapers, formula and clothing. Of course, being pro-life, they would prefer that a client not go through an abortion, and can offer alternatives so that she can make an informed decision, which seems to be the problem throughout the book, that these women didn't feel they had any other choice. Sometimes the girl is simply scared and doesn't want to give up their baby but doesn't see any other option. Sometimes they just want someone to care. The tragedy is that many girls come back after an abortion for someone to talk to, having regretted their decision, and even though they are told by many that abortion will make the "problem" go away, a secret abortion means that they grieve alone and with no one to tell.
By the way, I don't agree with the horrendous grotesque placards held by people standing outside abortion clinics to scare girls from going there. Bullying is never acceptable and a bully may be the reason the girl is there in the first place. These girls need love and kindness.
