This is a story of Darling, a town in New Hampshire. Darling is ruled by the House of New Hampshire  :- The Governor, his secretary and Judge. The story is narrated from alternating POV of Ashley and Presley Ann. Ashley is an attorney and the  great-grandson of the Judge. Presley Ann is the daughter of the Secretary. The ancestors of Ashley are called Twenty Four or Giant men and violent women, hence the title.

In Darling there are no jails, the Prisoners are put into the prison work program, where the work in houses as Slaves doing cooking, cleaning, driving  etc for free. This was brought about Judge, Chap Bragg, but not everyone is for this program . There are protests for and against the Prison Work Program (also called Slave Work Program).

The book starts with the assassination of the current governor who is against the Prison Work Program. Then we are introduced to Ashley and Presley Ann's family. Ashley is engaged to be married to Lousianna, the daughter of the New Governor, but he loves Presley Ann. Presley Ann is mostly a Boston girl, but currently she lives with her mother's people in Darling. She was dating Date. Currently Date is leading the anti Slavery Protests. The story revolves around the main people of the House of Hampshire and their families. 

Do Ashley and Presley Ann get their happily ever after? Will the protests stop the Prison Work Program? Read to find out 

It was a different kind of story. I had never thought of such a program, I still don't know whether I'm for or against it. This story tells us both the pros and cons of Prison Work Program. I understand both Ashley and Date's perspectives.