Maud, in her eighties and suffering from dementia, can't find her dear friend Elizabeth. She knows Elizabeth is missing because her phone calls go unanswered, she's never home when Maud visits, and Maud has left herself notes in her pockets and throughout the house to remind herself that Elizabeth is missing.
Maud retains the ability to recall details of her past with unfailing clarity. She often forgets what has happened five minutes ago, but constantly brings up details surrounding her sister Sukey's disappearance years ago.
Maud tries to figure out the two mysteries, Sukey's disappearance and that of her friend Elizabeth. Healy is able to reveal the woman beneath the disease quite well, while also describing the reasons behind the sometimes maddening behavior that sufferers of this disease present to the rest of the world. At times it is hard to imagine the constant confusion that Maud lives with, and how those around her react to her behavior. Despite her disease, she is an extremely likeable character.