The book has only two main characters: Belinda Zimmerman, the only one named, and a personified diary. Belinda records everything, including her innermost thoughts, in her diary. It has a life of its own. This is the story of a self-taught con woman, Belinda Zimmerman, who becomes quite proficient at conning, lying, stealing, and cheating people, organizations, institutions, and the government. During her endeavor, she amasses a fortune that she keeps inside the walls of her home. Although it started out to be a necessary endeavor in her mind, she soon discovers that she doesn't really need all that she is accumulating. After a while, her conning is only a thrill, an exhilaration of possibly getting caught. Even though she is no longer poverty stricken, she continues to act like the poor destitute divorcée in much need. As life deals some personal tragedies, she begins to change. Belinda begins to take care of others and to part with a little of her illegal material gains. She is giving of her time and of her money to worthwhile individuals and charities. Belinda finally falls in love with her fourth husband-to-be. His actions reveal to her how a person should live. He is generous, kind, and considerate to Belinda. After marrying him, Belinda's conscience begins to gnaw at her. She has a whole host of sins that she wants to reveal to him but is afraid to do so. She feels that many of them are unforgivable. On her deathbed, she finally confesses all of them to him. Here, he drops a bombshell that she never expected. However, Belinda does not repent to her Creator as she does not believe in a hereafter. She repeatedly refuses to talk to any clergy. She is adamant that there is nothing after this earthly life. Finally, she passes away into eternity where she discovers another surprise.