The Widow Makers is set in the picturesque yet harsh quarrylands of North Wales, amidst the majestic Snowdonia Mountains, ancient castles, and the opulent Penrhyn Castle. This tale blends fact and fiction to trace the lives of two very different families in the 19th century.

After a pit disaster in Manchester, Joe Standish moves his wife, Emily, and their tiny son, Tommy, to North Wales, where he embarks on the perilous life of a quarryman. Their home life is filled with happiness, marred only by Tommy's growing wilfulness.

As Tommy matures, his intelligence becomes apparent, catching the attention of Bertram Bellamy, the quarry owner. Bertram offers to educate Tommy alongside his own son. As Tommy transitions into adulthood, his life is split between his working-class family and his wealthy benefactor at the grand Plas Mawr mansion.

Unbeknownst to Bertram, a destructive force lurks behind Tommy's charm and charisma, ultimately shaping the destiny and destruction of the Bellamy family.