In the slums of London, fingersmith Susan "Sue" Trinder and baby farmer Mrs. Sucksby hatch a plan to swindle rich Maud Lilly, an orphan living with her uncle. Sue poses as Maud's maid to facilitate a marriage with the wealthy Mr. Rivers, with the goal of institutionalizing Maud and claiming the lucrative payout. However, things take a complicated turn when Sue falls in love with Maud, leading to questions about who can be trusted.
Conman Richard Rivers enlists the help of petty thief Sue Trinder in his plot...