Based on the novel "Crime Story" by Maurice Gee, Fracture follows the journey of Leanne Rosser, a strong but world-weary solo mother. On a hot train with her one-year-old son, Sam, Leanne is travelling to visit her mother in Wainuiomata on the outskirts of Wellington. But Leanne is not welcome. Her mother is deeply involved with the church and refuses to accept her grandchild, born out of wedlock and Leanne's sympathetic father is powerless to intervene.

Unknown to all of them, Leanne's brother, Brent, is in the midst of robbing a house. He's usually careful to make sure the houses he targets are empty, but today an unsuspecting victim, Ulla, returns home and disturbs him. Brent panics and sends Ulla plummeting down the steps. From that moment on, everything is changed and the repercussions of Brent's actions send shockwaves through both his and Ulla's families and set a series of events into motion that will change the course of their lives forever.