Summary and Plot Arc

In A Good Man is Hard to Find, a family from Georgia is getting ready to leave on a trip for Florida. The family consists of a grandmother, her son and his wife, their two children, and a cat. The grandmother is opposed to going to Florida, citing a recent newspaper article that indicates a killer called "The Misfit," has escaped from a prison in Florida, and is on his way towards them. Instead, the grandmother suggests they visit their family in Tennessee. They ignore her and begin their trip.
While driving, the family stops at a Barbecue joint owned by a man named "Red Sammy." Like the grandmother, Red Sammy is untrusting of the ways of the world, and prefers "the good old days."
After leaving the restaurant, the family continues driving until the grandmother convinces them to turn down a grid road, towards what she believes to be an old Plantation house. While driving on the road, the grandmother remembers the house is in Tennessee, not Georgia. She is embarrassed and bumps the cat, who hits Bailey, the son and driver, causing an accident.
Upon recovering from the crash, another car pulls up. Three men get out; one is the Misfit. The Misfit and his men execute the family, but not before the grandmother pleads with him. She touches his arm and he shoots her. The three men presumably drive away.