A rash of animal mutilations and a vicious poison pen campaign directed against an ambitious young lawyer lead to murder in a rural Pennsylvania community. Dan 'Sticks' Hetrick, retired police chief, and Flora Vastine, a novice officer, team up and encounter false leads, a series of dangerous episodes and another murder before the case is resolved. This is author J. R. Lindermuth's second Dan 'Sticks' Hetrick murder mystery, following SOMETHING IN COMMON.