"In southeast Minnesota, down on the Mississippi, a school board meeting is coming to a close. The board chairman announces that the rest of the meeting will be closed, due to personnel issues. "Issues" is correct. The proposal up for a vote before them is whether a local reporter should die. And the vote is four to one in favor. Meanwhile, not far away, Virgil Flowers is doing a favor for a friend by looking into a dognapping, which seems to be turning...

School psychologist Skye Denison Boyd opts for pet therapy to aid a handful of socially awkward fourth grade boys with the assistance of the local vet, a Siberian husky, and a Maine coon. When school board member Palmer Lynch is found dead in his home with the therapy cat hidden in his garage, Skye finds herself dealing with a killer.