Warren Dillon, the CEO of the Capitol Raceway, where greyhounds run, is found dead lying in a pool of blood on the asphalt of the Raceway's parking lot. Jeremy Pendelton, new reporter for the weekly False River Review, is assigned the story. Besides reporting the news, he persuades his publisher to allow him to conduct a sub rosa investigation into the murder of this wealthy, distinguished member of the community. Jeremy discovers there were many who had ill will toward Dillon, especially members of his own family. In solving the case, Jeremy uncovers secret evils of the Dillons. When the culprit is finally identified, charged and set for trial, a shocking development turns everything upside down.