An explosion kills a man. Authorities rule it "accidental." But the man's widow is sure it's premeditated murder. She implores a newspaper reporter to investigate and get to the bottom of it. He agrees but needs help. So he partners with Harry Bittercress, a private eye, to work all the angles and suss out likely suspects. They find many. Too many. "There ain't hardly anyone who don't wanna 'off' the victim," Harry remarks. Can they narrow that large field of suspects to the lone culprit? It won't be easy.