Ten year old Ralph lives with his mother and step-father on the family farm in north central Kansas. The dust bowl years are over and this summer has been wet and hot. Ralph detects an awful smell coming from the woodlot down by the river. Biting flies and the strength of stench frustrate Ralph's attempts to discover the source by himself. He enlists the help of his buddies, Rusty and Teag. But things that boys are required to do, like church and Sunday dinner at Grandma's delay their expedition. Finally in the cool of Monday morning they locate the decomposing human body. Ralph's mother conscripts him as kitchen apprentice to help feed the hoard of men folk who come to witness the sheriff's investigation. The coroner calls in the State Bureau of Investigation to help solve the mystery. It is the week of the annual town Celebration. A mysterious death, possibly murder, turns the peaceful community on its ear. People here die from understandable reasons, like illness, accidents and old age, not murder. To be sure, the community has its share of mean people and bullies. The railroad divides here and there are always rough railroad workers coming through. Many strangers are in town for celebration to attend the competitions--livestock, cooking, music, dancing-as well as the carnival barkers and rides. Through the activities of Celebration Ralph and his friends speculate as to the identity of the victim and the identity of the killer. Then walking home in the dark Ralph stumbles into the killer's crosshairs...