In the thick of the Cold War, Mc Cain investigates death threats against an alleged red The citizens of Black River Falls are polite, understanding, and respectful—except when it comes to communism. Joe Mc Carthy has been dead for two years, but men like Richard Conners are still fighting to clear themselves of his accusations. A liberal who served faithfully under Roosevelt and Truman, only to be slandered as a red during Mc Carthy’s witch hunts, Conners has begun getting death threats written in blood. He hires private investigator Sam Mc Cain to protect him, but no sooner has Sam taken the case than Conners turns up dead.The local sheriff gives Mc Cain twenty-four hours to find his client’s killer. Although the obvious suspect is one of the local red haters, Mc Cain isn’t positive that politics is the motive. In Black River Falls, murder is never cut and dried.