In the humble opinion of newspaper columnist Jim Qwilleran, "A town without a bookstore is like a chicken with one leg." And ever since the late Eddington Smith's bookstore burned down, the town of Pickax has been pretty off balance! However, the Klingenschoen Foundation, which manages Qwill's inheritance, comes to the rescue by investing in a new store, to be built on the site of the old one. Delighted, the people of Moose County prepare to celebrate with a gala groundbreaking ceremony. However, no one is prepared for what they find there-- the body of a man shot in the head, execution style. Now Qwill and his feline detectives, Koko and Yum Yum, will have to hit the books to catch a clever killer!