When a local guide is found dead in a culvert, private investigator Benny Cooperman must navigate the tensions of a remote lodge to uncover the truth behind a series of macabre events. Cooperman is hired to monitor Norbert Patten, a prominent evangelist seeking refuge at the Petawawa Lodge while awaiting a critical Supreme Court ruling. The investigation forces Cooperman to interact with a disparate group of lodge guests, each harboring their own secrets and motives. The narrative follows a traditional detective framework, utilizing Cooperman's observant nature to peel back the layers of the isolated community. As the body count rises, the protagonist must reconcile the physical isolation of the Algonquin wilderness with the complex, often volatile, human dynamics at play.

Readers frequently highlight the grounded, unpretentious nature of Benny Cooperman as a protagonist who relies on persistence rather than physical force. Discussion often centers on the effective use of the Canadian wilderness as a claustrophobic backdrop that heightens the tension among the lodge guests. Critics often point to the author's ability to balance a classic whodunit structure with sharp, observational humor that avoids genre cliches. The pacing is noted for being deliberate, allowing for steady character development alongside the unfolding mystery. Many readers appreciate the focus on the social dynamics of the suspects, which provides a satisfying depth to the central investigation.