"Times are a-changin' in Pickax, giving Jim Qwilleran some newsworthy notes for the Qwill Pen. A new senior center is in the works as well as a frisky production of Cats. And a local mansion is being converted into a charitable museum. Good thing there's lots to keep Qwill busy because Polly Duncan is off to Paris, temporarily leaving him without his lady companion. But when a mysterious death from a bee sting leaves everyone but Koko the Siamese...

The residents of Pickax eagerly await the start of Pickax Now, a festival celebrating the 150th anniversary of the town's founding. In the midst of preparations for parades and performances, newspaper columnist James Qwilleran must make time to entertain Harvey Ledfield, an aspiring architect visiting from out of town. Qwill welcomes Harvey into his home to sketch, but strange occurrences seem to follow Harvey around. Why, for example, did the extraordinary...

James Qwilleran and his two cats are vacationing at the Nutcracker Inn when the body of a guest is found floating in Black Creek. Was he illegally prospecting for gold in the creek or is there some other reason for his murder?

The town of Pickax needs a bookstore because the old one burned down. But just as the town prepares to celebrate the ground breaking, a body is discovered nearby. The Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum work with their owner, James Qwilleran, to find out who the murderer is.