Potters Bluff, Rhode Island, may seem to be a sleepy little town. At least for the casual visitor and the local sheriff, Daniel Gillis. However, all of a sudden, there are a lot of strange accidents where strangers or people passing through are killed. Fortunately, the town has an excellent undertaker, William G. Dobbs, who can take care of this sudden death-w**e. Gillis soon discovers clues that lead to many of the local inhabitants, including his own wife Janet.