Ace criminal lawyer Don Robak (Robak s Cross is called to a small midwest town to help a couple of partners in his firm with a puzzling civil case. Their client, an insurance company, maintains that Avery Benjamin did not die in a fire and refuses to pay death benefits. Benjamin s sons and second wife are suing for millions. Some of the insurance company s witnesses, who gave dispositions saying they saw Benjamin after his supposed "death," are now changing their stories. The law firm, further stymied by a hostile judge and a suspicious populace, needs Robak to find out what s going on. Among other things, several suspicious fires occur, the redneck sheriff (involved in a torrid affair with the "widow") shows great animosity toward Robak, and Benjamin s sons are two very nasty offspring. The legal background, interesting plot and varied characters all work well here. Hensley, a judge, is especially appealing in his accurate, affectionate rendition of rural speech.