A flickering light in a barn that has been vacant for over a century draws Norma Jean to investigate and pulls her into her third mystery. A young character, Julie Farnsworth, steps into the picture. She is in Herpel to fulfill a promise made to her dying uncle. In the midst of it all, the old ways, folklore and slower pace of the area wind their way into the story, with the same familiar country folks helping and hindering the investigation. The two ladies go a merry-go-round of mystery involving a civil war gold run through Arkansas. What seems to be obvious in the beginning turns upside down several times before Norma concludes this one.