Set in Menominee, Michigan, in 1881 and based on an historical event, the story centers on the McDonald boys, two loggers who roll into town planning to collect their pay, have some fun, and leave for Oregon. Before they can do so, however, they are caught up in a violent swirl of events that leads to their lynching. It is a gripping, even terrifying tale. In telling the story, the book probes a complex web of environmental, social, and personal issues which remain important in today's America.