Summary

In Chapter 1, John Jacob Skinner goes to Wardell Holland's house to bring him some beer and to tell him about an idea he has to save the town and make some money. Holland, who is the mayor of the dying town of Wheatfield, Minnesota, is busy killing flies when Skinner arrives. Holland is skeptical, but listens to the idea. He likes it and they discuss how to implement it. Skinner says that they cannot include anyone else, but as they need a woman, he suggests including Janet (Jennie), a 33 year old woman he sleeps link from time to time. Holland kills a fly with his gun and thinks that it is some kind of sign.

In Chapter 2, five months later, Virgil Flowers has to go to Wheatfield. It is not easy to find a place for him to stay because Wheatfield has become...