It's a crisp fall Saturday in the beautiful mountain town of Hopeless, Idaho and investigative reporter Hope Walker and her best friend Katie are helping out at Brisketpalooza, the fall barbecue festival. The town's minister, Pastor Leif, and his wife throw the festival every year to celebrate barbecue and bring people together. But this year, there is extra stress. Pastor Leif's Bishop is in town and threatening to move him and his wife to a new church in a different town. Plus, the barbecue competition is the most competitive it has ever been. And one more thing is complicating the matter. The small matter of the dead body in the municipal auditorium. So, before Brisketpalooza is ruined and Pastor Leif is shipped off to another town, Hope Walker and her best friend step in to solve a murder and save the day!