In Little Chiva, Richard Diamond, a private detective, is approached by Abel Gunther, a farmer from Haiti, who is desperate for help. Gunther's wife is gravely ill, and he believes that her condition, along with the mysterious ailments affecting their farm, may be linked to voodoo practices. Despite his initial skepticism, Diamond is intrigued by Gunther's story, particularly when he learns about the low offers made by Arthur Cotswold, a powerful planter in the area, for the farmers' land.