Red Harvest is narrated by an unnamed detective, who is sometimes referred to as “the Op” as he works for the Continental Detective Agency. The Op takes a train to Personville, an “ugly city of forty thousand” that is commonly referred to as “Poisonville” (2). The Op arranges to meet with Donald Willsson, who works at a local newspaper named The Herald. The Op visits Willsson’s house, only to find that Willsson is not at home. Instead, Willsson’s wife awkwardly talks to the Op until she is interrupted by the telephone. After a confusing conversation with the unnamed caller, the Op watches her drive away. 

He waits nearly an hour until she returns, at which point she apologetically reveals that her husband will not be returning home any time soon. As he leaves, the Op notices a stain on Mrs. Willsson’s green shoe that looks like blood. Traveling back to his hotel, the Op notices a big crowd gathered outside City Hall. A man has been killed and, soon enough, the Op discovers the identity of the murdered man: Donald Willsson. 

The Op speaks to a man in a gray suit named Bill Quint, who tells him the history of Personville over several drinks.