One frozen January morning at 5am Inspector Wallander responds to what he believes is a routine call out. When he reaches the isolated farmhouse he discovers a bloodbath. An old man has been tortured & beaten to death his wife lies barely alive beside his shattered body both victims of a violence beyond reason. Wallanders life is a shambles. His wife has left him his daughter refuses to speak to him & even his ageing father barely tolerates him. He works tirelessly eats badly & drinks his nights away in a lonely neglected flat. But now Wallander must forget his troubles & throw himself into a battle against time.