The author Erica Falck returns to her family home in the icy fishing village of Fjällbacka for her parents' funeral and finds a community on the brink of tragedy. The violent death of her childhood friend Alex is just the beginning. Erica will see Alex's dead body in a bathtub filled with icy water and with slashed wrists. Everything points to suicide. Meanwhile, Inspector Patrik Hedström has certain doubts about whether it was indeed suicide. When the two decide to collaborate on the investigation into Alex's life and death, the horrific secrets hidden beneath Fjällbacka's idyllic facade will come to light. And, perhaps, their lives will change forever... THE FIRST ADVENTURE OF INSPECTOR PATRIK AND HIS BELOVED ERICA