Harry Kvist has been in Långholmen jail for a year and a half, but is about to be released. He is looking forward to building a life with his new lover outside the prison gates.

But no sooner is he back home than he finds his friend Beda has been murdered and, even worse, that her disabled son Petrus is accused of the crime. Harry investigates, finding evidence of a cover-up and a trail of guilt leading all the way to the royal family. What will Harry have to do to free Petrus and bring the real murderers to justice?