Justine Dalvik spends her entire life fighting the demons that overcome her, but sometimes the demons gain the upper hand. Six years have passed since Justine succumbed to temptation and managed to avoid retribution. Her life has returned to a quiet course, and Justine enjoys the peace and love that were given to her at such a price, but the past does not let go, appearing in nightmares, forcing her to remember what happened again and again, to remember her friend Berit who disappeared without a trace. All these years, Berit's family and friends continued to search for her, and now the search again led to Justine's gloomy and mysterious house, which is guarded by a huge bird. More and more acutely, Justine feels that the noose is about to tighten around her neck, and the demons that had fallen asleep are coming to life... A brilliant novel by the grande dame of the Swedish detective, named the best book of the year by the Swedish Academy of Detectives.