Plot

Three youngsters are shot dead whilst having a woodland picnic in fancy dress. One girl's mother reports her as missing but postcards from Paris supposedly sent by the daughter negate any police involvement. Then another parent reports that Wallander's troubled colleague, Svedberg, had earlier expressed an interest in the kids' movements, and then Svedberg is also found shot, photos of the dead trio being found in his flat along with one of a mystery woman, identified by Svedberg's cousin as his ex-girlfriend Louise. The corpses are found, and a friend of the victims is also slain, having told Wallander that his workmate was really gay, and that 'Louise' is a transvestite, and a wholly murderous one, who adds to his toll of dead by killing a further trio of innocents. Diagnosed as diabetic and aware that he never truly knew the dead colleague who regarded him as his best friend, Wallander must not only avenge Svedberg but halt a psychopath from an ordinary but obvious walk of life from striking far closer to home.—don @ minifie-1

A sick and exhausted Inspector Wallander looks into the case of several young people who one of the parents is convinced have gone missing. The case was initially brought to his attention by a member of his team, Svedberg, who has also asked him for time off to deal with a personal matter. They are short-staffed and Wallander has to say no but when Svedberg is subsequently found shot in his flat, he wonders just how much he knew about his colleague. As he investigates, he finds that Svedberg was there before him, posing more or less the same questions and obviously on the hunt for someone. When the missing people are found in a shallow grave and other murder victims are found killed in the same way, it's clear they have a psychopath on their hands. A photo of an attractive young woman hidden in Svedberg's flat provides the clue needed to locate someone who is obviously deeply disturbed and now a serial killer. It all takes on a very personal tone when the killer targets Wallander and someone very close to him.—garykmcd