A man lays down a garland of roses on a desolate Öland beach, only to moments later die in a sudden rock-fall. When police officer Tilda Davidsson lifts the garland, she discovers bone remains from a man that was last seen alive in the company of Tilda’s relative, the 86-year-old skipper Gerlof.

Gerlof is sickly and feeble, but is nevertheless forced to investigate why an old tragedy still has the power to instill fear and hatred. Hatred so strong that the murder on the beach is just the beginning.