A migrant is found murdered in a municipal housing complex in Edinburgh: a racist crime or something completely different? Apart from the murder, Inspector Rebus is also concerned about other issues: his old police station has closed and his superiors would prefer him to retire rather than have him on their hands. But Rebus won't do them the favor. In the course of his investigation, he will visit a refugee hostel, deal with the seedy underworld of Edinburgh, and almost fall in love...

Meanwhile, his colleague Siobhan has her own problems. A teenager has run away from home and Siobhan is called to help the family, which means she will be closer than she would like to the web of a rapist.

How are all these connected to the case of two skeletons - a woman and a baby - found buried under the concrete floor of a cellar in the Meat Market?