Sweden, 1793. It has been more than a year since the death of King Gustav III. In the aftermath of his death, with the heirs fighting each other for succession and the intense fear that the French Revolution will spread to Sweden, trust is now scarce, while paranoia and conspiracies thrive in every dark corner.
A mutilated corpse discovered in the filthy waters of a lake on the island of Södermalm is so horribly disfigured that it is impossible to identify. This grim case is taken on by the tubercular detective Cecil Winge, who will soon find himself sinking into a labyrinth of dark secrets and unspeakable fear, which as he progresses, increasingly encircles the high society of Stockholm.

A unique novel that renews crime literature, combining the thriller with the historical novel.

- Swedish Academy of Crime Writers' Award
- Best Book of the Year in Sweden for 2018