On a freezing night in Oslo, just before Christmas, people are gathered at an outdoor concert by the Salvation Army. An explosion interrupts the music, and a uniformed man falls dead, shot point-blank in the head.

Harry Hole and his team don't have many clues at their disposal: there is no suspect, no weapon, and no motive. But when the killer discovers he has killed the wrong person, things start to get complicated. Thanks to the intensive work of his team, Harry manages to track down the hired killer (through credit cards, a fake passport, and communication with his employer). Without money, only six bullets in his gun, and no shelter, the killer becomes increasingly desperate. He will do whatever it takes to eliminate his target.