A series of murders is being committed throughout North Holland and Friesland. The police can find no clue to lead them to a suspect and the murders continue. In the Friesland town of Sneek, a Dutch artist, Justin Kees, finds himself in for another bout of insomnia as he visualizes a beautiful girl suggested by a shadow on his wall. His nephew, Hansje and Hansje's friend Peers, the son of the Detective Inspector of Police are instrumental in inadvertently leading the police to Justin. His placid existence is changed into a growing nightmare when the police tag Justin as a suspect in their search for the serial killer known as the "Holland Horror." Justin Kees is able to solve some minor cases for the police during the time he is being questioned and watched as a suspect in the killings. The press coverage that follows does not exactly endear him to Inspector vanVliet, who is certain that Justin is their man. While Justin's nightmares give him some insight into the personality of the killer, it is too nebulous to help the police. Finally he faces another sleepless night and envisions the next victim. They have, at most, 48 hours to find this girl and save her life. Searches are begun in the three towns where the killer is most likely to strike next. At last all the clues come together and Justin and Deputy police agent, Tok, begin to piece out the motive and the actions of two twisted minds, the killer's and his mother's, and are able to find the endangered young exchange student who is next on the murderer's list. Justin's painting of the seven victims opens the door to his career in the art world. He takes Hansje on a tour of Holland to celebrate his invitation to mount a one-man show of his work in The Hague. His help to the police department does not go unrewarded either, as he is offered a position on the local police force as a consulting detective. This sets in motion his next adventure: a trip to America to find a missing heiress.