Suspicion, it seems to Detective Ulf Varg, is everywhere, and even he, as a respected police officer is not beyond its grip. Not when it comes to things he loves, such as his dog, Martin, whose bizarre scuffle with a troublesome squirrel has resulted in a sequence of perhaps unwise decisions on Varg's part . . .

Along with this frustrating predicament, Varg continues to have existential matters on his mind. His hopeless feelings for his colleague, Anna. His particular place in the world. His increasing desire to open his mind to certain relationships, including that with his professional partner, Blomqvist, whose flaws are often overshadowed by his loyalty and kindness, along with his impressive investigative work.

Together they have been assigned to get to the bottom of a sensitive crime that has occurred in Sweden's esteemed art community. The highly-regarded art historian and expert, Anders Kindgren, has either wrongly identified a valuable work, or he has been framed for the mistake. Fingers point in several directions, and their investigations lead Varg and Blomqvist into a maze of motives, infidelities and suspicion at every turn.

The eventual truth of the case, as with many sensitive crimes, lies not in greed nor ambition, but in love itself. Sometimes, Varg realises, we are compelled to put love first, even if that means angering or hurting others. Or, in the case of Martin, testing the very limits of the law . . .