Montalbano is deputy commissioner in a remote village in the Sicilian mountains. A local thug with a history of theft is murdered and the evidence points to an elderly shepherd as the killer. In the meantime Montalbano receives a promotion, and reassignment to the seaside town of Vigata, the town in which he grew up. With the help of veteran detective Carmine Fazio, and officer Catarella, he solves the case, and also unravels the mystery of why a girl attempted to murder a judge.

Montalbano investigates the shooting dead of a man in a hotel room on New Year's Eve, and a dying woman's last words leads him to re-open a 40-year old case.

Montalbano receives anonymous letters connected with local workers' deaths. Carmine Fazio retires, but is replaced by his son Giuseppe.

Montalbano and Livia are about to leave for a holiday, but a murder and the slaughter of several animals means that Livia leaves with someone else and Montalbano stays behind to solve the case.