Inger Johanne Vik has previously worked as a profiler for the FBI and is now back in Sweden with her two daughters. She has made up her mind to spend more time with her kids and less time working, as her eldest daughter Stina, who has been diagnosed with autism, becomes a witness to a murder.

The realization that Stina has been through a terrible experience really starts to sink in for Inger Johanne. Ingvar goes to Uppsala to investigate the murder of Bishop Elisabeth Lindgren that took place on Christmas night. In Uppsala it becomes clear that the secrets are growing beneath the surface.

After a long hesitation, Inger Johanne agrees to join the investigation. At the same time she tries to make sense of the information from her daughters; is there a connection between the murders? Rolf suspects that his husband is cheating on him and devises a plan to find out the truth.

Carlsson is brought in for questioning, during which Inger Johanne uncovers a personal connection between her and Carlsson. What does her family have to do with the investigation? Erik visits the woman in the picture from the bishop's study. Inger Johanne discovers a link between the murders.

Ingvar uncovers a lead that seems to support Inger Johanne's theory about the motive behind the murders. Inger Johanne remembers something from her time at the FBI that seems to be related to the case; can the FBI help her? The bishop's son goes to see Ingvar to share a suspicion he has.

Inger Johanne is closing in on the murderer, but then receives a very unsettling message in her own home. She is convinced that the key to how everything fits together can be found underneath a layer of black paint. Marcus Ståhl reaches a point where he can't lie anymore.

Stina makes a decision that puts her and her sister in danger. Inger Johanne and Ingvar see eye to eye on the killer's motives, but disagree on how to proceed. There is one final intended victim; who is it and will they get there before the killer?