A suspected jewel robber, his ex-girl-friend and a cop who became more than friends with her are all killed by a sniper, who turns out to be a sixteen-year-old boy. It is assumed that he is carrying out the murders to impress gang leader Kali Manchetta and become one of his gang but he has a more personal reason. Miranda, a stroppy teenager of Iraqi parentage is abducted and dies after rowing with the choir-mistress and Bea,another chorister. Wallander pulls in ex-racist skinhead Johan, the boy Miranda stole from Bea and then dropped, but has to release him. When Lina, another choir member vanishes, the trail leads to Thomas Hammar,a recluse,seemingly obsessed with the choir, but his motives for following them are personal and innocent.
