Detective Montalbano, agent Carmine Fazio and Agatino Catarella learn of a young woman's plan to get revenge for an atrocity committed years ago.

Detective Montalbano rents the seaside house of his dreams, but his new housekeeper is the mother of a criminal he's put away.

Detective Salvo Montalbano is suspicious of new Deputy Detective Mimi Augello.

Salvo's father attempts to use Livia to approach his estranged son.

Vigata faces a large number of workers' deaths; Montalbano receives anonymous letters; the son of a recently retired detective joins the station.

A murder coincides with the ritualistic killing of animals, ruining Salvo's plans to vacation with Livia in Provence.