To cover up a scandal involving an American special agent who was shot during a summit in Oslo, police investigator Harry Hole is transferred to the Security Service—where he must uncover the connection between the kings of the underground arms market and a group of neo-Nazis. Harry tracks down a highly suspicious deal: someone bought a killer rifle with a telescopic sight for a great deal of money. Harry’s colleague, Ellen Yeltoen, a Norwegian woman, is convinced that big politics must have been involved in this affair. Her suspicion costs her her life, but the American still continues the investigation.