Shan and the Dead Monk

Together with his friend and teacher Lokesh, Shan helps a monk rebuild a prayer site that was destroyed by the Chinese. But suddenly, the monk grabs a gun and shoots himself. Even the usually calm Lokesh is horrified. Shan tries to find out why the monk might have taken his own life. He discovers three more dead bodies in a monastery: a Tibetan nun, a Chinese man, and a third person he later identifies as a German filmmaker. But how are these murders connected? Could a monk really be the murderer? Shan realizes that only the American girlfriend of the filmmaker can provide answers, but she has disappeared somewhere in the highlands. Not only does he begin to search for her, but so do the Chinese authorities. Shan receives unexpected help from Meng, a Chinese officer who supports him.