In November 1893, a respected Viennese banker is found murdered in his library. At the crime scene, Inspector Karl Winterbauer encounters five women who have been friends since childhood and soon suspects that they all have a secret. Gradually, his mistrust turns into sympathy, and he begins to believe in their innocence. Then a second murder occurs - and once again, only the five women are at the scene of the crime. The inspector's life is heading towards a dangerous whirlpool...