During a fairy tale researcher conference in Bremen, a scientist is found murdered. A few days later, there is another victim. Shortly thereafter, the manager of a casting show is discovered dead in his hotel room, and a murder occurs in Bremerhaven, all pointing to a serial killer, as "fairy tale" signs have been left at three crime scenes: a donkey, a dog, and a cat. However, the rooster from the Bremen Town Musicians is missing. Commissioner Heiner Hölzle is on the hunt for more than one murderer.