Three Pines. In the forests of Canada, just an hour from Montréal, lies this idyllic village. But on the morning after Halloween, a shadow falls over Three Pines. In the middle of the village stands a darkly disguised figure. No one knows who she is or what she is up to. Even Armand Ga- mache, the police chief of Quebec, who owns a weekend house in Three Pines to recover from his grueling work, can't get a word out of her. What could he do? After all, standing around is not a crime. But trouble breaks out at the latest when a body is found: Why didn't Gamache manage to protect the villagers? Months later, when the case comes to court, everyone doubts the superintendent's competence. And even Gamache is not sure if his plan will really work. A risky plan ...