Not all angels are sent from heaven. I am such an angel and have come to judge the living and the dead.

A report about a rare and unusual weapon – one favored by assassins – piques the interest of Detective Harry Hole. Then, a former Nazi sympathizer from World War II is found with his throat slit. Next, Harry's former partner is murdered. Why had she tried to reach Harry on the night she was killed?

As Harry's investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the murderer is determined to enforce his own brand of justice. And while the connection between the cases remains a mystery, one thing is certain: he must be stopped.