In a small town in Switzerland, The Pledge revolves around the murder of a young girl and the detective who promises the victim's mother to find the perpetrator. After discovering that the wrong man has been arrested for the crime, the detective sets a trap for the real murderer—with the patience of a master fisherman. However, cruel twists in the plot force him to pay dearly for his promise. Here, Friedrich Dürrenmatt showcases his brilliant knack for dialogue as well as a devastating sense of timing and suspense. Joel Agee's skillful translation captures the various voices of the original and highlights its shocking conclusion. One of Dürrenmatt's most diabolical and artful novels, The Pledge was adapted for the screen in 2000 in a film directed by Sean Penn, starring Jack Nicholson in the lead role.

Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990) was a Swiss author and playwright, best known for his plays The Visit and The Physicists, which earned him the reputation of being one of the greatest playwrights in the German language. He also wrote four highly regarded crime novels—The Pledge, The Judge and His Hangman, Suspicion, and The Execution of Justice—all published by Pushkin Vertigo.