Vienna,1920TheAustroHungarianEmpirehascollapsedPeterPergreturnshomefromtheGreatWar,aftersevenyearsasaRussianPOWViennaisexperiencingthemultiplicityofpolitical,socialandartisticfreedom,butalsotheriseofantidemocraticmovements,insecurityandunemploymentPeter,aformerpoliceinspector,feelslikeastrangerinthenewAustrianRepublicWhilewantingtoleavetown,PeterisconfrontedwiththemurderofoneofhisformercomradesHedecidestostayandinsteadbringthekillertojusticeHisallyisDrTheresaKörner,adeterminedandcoolheadedforensicdoctorThetwoarelinkednotonlybythiscase,butalsobyadeeper,sharedhistoryAstheirinvestigationprogresses,theyrealisethattheyarenotjustupagainstasystematickiller,whotortureshisvictims,butalsofacedisapprovalandintriguefromwithinthepoliceforceThoughdeterminedtosolvethecrime,Peter,harbouringhisownsecrets,increasinglybecomestormentedbyexistentialquestions:WhatistruthWhatisheroisminthetimeofwarAndallthewhilehefailstoseethemountingdangerbeforehim