A city detective is ordered to move the country, where police work is somewhat more boring than she expected. The team work to solve the two unsolved crimes in the village - arson attacks from over 30 years ago and the case of the disappearing mayor.
A man is found dead face down in a stream. The local gynecologist pronounces death by natural causes, apparently a heart attack. Sophie is suspicious, however, because the dead man is wearing a pearl necklace.
The wife of a famous pianist asks the police to check up on her husband, as he's not answering the phone. They find him in the company of a strange man wearing cowboy boots - reason enough for Sophie and team to investigate.
A body is found in a small chapel near Hengasch, just outside the bounds of Sophie's jurisdiction, and she finds herself having to share the case with the son of her predecessor.
A disturbed zookeeper takes an animal hostage over a dispute with her co-worker/ boyfriend, who who turns out to be an ex of Sophie Haas. Her old boss calls her in to assist, reluctantly. More turns out to be going on as Sophie soon discovers.