Vienna,1920.TheAustro-HungarianEmpirehascollapsed.PeterPergreturnshomefromtheGreatWar,aftersevenyearsasaRussianPOW.Viennaisexperiencingthemultiplicityofpolitical,socialandartisticfreedom,butalsotheriseofanti-democraticmovements,insecurityandunemployment.Peter,aformerpoliceinspector,feelslikeastrangerinthenewAustrianRepublic.Whilewantingtoleavetown,Peterisconfrontedwiththemurderofoneofhisformercomrades.Hedecidestostayandinsteadbringthekillertojustice.HisallyisDr.TheresaK?rner,adeterminedandcool-headedforensicdoctor.Thetwoarelinkednotonlybythiscase,butalsobyadeeper,sharedhistory.Astheirinvestigationprogresses,theyrealisethattheyarenotjustupagainstasystematickiller,whotortureshisvictims,butalsofacedisapprovalandintriguefromwithinthepoliceforce.Thoughdeterminedtosolvethecrime,Peter,harbouringhisownsecrets,increasinglybecomestormentedbyexistentialquestions:Whatistruth?Whatisheroisminthetimeofwar?Andallthewhilehefailstoseethemountingdangerbeforehim.