She scratches at the walls until her fingers bleed. But there is no escape. She doesn't know how long she's been there. She vows not to go mad. She would rather die.
Copenhagen detective Carl Mørck has been taken off homicide to run a newly created department for unsolved crimes. His first case concerns politician Merete Lynggaard, who vanished five years ago.
Everyone says she's dead. Everyone says it's a waste of time. He thinks they're right.
But she isn't dead . . . yet.
Can they save her in time?