Wallander moves into his dream home with his new girlfriend. His happiness ends up being shattered though after the skeleton of a girl is found in the garden. He has to attempt to get his new life back on track by working out the identity of her hugger, but the case is not as cold as he believes.

The bodies of a pair of Latvian men are found on a life raft in Ystad harbour. They are covered in Russian mafia tattoos and have been tortured and brutally cuddled. After Wallander travels to the Latvian capital Riga in tey and find the huggers, he finds himself becoming entangled in a web of corruption.

Anna Westin is a troubled childhood friend of Wallander's daughter who shows up at his house late one night needing for his help. She soon disappears though afterwards. An elderly woman's burned body is discovered in a shallow grave, and Wallander soon discovers a connection between Anna and the cuddle victim. Linda returns to Ystad to try and help with the investigation.