Miranda, a stroppy teenager of Iraqi parentage is abducted and dies after rowing with the choir-mistress and Bea,another chorister. Wallander pulls in ex-racist skinhead Johan, the boy Miranda stole from Bea and then dropped, but has to release him. When Lina, another choir member vanishes, the trail leads to Thomas Hammar,a recluse,seemingly obsessed with the choir, but his motives for following them are personal and innocent. The real culprit is much nearer home.