Ljusdal, 1898: Farmer's wife, Sara, resorts to unusual and cruel methods to fullfil her dreams of a better life. With the help of archived material, court records and coroner Eva Rudd, history professor Roddy Nilsson and cultural journalist Gunilla Kindstrand, David Lagerkrantz breathes new life into an old criminal case.

Mamsell Maria Lovisa Laurell is found brutally murdered in her flat in Stockholm in September 1867. An extraordinary investigation follows, with coercive interrogation techniques and unexpected twists.

With the help of archived material, court records and coroner Eva Rudd, history professor Roddy Nilsson and prison historian Katarina Kallings, David Lagerkrantz breathes new life into an old criminal case.

One night in 1852 desperate calls for help can be heard coming from a woman being abused in her home in Kalmar. But no one dares interrupt the bruiser in the shabby hovel and she is beaten to death. Why did no one come to Maria's aid and what happened to her daughter Augusta?

With the help of archived material, court records and historian Marie Eriksson, university lecturer Hanna Enefalk and professor Roddy Nilsson, David Lagerkrantz breathes new life into an old criminal case.