The enigmatic Hallgrim Hallgrimsson is on his way to Iceland to see his sick mother when he is called back because a policeman has been killed at Copenhagen airport. Four murders and a daring rescue later detective Hallgrim Hallgrimsson, AKA The Eagle, accepts a position in the police commissioner's new team so he can work on solving the case.

A wealthy Norwegian businesswoman is found dead outside Hallgrim’s hotel and the team is led once more to Sergei Varsjinskij and an intricate money-laundering scheme.

The trail of murders, including the crown witness, shows Hallgrim that he is getting dangerously close to Sergei. Nervous, Hallgrim worries for Marie's safety and spends the night at her apartment. Searching for clues in Berit’s effects Ditte receives a tip to look for the one thing that doesn’t fit the normal pattern; a plastic card that contains a map leads the team to an industrial area in the harbour and some very dangerous goods.

Hallgrim and Marie attend a conference in Sweden where they locate the person behind the Lithuanian sex trade. A price is put on Hallgrim's head, and someone comes to collect.