In a playground in the centre of the urban idyll, the police find a buried wooden box containing a famous and well-respected prosecutor. Martin Beck and his police team initially suspect a highly criminal MC-leader of the attack, but one pretty soon has to re-evaluate the case once the MC-leader is found murdered in a similar wooden box. Soon, more wooden boxes are found and the police realize that they are part of a cat and mouse game with a crazy serial killer. The investigation soon shows that there is a vague connection between the victims in the shape of a 9 year old event, but what Martin Beck does not suspect is that his own life too is at stake, as the murderer has chosen him as the next victim.
A hunting team meets before the annual moose hunt. A fatal accident occurs that severely tests the loyalties of those involved.
A young writer named Espen Arnakke tells the story of his escape from the small Danish town of Jante. Espen boards a ship headed to Newfoundland, but the harsh conditions on board makes him jump ship, and he ends up in the little town of Misery Harbour. There he meets the girl of his dreams. But his passion shifts to jealousy when one of the men from the ship mysteriously appears in town, and sets out to make Espen's life a misery.
During one single day a number of life destinies cross one another. It becomes a night for the involved they will never forget, a night when the coincidences are going to change their lives forever.
When the old University Professor discovers that some of his pupils often sneak into a speakeasy, The Blue Angel, to visit a dancer, Lola, he comes there to confront them. But instead he is attracted to Lola. He returns the next night to The Blue Angel to spend time with Lola and stays overnight. This causes problems at his work and his life takes a steep downward spiral.