A man is caught on CCTV, shooting dead a cashier at a bank. Detective Harry Hole begins his investigation but after a dinner with a old flame, wakes up with no memory of the past 12 hours. Then the girl is found dead in mysterious circumstances and he begins to recieve threatening emails: is someone trying to frame him for her death? As Harry fights to clear his name, the bank robberies continue with unparalled savagery... -- back cover.