At Europol in The Hague, a newly appointed chief, detective superintendent Sellberg of the Swedish police, declares war against organized crime.

Sellberg has the power to employ whomever he chooses. However his first choice, his protégé Johan Falk, a former specially trained police officer, wants nothing to do with it. In his view, Europe is being taken over by organized crime, and the criminal justice system is in denial and refuses to deal with the problem realistically. All Falk wants is to move out to the countryside and build a secure home to protect his family. But destiny has other plans for him…