一名女子被殺,警方認為已逮到兇手。但沃蘭德的女兒和夥伴琳達不確定這個人是真兇,為了證明他是無辜的,她必須查出死者對西洋棋的愛好與這起命案的關聯。Following an argument with her lover on her boat, a woman is found dead. Wallander and the Ystad police investigate; their inquiries lead them to a farm commune and to an old friend of Linda's.