Van Veeteren finds retiring from the police force is easier said than done when two decapitated bodies are found in quick succession. The matching MO in the two grisly murders brings the investigation teams of Maardam and Kaalbringen together - a collaboration that is not without its problems.

In the crime drama movie Carambole, a retired detective is drawn back into the world of police investigation when he takes on a case involving a hit-and-run murder. Set in a fictional country, the detective must navigate through a web of blackmail and intrigue to uncover the truth. Based on a novel, the story delves into themes of justice, loss, and the consequences of one's actions.

When the body of a wealthy wine merchant washes up on a beach with multiple stab wounds, police fear a media frenzy. But the quick arrest of the man's former partner in the face of damning evidence promises a quick resolution to the case.

When a girl is murdered soon after leaving a closed religious community, Moreno faces a difficult investigation as the community closes ranks and refuses to cooperate. When another girl is abducted and her bloody fingernails mailed to the police, tongues begin to loosen.

The daughter of a murdered private detective comes to Van Veeteren for help with a case that might be linked to Van Veeteren's only unsolved case.