Giovanni is a criminal lawyer who is successful both at work and with women, despite a happy marriage. One day, however, his life is turned upside down by the sudden intrusion of Sara, a beautiful professional used to conquering men to fight boredom. Seized by an increasingly pressing passion, Giovanni leaves his family but shortly after he is in turn left by Sara, afraid of establishing a stable relationship with him.

When Chiara, a violinist at the conservatory, is brutally murdered after a performance, inspector Maccari is put on the case. Maccari, whose own wife was once murdered by a serial killer, suspect professor Baraldi, the director of the conservatory. But as more fall prey to the killer, Maccari comes to a shocking conclusion...