A modern-day murder investigation in Lisbon forces a detective to confront the long-buried secrets of Nazi-era collaboration and wartime exploitation. Inspector Ze Coelho navigates the complex social landscape of late 1990s Portugal while attempting to solve the brutal killing of a young girl. His pursuit of justice is hindered by the lingering shadows of the fascist regime and the systemic corruption rooted in the country's financial history. The narrative alternates between the contemporary investigation and the harrowing experiences of an SS officer in 1941, creating a dual-timeline structure that slowly converges to reveal a singular, devastating truth.

This novel is widely recognized for its intricate plotting and its ability to weave disparate historical threads into a cohesive narrative. Critics often highlight the author's skill in maintaining tension across two distinct time periods while providing a nuanced look at the moral complexities of the era. Readers frequently note the atmospheric quality of the prose, which effectively captures the despair and opportunism of wartime Europe. The work is regarded as a significant entry in the genre, praised for its depth and its refusal to offer easy answers regarding the nature of justice and historical accountability.