Janek Mitter stumbles into his bathroom after a night of heavy drinking, to find his young wife murdered. Yet Mitter cannot remember attacking her. But when he's convicted he has a snatch of insight -is it too late? Chief Inspector Van Veeteren is convinced that someone, in the woman's life has caused these tragic events. As he delves deeper, Van Veeteren realizes that the past never stops haunting the present . . .