The story weaves together two main plotlines in a city divided by the Berlin Wall:

, written by the acclaimed Spanish crime novelist César Pérez Gellida and published in 2018, is a dark thriller set in 1980s East Berlin during the Cold War. It is the first installment of a dilogy, followed by Todo lo peor . Core Premise

Parallel to the investigation, Lavrov tries to reconnect with Erika Eisenberg , a woman from his past who managed security for East German athletes during the Moscow Olympics. About the Author

The novel is noted for its gritty, "blacker than black" atmosphere and its detailed portrayal of the lack of freedoms in the GDR.

Otto Bauer , a chief inspector of the Kriminalpolizei and former boxer, is obsessed with solving the brutal murders of five children whose bodies have gone unclaimed. The GDR authorities refuse to acknowledge these crimes to maintain the appearance of a socialist utopia. Plot & Themes

Their investigation leads them to a dark underworld of "Veladas Rojas" (Red Evenings), secret gatherings of people obsessed with blood and vampirism.

Viktor Lavrov , a brilliant young KGB criminal psychologist, is stationed in East Berlin as a liaison between the Soviet Union and the Stasi (the GDR's secret police). While officially managing relations, he is secretly carrying out sensitive intelligence missions.

Lavrov and Bauer’s paths cross when Lavrov, despite his intelligence duties, cannot resist using his psychological expertise to help Bauer hunt a serial killer who leaves strange wounds on his victims.