Building work in an expanding Reykjavk uncovers
a shallow grave. Years before, this part of the
city was all open hills, and Erlendur and his
team hope this is a typical Icelandic missing
person scenario; perhaps someone once lost in
the snow, who has lain peacefully buried for
decades. Things are never that simple. Whilst
Erlendur struggles to hold together the
crumbling fragments of his own family, his case
unearths many other tales of family pain. The
hills have more than one tragic story to tell:
tales of failed relationships and heartbreak; of
anger, domestic violence and fear; of family
loyalty and family shame. Few people are still
alive who can tell the story, but even secrets
taken to the grave cannot remain hidden forever