The head of a famous artist with a sordid past is found in the catacombs in Paris. In his studio, Commissaire Rousseau and the young profiler Mariella De Luca discover a second decapitated body, his wife's. The mystery deepens when another head is found a few days later.
After World War I, a young ex-soldier, Sébastien Monge, returns to his home village. Ignorant of his past, he learns that, 24 years before, his entire family was slain in their home one stormy night. Only Sébastien, then a four-month old baby, was spared. Whilst Sébastien is being seduced by Charmaine, Dupin is killed by someone else. Sébastien’s next victim, the miller Didon Pujol, is also murdered before he has a chance to take his revenge. Sébastien realises that someone is watching his every move and is going to extraordinary lengths to protect him. But who, and why..?