Museum director Professor Klaus Schücking hangs dead from ropes, draped like a marionette and dramatically staged, surrounded by his dolls at the Poppenspäler Museum in Husum. During their on-site investigation, Jon and Nora discover that the deceased had been having an affair with the married Irene Thiessen. Could it be that Thies Thiessen, who knew about his wife's affair, killed her lover out of jealousy? Or are Nora and Jon overlooking an important detail? Meanwhile, Jon is in trouble with Claas. Claas is angry because Jon handed the body over to his rival, Thorwald.

Nora and Mimi experience their first slaughter at a farm and find themselves caught up in a very unusual investigation: the animals were being fed human flesh. The investigation focuses on inheritance disputes, modern pig farming, the financially successful Conrad Meede—who married into the family—his wife Melanie, and Carsten, Conrad's wayward brother. The first step is to determine the identity of the deceased.