It is the second book of the Kurt Wallander series, and was translated into English by Laurie Thompson.

One of their officers, Detective Liepa, travels to Sweden to assist the investigation, but when he returns to his home country he is mysteriously murdered.

[2] The novel was adapted into a theatrical film by Swedish public broadcaster Sveriges Television in 1995.

The film was directed by Per Berglund and released in the United States as The Hounds of Riga.

The novel also serves as the basis for an episode in the third season of the British production of Wallander starring Kenneth Branagh as the title character, and guest starring Søren Malling, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, and Anamaria Marinca.