Jan Fabel thought he was finished with death. Instead, while he ispreparing for a new career outside the police, a Cologne murder detectiveasks for his help in tracking down the Carnival Cannibal, a terrifyingserial killer who has killed each year for three years at the start ofCologne's world-famous annual Carnival. Maria Klee, Fabel's deputy, is close to mental breakdown and on extendedsick leave. Unknown to anyone, Maria also heads for Cologne to hunt down adifferent, even more dangerous killer. One with whom she has a score tosettle. Taras Buslenko, a Ukrainian special-forces commander prepares hishand-picked undercover spetznaz unit for a ‘black' operation intoCologne. Their aim: to end, with extreme prejudice, the rule of an ex-patUkrainian crime-boss of legendary cruelty. Their orders: to let nothing ornobody get in their way. Three paths converging on Cologne at Carnival at a time when the world istraditionally turned on its head and Chaos rules. And everybody hidesbehind a mask. Fabel finds himself on a trail of betrayal and vengeance, violence anddeath. And once more faces his greatest enemy: the true Master of theCarnival.