Summary

Chapter 1

The National Security Administration in the U.S. is known to monitor millions of correspondences throughout the week. It is November and Frans Balder has quit his very lucrative job in order to focus on his family life. He's gotten word that his autistic son, August, has been abused by his ex-wife and her new boyfriend. Learning this, and turning in his resignation on the spot, Frans boards the first plane to Sweden and confronts his ex-wife. He was expecting a major confrontation, but to his surprise, his ex-wife almost willingly gives August to him.

The reader can immediately tell that something is not quite 'right' with August. He doesn't speak, make eye contact, or interact with anyone in a consistent manner. Frans begins researching the autistic and how he might 'reach' his son. During dinner with an old friend...