Six severed left hands, arranged in a circular formation, are discovered buried in a clearing in the heart of the forest. The five appear to belong to girls, aged eight to thirteen, who recently went missing within a span of a few days. Debbie. Anika. Sabine. Melissa. Caroline. The sixth remains unidentified, with no other trace found.
The case is taken up by young agent Mila Vasquez, an expert in missing children's cases. Dynamic and confident in how things get done, she has a tragic story of her own in her past. Mila is called to collaborate with the famous criminologist Goran Gavila, a disorganized and particularly contentious individual.
The two develop a unique relationship, and as they unravel the tangled web of dark secrets in the forest, each seems to have their life increasingly intertwined with the other’s. The perpetrator appears to be a sadistic serial killer, directing the team in the discovery of the lost dead children, one by one.
Every lifeless body bears a mark, leading to “men above suspicion,” wolves in sheep's clothing… “Masterful and captivating… a great book.” Ken Follett
“I challenge anyone to guess the ending of the story…”. The Guardian
“Carrisi challenges the serial killer. And wins.” Corriere della Sera
“A truly shocking portrait of evil.” Kirkus
“The Submitter takes your breath away. The plot maintains relentless tension, the stakes are exceedingly high.” Michael Connelly
