Based on a trilogy of novels in which the now retired professor of criminology, Leif G.W. Persson, launches his theory of who murdered the Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986. The series focuses on misbehavior within the Swedish police, a recurring theme in his books.
While the series was instantly criticized for its focus on dialog rather than action, Leif G.W. Persson, author of the books on which the series is based, has publicly praised that very choice.
According to the credits this is based on Leif G.W. Persson's novel trilogy "Välfärdsstatens fall" (The Fall of the Welfare State), however it's really just based on part 1 and 3. The following mini-series Den fjärde mannen (2014) is based on part 2.
The present takes place after the present of the following mini-series Den fjärde mannen (2014), making that a prequel. It's however the other way round with the past (the 1980s), making it a sequel too.
Several lead characters also feature in three separate productions based on a previous novel trilogy by Leif G.W. Persson: Profitörerna (1983), The Man from Majorca (1984) and I lagens namn (1986). Some also appear in Den vite riddaren (1994) and Anna Holt - Polis (1996), both written for TV by Persson and Jan Guillou.