In the forest of Hablikon, the administrator Reichle is found shot dead. He had gone hunting with three other respected citizens of the community. Detective Sergeant Müller takes charge of the investigation. The first suspect is the nephew of one of the hunters, who was also at the scene at the time of the shooting and was on parole from prison. With no clear motive, Müller focuses his attention on the honorable and irreproachable fellow hunters. Their clean facade begins to crumble during his investigations. Village doctor Amsler, banker Meier, and architect Häuptl all had something to hide. Reichle knew about their private and business misdeeds. Müller also learns from Alvine Dünki, the dead man's lover, that money from the community coffers was used for the four men's entertainment. The murderer is convicted after the crime is reconstructed.