Episode 4 of "The Åre Murders" kicks off with two figures trudging through the snow, their breaths visible in the frigid air, until they stumble upon a macabre sight: a frozen corpse, lifeless and still amidst the powdery whites. Scene transitioning, we witness Daniel scooping up Hanna with urgency, their destination clear—the crime scene awaits. Amidst preparations for his upcoming parental leave the next day, Daniel's resolve is unwavering.
Their path leads them to a snow-blanketed patch beneath a somber bridge, where the police have already assembled, surrounding a grim discovery. It isn't merely a solitary corpse but fragments of a once-whole being, strewn haphazardly across the snowy expanse. An officer mentions casually, almost ominously, that this bridge bears the moniker of "the suicide bridge."
Elsewhere, a woman and her young son alight from a vehicle, their figures framed against the backdrop of winter's chill, while a distant observer watches them intently. Hours pass, and the medical examiner delivers her preliminary findings: the deceased is male, likely deceased prior to a train collision that shredded his body. A telling blow to the head and telltale red fibers clinging to his remains tell a story of violence interrupted by tragedy.
Anton, visibly disturbed by the ghastly spectacle laid out on the examination table, excuses himself abruptly from the tent, informing Hanna of his intentions to return home. Instead, he finds himself at a club, where he crosses paths with a stranger. Drinks flow, bodies move to the rhythm of the music, and the night fades into morning in a blur of intimacy. Meanwhile, the woman from earlier makes a desperate call to the police, her voice tinged with worry as she reports her husband missing for the entire day.
Morning dawns with Daniel and his daughter Alice bidding farewell to his wife, Ida, who prepares to embark on a professional training session. Just as they part, Superintendent Grip's call interrupts the tender moment, informing Daniel that the deceased has been identified as Johan Anderson, a renowned ski star and co-owner of J&L Event. Grip assigns the case to Daniel and Hanna, imploring him to postpone his parental leave. Daniel relays the message to Ida, who, with a hint of resentment, reminds him that she stayed home with Alice the previous year, insisting it's now his turn.
Hanna and Daniel plunge into their investigation, delivering the heart-wrenching news to Johan's wife, Marion. They also cross paths with Marion's son, Leo, and his biological father, Jens—none other than the silent observer from earlier. Marion and Leo recount their whereabouts over the past days, revealing they attended a concert on the day Johan passed. Marion recalled that Johan had dinner with his childhood friend Carl the night before, which added a bit of mystery to the case.Hanna and Anton hurry along their path to rendezvous with Carl, Anton's attention diverted by the flood of messages pouring into their tip line. Among them stands out a description of a menacing dark van, its rear taillight flickering uselessly, parked eerily close to the locale where Johan's lifeless body was discovered.
Upon confronting Carl, Anton's eyes widen in recognition; the man from the party stands before him, yet Anton feigns ignorance. Carl recounts their weekly dining routine with Johan, but this particular evening, Johan arrived with a nose gushing blood, merely popping in to cancel their engagements. Anton later discovers the shirt Johan had used to staunch the flow, discarded in a grimy dumpster—a crimson shirt, saturated with the memory of that fateful night.
Meanwhile, Linus, Johan's business counterpart, receives a jarring call informing him of the lease termination. He races to confront them in person, his protests falling on deaf ears.
Daniel, overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for Alice, reaches out to Hanna for assistance. She arrives with much-needed supplies and, seeking to comfort him further, shows him Johan's Instagram page. There, a picture catches their eye—Johan and Linus, side by side, Linus clad in a red shirt remarkably similar to the one found by Anton. Their conversation drifts to J&L's recent loan request, a whopping half-million dollars hanging in the balance. With a reassuring pat, Hanna departs, leaving Daniel to finally succumb to much-needed slumber.
Elsewhere, Linus convenes with Jens, their conversation weighted with the gravity of Johan's demise. Linus confides in Jens, acknowledging the necessity to purge the office garage of his cached alcohol bottles; the police's impending thorough search of the premises leaves him with little choice but to tidy up the loose ends.He can no longer catch a glimpse of Carl, not merely due to Carl's status as a witness, but also because Anton remains in hiding. Elsewhere, Hanna and Daniel encounter Linus and embark on an inspection of the office. Among the clutter, Hanna stumbles upon a delicate beaded ring and catches sight of the word "Pilgrimsfjall" inscribed in his calendar. Linus confesses to a scuffle with Johan, who abruptly reversed his decision regarding the loan without any apparent reason. The only clue Linus possesses is Johan's discontent with the pastor of their congregation, from whom they rented the premises.
Jens arrives with a shipment of alcohol bottles intended for Carl, but Carl declines, citing the frequent police raids. After a brief negotiation, Carl reluctantly agrees to accept this final installment. Meanwhile, Hanna and the other officers gather to celebrate Officer Raffe's birthday, where he receives a bottle of pisco as a thoughtful gift. Following the festivities, Raffe reveals to Hanna and Daniel that Johan's left hand has been discovered. They rush to investigate and Hanna observes that his wedding ring is conspicuously absent.The following morning, Hanna and Daniel ventured to visit Ole, the reverend, whose demeanor carried the weight of his responsibilities. He revealed that, while the board had once placed their trust in Johan, their decision to refrain from renewing the lease stemmed from their lingering doubts about Linus. Intrigued by the sight of "Pilgrimsfjall" inscribed on Ole's refrigerator, Hanna inquired about its significance. Ole explained that it represented a blueprint for a folk school dedicated to biblical studies, emphasizing that Johan had no part in its conception.
Despite Ole's assertion that his wife, Rebecka, was confined to her bed, she unexpectedly descended the stairs to observe their visit, catching Daniel's eye and prompting a sense of unease in Hanna. Later, a harrowing scene unfolded as Ole physically punished Rebecka for defying his orders and venturing downstairs.
Returning to the office, Hanna meticulously tracked Johan's phone location, uncovering a pattern that placed him in a secluded woodland at the exact times Pilgrimsfjall was noted on his calendar. Driven by curiosity, she embarked on a skiing expedition to that locale, eventually finding herself in proximity to Ole's residence.
In a desperate bid for freedom, Rebecka attempted to flee Ole's confinement, but he swiftly apprehended her, resorting to violence once more. Hanna's timely arrival interrupted his wrath; Ole, attempting to thwart her intervention, was met with a stern warning of reinforcement. Relenting, he granted her access, allowing her to converse privately with Rebecka. With compassion, Hanna asked if she wished to leave, and Rebecka, nodding in agreement, found solace in Hanna's offer of assistance as they gathered her belongings and departed.
Hanna escorted Rebecka to a nearby hotel, where Ole's frantic calls soon followed, his voice pleading for her return. Though she swiftly terminated the call, Ole, quicker with his ears, caught the name of the hotel before the line went dead. Inside her room, Hanna noticed the delicate beaded bracelet adorning Rebecka's wrist, prompting a delicate inquiry into the nature of her relationship with Johan. With a soft confession, Rebecka acknowledged that their bond was indeed romantic.
It all began during their collaboration on the Pilgrimsfjall project. Upon discovering Rebecka's pregnancy, Johan harbored dreams of eloping with her. However, he failed to materialize at their prearranged rendezvous. Meanwhile, Hanna and Daniel ventured to Ole's abode with the intention of escorting him somewhere, only to find him unexpectedly turning up at the hotel. A sudden fire alarm echoed through the hotel, prompting Rebecka, alongside other guests, to evacuate. To her astonishment, she spotted Ole awaiting her. Panicked, she dashed back to her room and securely bolted the door behind her. Ole, professing his undying love for her, received a stunning revelation when Rebecka confessed that the child was not his. This confession culminated in a dramatic scene at the end of Episode 4 of The Åre Murders, where Ole, driven to desperation, broke down the door with an axe.
