After several mysterious deaths caused by poisonous snake bites shake the city of Vienna, a special investigation unit of the State Criminal Police Office is tasked with solving the series of murders. Inspector Karl Öhlinger and his partner Osram Djago ‘Django’ find themselves immersed in the dark world of snake keepers and reptile fairs during their investigations. They are accompanied by the eccentric biologist Prof. Eusebia Veitskamp, who is just as concerned about the human sacrifices as she is about the condition of her beloved snakes.
It soon becomes clear to the investigators that the attacks are no coincidence. Hidden combinations of numbers are found on the victims, which reflect biblical quotations about dealing with snakes. The trail leads the team to a radical religious community. Representatives of the ‘Snake Handlers’ movement, known in the American South for their dangerous snake-handling religious services, have unexpectedly turned up in Vienna.
Further investigations reveal an explosive background: the victims were once colleagues who worked together as IT experts developing software for driver assistance systems, the expiry date of which could now cost the automotive industry billions. However, the investigators initially see no connection with the deaths.
Just as Öhlinger believes he is close to solving the case, hundreds of snakes are released at the opening of a shopping centre. Panic, chaos and a deadly hunt ensue. The investigators begin a race against time before the city is completely engulfed in a deadly snake plague.