Thick autumn fog lies over Ankh-Morpok, and strange murders are happening in the city. Seemingly without reason, a baker and a priest are killed. An assassination attempt with poison is also made on the otherwise untouchable Patrician, which he fortunately survives. For Sir Samuel Vimes, the commander of the city watch, these crimes make no sense. The clues eventually lead him to the golems, mindless creatures made of clay, who have always only worked and never caused trouble. But now they have apparently begun to clear themselves out of the way...