On the site of the former pagan temple, they find the head of a visiting ethnographer Kuzmin, who wrote a book about Cheremis. The police have no doubt that the ritual murder is the work of their hands. But the spirit of the ethnographer asks Anna to protect the innocent.

1894 Provincial Zatonsk seems to be immersed in a slumber - nothing has happened here for five years. Anna Mironova has lost the gift of communicating with spirits. She is trying to live a normal life, but her parents are not yet successful in persuading her to marry. However, among her fans there is one who harbors hopes - and maybe not entirely without reason. However, this serene, almost perfect world will soon disappear without a trace. Evil itself descends on the city, and in order to resist it, it is necessary to unravel the reason for its appearance.

The meeting of Anna and Shtolman after many years of separation becomes a big test for both. What Anna so passionately dreamed of happened, but not at all in the way she expected. And after this shock, Anna is waiting for another one.

Beauty Anfisa Luzhina is found shot to death in a park not far from the Mironovs' estate. She served as a maid for the new neighbor of the Mironovs, the owner of the former house of Prince Razumovsky. Mr. Klyuev is a man with an unusual past. Do the skeletons in his closet have anything to do with the girl's death? What is her mother talking about?

After the funeral of Anfisa, Korobeinikov learns an important secret that turns the course of the investigation. Anna's acquaintance with Andrey Klyuev becomes the beginning of a friendship that can grow into something more: the young neighbor is clearly passionate. Yakov Platonovich, fearing to lose Anna forever, agrees to answer the question of what happened to him over the past five years.

The young heir of the eccentric Zaton landowner Aristarkhov is selling his collection of Egyptian antiquities at auction. The most valuable lot is the mummy of Anubis, which the famous Egyptologist Golenishchev is going to buy. During the auction, Anna is visited by a terrible vision.

The investigation turns out to be a tricky puzzle that makes the investigators forget about the differences. Korobeinikov, Shtolman and Anna are together again to solve a crime whose origins are far in the past. However, the former trust between them is impossible. Anna learns about one of the secrets of Yakov Platonovich, and definitely does not know what to do with this information.

Anna is approached by the mother of a young doctor, Ivan Glebov, who died a year ago. The son appears to her in a dream and clearly wants to tell something important. The doctor's spirit is explained in riddles, and his mother is found dead in a ravine a few hours later.

Pyotr Ivanovich, who at his leisure became interested in medicine, insists on his presence at the autopsy of the unfortunate Glebova. As a result, Dr. Miltz has to bring him to his senses, and when he wakes up, Anna's uncle points to evidence that has escaped the attention of the investigators. The evidence miraculously coincides with the rebus that made Anna the spirit of Ivan Glebov.

Merchant Ovchinnikov comes to the hospital to see Anna. Anna believes that there is no reason for concern, because the death of both was completely natural. The next day, the merchant is found dead in his bed.

All household members of Ovchinnikov are under suspicion. Anna and Dr. Milts are trying to find a clue to the three deaths in the archives of the Zatonskaya hospital. An attempt was made on Shtolman. In delirium, he blurts out to Anna about what he would like to hide.

A holiday on the estate of a wealthy landowner Filimonov suddenly turns into a tragedy. During the fireworks, the young wife of the manager, a gypsy, Nadezhda, was shot dead. The owner asks Anna to stay at the estate to help solve the crime. Shtolman, who arrived at the Filimonovs' house to investigate, discovers that Anna is staying there in the company of Klyuev.

It seems that the spirit of the young gypsy is covering for her killer and does not want to tell Anna his name. There is another murder on the estate. Pyotr Ivanovich is infatuated with the sister of the mistress of the house, Ariadna, but an unpleasant surprise awaits him.

The fiance of Marfa Muromova was found strangled in her parents' house, and the girl herself disappeared. Suspicion falls on the son of the Tatar horse breeder Arslan-Ali, who has long been in love with Marfa. Everyone is sure of his guilt, but Anna thinks otherwise ... Shtolman shows insight and notices several important details, but does not rush to conclusions.

The Muromov and Kaisarov families separate the lovers. Anna and Klyuev decide to help them, but their actions lead to sad consequences. The spirit of Bryzgalov is in no hurry to clarify the mystery of his death, although perhaps Anna simply does not understand him ... Yakov Platonovich finds the answer to the question: "Who killed Martha's fiancé?" However, in his own life, everything is even more confused.

Zatonsk is excited by the arrival of the famous Italian medium Donizetti. During his speech, the audience is the spirit of Olga Zakharova, who died two weeks ago due to an accident. She blames her husband for her death, and the police are forced to re-investigate an already closed case.

Shtolman considers Donizetti a swindler, but Anna does not doubt his gift. The Italian is ready to take part in the investigation into the death of Mrs. Zakharova and the disappearance of her maid. Shtolman unwittingly becomes a witness to a scandal in the Mironov family. He stays at the house to console Anna. In a frank conversation, he answers a few questions about what happened five years ago...

A young woman, Yulia Polyakova, has been found dead. Everything points to the fact that she committed suicide by taking strychnine. However, her friend Ksenia does not believe in suicide and turns to Anna Mironova for help. At the same time, professor of medicine Sviridov disappears from the city under mysterious circumstances.

The professor's wife and his assistant are obviously hiding something. Anna has a strange dream. Korobeinikov goes to a neighboring town in search of answers, Tregubov puts an experiment on the police, and Shtolman invites Anna for a romantic walk, which ends quite unexpectedly.

Deep down, Tregubov and Korobeinikov consider the suspect guilty and do not want to quarrel with St. Petersburg. But Shtolman is determined to prove the innocence of Peter Ivanovich. He finds out that two men went to the deceased Glafira, and one of them owns a shop of Chinese spices.

In the morning, a young beggar, nicknamed Luke the Lame Leg, was found dead in the window of a pastry shop. A few hours later, another misfortune occurs in the city. Within a day, Shtolman will have to unravel the chain of mysterious deaths in order to save the life of a person close to him.

Time passes, and the antidote is still not found. The unknown plays with Shtolman, throwing him more and more riddles. Dr. Miltz is ready to resort to a risky method of treatment. Korobeinikov finally decides to talk to Polina, and a new doctor arrives at the hospital.

At a county ball, the landowner Gudkov tells Shtolman a strange story about ghouls. On the same night, one of the dead gets up and leaves the dead room, scaring the orderly to death. The police begin an investigation into the sudden death of a young French maid who served in the house of the Countess of Olives.

To capture the sinister sect operating in the city and its leader, all the forces of the Zatonskaya police are mobilized. In order not to frighten off the criminals, Anna has to put herself under the blow of public opinion. In search of his patient, the capital's psychiatrist Lange comes to Zatonsk and clarifies many issues.

Countess Gorina does not believe in her brother's suicide and demands a re-investigation, which surprises Shtolman and Korobeinikov - instead of Gorina's brother, another was indeed buried. While Anna, with the help of spirits, unravels this puzzle, Tregubov is trying with all his might to prevent the inevitable...

In order to distract Anna from heavy thoughts, Pyotr Ivanovich invites her to take a ride to the estate of the fashionable young artist Solomin. Shtolman settles things in St. Petersburg, but to Tregubov's chagrin, he returns too quickly. The troubles of Countess Gorina lead to disaster.

Three naval officers who arrived in Zatonsk for another card game were found killed in a hotel room. Any of them could become the instigator of a bloody fight. Korobeinikov asks Anna to help the police one last time. After all, his happiness depends on it.

The killed officers were engaged in fraud, and Shtolman suspects that they could also be involved in the recent murder of the admiral in St. Petersburg. Anna is forced to make a deal with the spirit of one of the officers - he will shed light on the triple murder if Anna does him a favor.

During a fox hunt, the old prince Meshchersky perishes on his estate. The investigation establishes that the shot was not accidental. The prince's will further confuses the case, expanding the circle of suspects. The spirit of Meshchersky pursues Anna, but his demand seems absurd.

The drawing by one of the students of the school founded by the late prince seems to be related to his death. Anna finally understands the meaning of the visions that have been tormenting her for some time. Anna has an important message for Shtolman, but he wants to talk to her about something completely different.

Anna and Scriabin manage to save the dying son of the Cheremis. The boy's mother tells fortunes to Anna and warns her against a wrong decision. Shtolman has to go to extreme measures so as not to lose his beloved forever.

The wife of photographer Timofeev, who recently arrived in Zatonsk, is burned alive in his studio. Another charred corpse is found in the conflagration. But who and why came to Madame Timofeeva in the absence of her husband? And most importantly - why didn't the victims run out of the workshop, although the door was open? Shtolman investigates the case and tries to save Anna by placing her under house arrest.

Dr. Miltz is unable to identify the bodies of the dead, but Anna is also unable to establish contact with their spirits. Someone Irisov, who came from Moscow, lays claim to Timofeeva's inheritance. Anna understands that she is ready for anything to leave Zatonsk. Shtolman is no longer able to keep his secret. Anna finally finds out everything.

Former prosecutor Werner is killed in his house in a room locked from the inside. Shtolman and Korobeinikov suspect that the killer is the same one that the police have been hunting for for a long time. Subsequent events confirm their conjecture. Intriguing circumstances are revealed in Tregubov's past.

A ruby-cut diamond was found in the stomach of the former impresario Rtishchev. Important information can be found in the Yearbook of the Imperial Theatres. It seems that Shtolman and Korobeinikov are about to catch the one who has been hunted for a long time. Anna makes a difficult choice, promising happiness to one man and misfortune to another.

Having pronounced a sentence on the accused, the venerable judge Kudryavtsev suddenly grabs a revolver and shoots himself right in the courtroom. An antique snuffbox is found in his pocket, which then mysteriously disappears from his house. Anna is sure that the suicide of the judge is connected with her. An unexpected confession of the spirit turns the main investigation of Yakov Platonovich one hundred and eighty degrees.

In a robbed jewelry store, its owner is found stabbed to death. Dr. Miltz establishes that he committed suicide. The jeweler's apprentice reports that a mysterious lady came to him the day before. Investigators are on the trail of the Altai, who has been in the city for some time.

Her former lover Viner is suspected of murdering the young poetess Olshanskaya. He had the opportunity and motive to kill. But Wiener claims that there is a witness who can prove his innocence. A young lawyer who arrived from St. Petersburg undertakes to find him, but he cannot do without Anna's help.

Anna tries to unravel the meaning of Olshanskaya's posthumous poems while Korobeinikov has to go to the village in search of a witness to her murder. Shtolman is freed from the ghosts of the past. A spirit comes to Anna, which she did not expect at all. The dreams that have been tormenting her lately finally find a solution. Heroes on the brink of great change.