2114, Oslo. The Future Library is opening its doors to the entire world population: a library consisting of only 100 volumes, written starting from 2014 - one a year - and guarded so that no one can read them ahead of schedule. Erik and Rune are the Voktere of the library, two guardians in charge of keeping everything in place until, a month before the inauguration, Rune discovers that a book has been stolen: "The Ballad of Death". Erik sets out in search of the writer in order to have a copy of the manuscript but the manhunt seems to be paved with closed doors, secrets, and murder.