In 1904 Hanna Lundmark escapes the brutal poverty of rural Sweden for a job as a cook onboard a steamship headed for Australia. On the voyage she finds love in the form of the ship's mate, whom she marries. But disaster strikes when her husband is struck down by a fatal illness while the ship is docked on the East African coast. Jumping ship at the port of Lourenco Marques, Hanna decides to begin her life anew. Stumbling across a down-at-heel hotel, Hanna becomes embroiled in a sequence of events that lead to her inheriting the most successful brothel in town, complete with a chimpanzee who serves drinks. Hanna tries to befriend the prostitutes working for her, and change life in the town for the better, but the distrust between blacks and whites, and the shadow of colonialism, lead to tragedy and murder. Based on a true story, A Sullied Angel sees Henning Mankell turn his talents for suspense and insight to a world where power and powerlessness meet and passion is a dangerous commodity.