Theyear1829.NikolayGogol,ayoungThirdSectionclerk,isdesperate:hisownbooksseemshallowandmediocre,sohekeepsbuyingentireprintrunsjusttoburnthemall.Heissufferingfromviolentepilepticseizuresandstrugglestokeeponworking.InvestigatorYakovGuroaccidentallywitnessesonesuchfitandrealizesthatGogol'svisionscontaincluesthatcouldhelpsolveactualcrimes.Together,GogolandGurotakeonaparticularlyweirdandbafflingcasethatbringsthemtoasmallvillageofDikanka,whereeveryonehasahugesecrettohide