DCI Andy Bardsley is back and this time on a Mediterranean cruise with his partner Jane plus their daughter Nancy. Jane is a successful Country and Western singer, known as Cindy Lou, who is asked to host the 2019 European Country Music Awards on board the cruise ship 'Angel of the Sea' while docked at the port of Civitavecchia Italy. Andy reluctantly agrees and leaves behind DI Beryl Power as SIO for the Poulsen/ Dobson murders linked to Ray Dickie who was arrested two years previous and then sentenced to twenty years in prison. While onboard the cruise Andy meets up with an old friend Simms, whom he thought was working for the American Embassy. Two days into the cruise Simms asks Andy for help, then with the assistance of the ships Butler and a Detective from Clacton-on-Sea, they uncover a child trafficking ring linked to Syria.