A brutal double murder on a Norfolk beach horrifies the town of Cromer. The way the victims died is chilling and so Norfolk's Major Investigation Team task DS Ashley Knight to manage the case. It soon becomes clear that the murders were carefully planned and the finger of suspicion points to an organised crime gang but as the evidence mounts a far more sinister theory emerges. Ashley has been allocated a young but opinionated partner in Hector Fade and sparks soon fly. Annoyingly for Ashley Hector is no pushover and looks destined for great things. When the pair delve into the case they struggle to understand who would inflict such suffering on their victims and hope the crime is a one off from a deranged and dangerous individual. But then another body is found. There's a killer on the loose who must be caught or other victims will meet their fate by the sea.