Set in a southern coastal city in England, the investigation team is busy with requests for help to solve mysteries. By the end of the year the team is exhausted, and James and Alicia go to Spain to visit James' parents for the Christmas period. Percy calls James back home to help a man ensure his innocence in the death of his neighbor and his dog. Things are not as simple as they first thought. Was the man guilty? Was he innocent? He led them on a wild goose chase looking for a phantom killer.
Although the office was officially closed for the season, there were more messages asking for help. James received a call from a man anxious for his life. He had received a death threat at his office in the Customs Department and arranged for James and Percy to oversee that office for a while to see if the threat is to be carried out. When the team realized a container of cocaine was held in the warehouse, they were alerted to trouble. Was it possible that the workers were about to take off with the cocaine? Which ones were guilty, and which were innocent? All of James skills were called for to solve this one.
Smaller jobs came in the aftermath, although the office was still supposed to be closed, keeping them on the run, until Alicia and James decided to have a holiday in India for eight days, to make up for the holiday in Spain he missed.
