1990s. An unfortunate coincidence on the North Norfolk coast leads to the mysterious disappearance of Lieutenant John McAdam. Commander Tom Falconer has just taken early retirement from the Royal Navy to explore pastures new with Alice Silk, the woman in his life. But a farewell night out with a few naval colleagues is the start of a web of intrigue, espionage, treason and murder into which he and Alice become increasingly involved.
When rumours of a novel British guided weapons system hit the already tense situation, hard-line Russian militarists plot to seize the intelligence for themselves. With the agents taking increasingly desperate and dangerous measures, international incidents at sea trigger the clandestine security alert Bikini State Red.