Set in post-war 1951 Brighton, the plot follows bereaved ex-Secret Service agent Mirabelle Bevan whose work at a debt collection agency leads her to investigate a disappearance mystery with the help of insurance clerk Vesta Churchill.

Having retired to the seaside after a bereavement, ex-Secret Service agent Mirabelle's skills are often employed in the mysteries she encounters.

"[1] Vesta Churchill is an enthusiastic, bright and bubbly insurance clerk who assists Mirabelle Bevan in her investigations.

Often grumpy in manner and harbouring sexist views, McGregor is at first dismissive of Mirabelle, but his respect for her grows over time as a fledgling romance develops.

The post-war atmosphere is one of austerity, and the book does not shy away from the racial and gender equality topics of the era.