When a disgraced former paratroop colonel is hired for a routine boat charter, he is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy involving a rogue submarine and a plot to assassinate a world leader. Neil Mallory, a man whose reputation lies in ruins, finds his path crossing with Anne Grant, who seeks his expertise to navigate the treacherous waters of the English Channel. As they become entangled in the machinations of a fanatical faction determined to topple Charles de Gaulle, they must survive a series of lethal encounters. The narrative unfolds with a focus on the physical dangers of the maritime setting and the shifting loyalties of the Cold War era.

This novel reflects the classic mid-career style of Jack Higgins, emphasizing lean prose and a focus on the mechanics of espionage and survival. The premise suggests a narrative that prioritizes momentum and the gritty reality of post-war political instability over complex character introspection. Readers familiar with the genre will likely recognize the hallmarks of the author's approach to the thriller format, where the environment itself acts as a primary obstacle for the protagonists. The work functions as a representative example of the suspense-driven fiction that defined the author's output during this period of his career.