With the peal of wedding bells still ringing in their ears, Daisy Dalrymple and her new husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher, take an ocean trip to America. On board they are joined by a coterie of acquaintances, including American industrialist Caleb P. Arbuckle, his friend, millionaire Jethro Gotobed, and his new wife Wanda, an ex-showgirl with huge ambitions.

But very soon the pleasant voyage dissolves into an atmosphere thick with chaos, intrigue and vicious gossip, followed by a series of suspicious accidents and a sudden death. And with harsh weather and rough seas making the crossing even more perilous, it's up to Daisy and Alec to uncover the tangled secrets and hidden agendas of some very dangerous guests...