Sidney Blattner is probably the most successful organised crime figure in London, but things are coming unstuck.

Who would dare to execute his innocent brother down in Margate, and why? When Blattner attends the funeral, his chauffeur disappears, forcing Sid and his two minders to flee the seaside resort ignominiously in a Transit van... Sidney calls in as many favours as he can to find out what is going on down in Margate but without success. Two of his aides, sent down to investigate, turn up murdered. There are plenty of questions, but no answers.

Will Vince, the sharpest member of Sid's firm, have any better luck when he arrives in the fading seaside town, or are he and Sidney about to meet their nemesis?