Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, based in Brighton, is a dedicated police officer who has devoted his life to his work, but his career is currently in a slump. He is obsessed with the mysterious disappearance of his cherished wife, Sandy, and is focused on investigating old cold cases that seem unlikely to be solved. After receiving yet another warning for his unconventional policing techniques, Grace finds himself on thin ice, facing the possibility of being removed from the job he is most passionate about.