January 1928, the Isle of Dogs. Following the mysterious disappearance of her sailor husband (missing, presumed drowned), young widow Eve Kumar struggles to provide for herself and her twin sons. But her flower-selling business is destroyed overnight when the Thames floods its banks, wrecking Eve's ramshackle riverside cottage and forcing her to take refuge with the lecherous Harold Slygo and his drunken wife.

As Eve's home life turns from bad to worse, she is befriended by a young police constable, Charlie Merritt, who shares Eve's growing suspicions that her husband's death was no accident. But Eve and Charlie's investigations are attracting unwelcome attention - and when Eve herself disappears, Charlie realizes there are those who would go to any lengths to ensure the truth remains buried. Will he be able to save the woman he has grown to love?