Helicopter pilot and military hero Nick Hawkwood - known to his friends as 'The Hawk' - suffers horribly when his Lynx is shot down over Afghanistan and he is taken prisoner. Months later he goes to Singapore to recuperate, as the guest of his old friend James Wellnut. On arrival at the colonial residence of the new Defence Adviser Hawkwood discovers the real reason behind Wellnut's invitation. His predecessor disappeared during a boat-trip round the islands, and his body has never been found. As Nick starts to probe into the mystery, he finds himself caught up in something more complex than Wellnut had anticipated. And then his former fiancee, marine scientist Lara Scott, reappears on the Singapore scene...