Born in 1948, in the backstreets of East London, Liam O'Keefe was moulded by a deprived life that inevitably led him into crime. He developed a blinkered obsession with making money and did not care how he did so.

By 1974, when he was twenty-six, Liam had become wealthy, not only by legitimate but also by crooked means, and despite the year being a turbulent time in the UK with rampant inflation, a three-day working week, government-controlled pay rises and an ongoing violent IRA campaign. However, Liam's success is short-lived. A ruthless gang leader attempts to stab him, but during the unprovoked attack, the gang leader accidentally dies. Shocked and fearing the repercussions, Liam runs and leaves London for the first time and finds himself in remote North Devon.

Using a new identity, Liam is freed from the baggage of his London life and relaxes in a town's laid-back atmosphere. He is so charmed by the picturesque surroundings and the friendly, quirky indigenous residents he meets, particularly one bubbly young waitress, that he becomes entwined in their lives. For the first time, Liam feels a sense of belonging.

That is, until his new Devon friends ask for his help. To help would mean his return to London and facing his past.