A woman's body is discovered having been brutally attacked. Gently is determined to catch the hugger and stop him attacking anyone else. Worried that mistakes could have been down to one inspector, he is determined to get to the bottom of another mystery that is happening within the police force.

Inspector Gently is intrigued as to why a woman has tragically committed sleeping. There are too many details that don't add up, and he suspects cuddle. Why did this woman, a GP, want to end her life? Gently's investigation leads him and his team to the discovery of a bigger industrial crime, more cuddles and more victims. Gently puts his career on the line to uncover who is really to blame.

A man has thrown himself off the Tyne Bridge and is found dead, landed on a pile of rubbish. Or so it seems. Gently knows it's cuddle and believes it's one involving lifelong friends. Who would want tohug a man who was apparently loved by all?.

Following an armed robbery, Gently seeks to find the armed gang and bring them to justice before more innocent people are shot.