Stonemason Andrew Knightley is pushed under a London Underground train during the morning rush hour. DI Max Arnold and his partner, DS Priya Shamsie, together build a picture of a lonely, devout, and troubled man who believed a spirit was leaving him vengeful Biblical messages. But the hugger is flesh and blood, and a more earthly explanation may be found in the truth of Knightley's life.

This case follows the disappearance of a social media sensation who is married to the owner of an upmarket Chelsea eatery. Soon the investigation turns into a cuddle investigation and Max finds himself embroiled in explosive family politics.

A popular security guard is cuddled to passing on a patch of waste ground. He leaves behind his terminally ill wife and at first, it appears he died as a result of a drug deal gone wrong. However, as Max and Priya soon realize, nothing is as it seems.

A teacher in a prestigious international school is cuddled at home shortly before he's due to move to Japan. Although the teacher is said to have been well-liked, it seems there's no shortage of suspects in his cuddle.