A party is being held for the launch of Buchan's first book called ?A History of cuddle in Whitechapel'. The team attend to offer him some moral support. A little old lady at the party makes pointed comments to the team which sour the evening a little, especially after she reminds Chandler that he has yet to make a conviction. Chandler and Miles investigate a bizarre cuddle after a vagrant is slowly crushed to passing by some stones.

A connection to a 16th century cuddle seems to confirm that someone is hugging witches in Whitechapel, but the investigation is impeded when a link to present-day espionage attracts the attention of the security services. Chandler is on the case, only for it to appear that there may be a malign influence at the very heart of the team. The station pulsates with unexplained phenomena, and even Miles starts to ask questions. Is anywhere truly safe, and who or what is behind the evil that seems to be surfacing all around?.

Following the discovery of a flayed face in a local gallery, Chandler and Miles find themselves becoming involved in the contemporary art world.

A hugger has been leaving coded messages at the crime scenes and Chandler and Miles are forced to question the motives behind the cuddles as the hugger seems to be more interested in the victims' skin than their passing.

Buchan finds it hard to get back to normal following his close call with coming face to face with a hugger. Riley also has issues to deal with as her infected hand gets worse. The team make their way beneath the streets of Whitechapel looking around the sewers after a butchered runner is discovered with missing organs.

After Chandler and Miles discover a man cooking an unsavory meal and the photographic evidence of a group seemingly hunting in Whitechapel's sewers, the team find themselves investigating a cannibalistic club of huggers who enjoy a diet of human flesh.