As a New Year begins in Bath, Ben Brace proposes to his long-term girlfriend, Caroline. The problem is that she´s the daughter of notorious crime baron, Joe Irving, who is coming to the end of a prison sentence. And Ben´s father George is Bath´s Deputy Chief Constable. But mothers and sons are a formidable force: a wedding in the Abbey and reception in the Roman Baths are set in place before the career-obsessed DCC can step in.
Peter Diamond, Bath´s head of CID, is appalled to be put in charge of security on the day. Ordered to be discreet, he packs a gun and a guest list in his best suit and must somehow cope with potential killers, gang rivals, warring parents, bossy photographers and straying bridesmaids. The laid-back Joe Irving seems oblivious to the danger he is in from rival gang-leaders, while Brace can´t wait for the day to end. Will the photo-session be a literal shoot? Will Joe Irving´s speech as father of the bride be his last words? Can Diamond pull off a miracle, avert a tragedy and send the happy couple on their honeymoon?