Through world wars and civil strife, the Bangor Express has never missed an issue, but now it is losing money hand-over-fist and Rob Cullen, fresh off the plane from his London news desk, has absolutely no idea that he's the man to save it. Lured back to Northern Ireland for the first time in 20 years by the demise of his one-time mentor, the Bangor Express makes Rob an offer he can't refuse and the Guardian reporter can't resist sticking around. After all, it has been a long time since Rob had a real story to get his teeth in to... and with the Bangor Express, that's just what he's going to get.

When local artist and Turner prize nominee Richard Turner returns to Bangor to open a retrospective at a small gallery, not everyone is happy to welcome him home. As Richard takes to the stage to make a speech, he is greeted by violent heckling from his former teacher Pat Hadley. Alix resolves to get to the bottom of the story behind this hostility and uncovers a deep-rooted personal grudge: it's not just a matter of stolen art, but a matter of a stolen heart...