It's 1931, and as the Depression grips Merseyside, the girls at the Peregrine Laundry where Greta Arrowsmith works are unanimous about one thing: the only way out of poverty is to marry money. One cold winter's night, Greta takes pity on a lost and hungry dog, little realising her life is about to change forever, for the dog belongs to Mungo Masters, wealthy owner of a chain of funfairs, and he is instantly attracted to her. Greta thinks her dreams have come true, but Mungo's past returns to haunt him, sweeping her into a dangerous world of secrets, violence and murder.