Baroness Emily Wood, a distinguished archaeologist, is reported missing during a brief visit to an ancient Greek site on the island of Crete. Discreet inquiries undertaken by the institute that employs her are unsuccessful in determining Dr. Wood's whereabouts. Fearing she may have been abducted, the institute's director approaches William Church for assistance. William Church, a freelance recovery specialist based in San Francisco and London, is commissioned by the institute's director to travel to Crete in the hopes of locating her. Owing to the fact that Baroness Wood is also a member of the House of Lords, there is concern her mysterious disappearance could cause the British government unwelcome embarrassment. Accordingly, Church is instructed to secure her release by whatever means necessary in the event she has fallen into the hands of criminals. With the aid of his associate, Ariella Brandt, a former member of an elite Israeli military unit, and that of Aaron, a shadowy Israeli operative, Church traces the path of the missing woman, even as it leads to the politically unstable eastern region of Libya. Despite being confronted by local militias and violent jihadis, Church and his team discover where the baroness is being held, then forcibly rescue her. Racing for the Libyan coast and to the motor yacht waiting to pick them up, Church and his party run a gauntlet of angry armed men intent on stopping them.