July, 1940. The Nazis launch their invasion of Britain—starting with the Channel Islands. And soldier turned safecracker Bill O'Hagan gets an offer: hang for his crimes, or serve his country. The mission— land on occupied Alderney, impersonate a local, steal the invasion plans, escape. It sounds so implausible he almost believes it. In Portugal, the former King, Edward, Duke of Windsor, receives an altogether different proposal from Germany: ease the invasion and he'll get his throne back. But Edward will not willingly betray his country. An embittered former king. An unreformed thief. And a secret upon which the fates of nations lie.