In the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, Mustafa Algan Bey sells carpets. His Swiss bank account, however, does not reflect the business he does. The deposits are large, irregular and in foreign currencies. It is not long before a connection is revealed with a Russian scientist who has a new strain of opium poppy seeds to sell. Lady Jennifer Norrington and her compatriots decide to holiday in Turkey, but are soon drawn into another adventure, this time against ruthless drug-runners and with the prospect of many hundreds of deaths from the drug produced from poppies grown out of the Russian seeds. There is murder, state violence and a seemingly impenetrable 'respectable' front pitted against them. And then ... a horrible climax.