Ron Palmer, Mick's father, is a notorious art forger whose sudden reappearance complicates Mick's life. In episode 6, Ron is taken hostage by a criminal gang for stealing a valuable painting, which forces Mick and Shazia to investigate the theft of a rare Chinese vase from a locked vault. Ron's involvement brings emotional tension and raises the stakes for Mick, especially as Mick fears that not turning his father in for his crimes could cost him his job.

DI Mick Palmer and DC Shazia Malik form a partnership where Mick brings art expertise and personal history with art forgery, while Shazia provides sharp, straight-talking detective skills. Together, they investigate murders and thefts connected to the art and antiques world, uncovering complex cases involving fake Vermeers, Viking gold, rare Chinese vases, Banksy street art, and Titanic artifacts. Shazia also supports Mick when he faces personal challenges, such as when she steps in to help during the crisis involving Ron Palmer.

The season 1 cases include: 1) Investigating the murder of an art historian involving a vandalized painting and sabotaged security footage; 2) The discovery and theft of a gold Viking hoard with a thousand-year-old cover-up; 3) The murder of a music producer and theft of rare rock memorabilia; 4) The poisoning of a wine tasting host and secrets about vintage wines; 5) The poisoning of an American millionaire planning to donate Titanic memorabilia; 6) The theft of a rare Chinese vase from a locked vault linked to Ron Palmer's hostage situation.

Mick Palmer develops a budding romance with Rosa, a museum curator. Their relationship adds depth and vulnerability to Mick's character, providing a personal storyline alongside the crime investigations. Rosa's role as a curator connects to the art world central to the series' plot.

An inside man in the auction house manipulates the price and value of an artifact to net a huge profit, which affects the ownership and leads to criminal consequences. Mick and Shazia uncover this scheme, serving justice and linking it to the larger case involving Ron Palmer and the criminal gang. This subplot highlights the corruption and greed in the art world that the detectives confront.