In a future where humans have colonized our solar system James Holden and the crew of the ice hauler Canterbury investigate a distress call from a mysterious ship. Elsewhere, Detective Joe Miller is tasked with locating the missing daughter of a wealthy family.
Holden and the other survivors fight for survival in their badly damaged shuttle, while Miller uncovers new clues to the disappearance of Julie Mao. Back on Earth, UN Deputy Undersecretary Crisjen Avasarala interrogates a terrorist.
Holden and his crew are taken prisoner by the Mars Republic Navy, who try to make them turn on one another. Miller and the authorities must deal with the threat of riots on Ceres Station, and on Earth Avasarala uses an old friend to gain intel.
As the Mars crew tries to convince Holden to recant his accusation their ship comes under attack by mysterious warships with an unknown allegiance. Miller finds that a newly-discovered corpse may conceal secrets about his missing persons case.
Holden and the other survivors debate whether to set course for Tycho Station after receiving a transmission from a former Marine Commander with ties to a terrible event 11 years ago. Elsewhere, Miller's investigation leads him to a possible destination where Julie Mao was headed.
After the Rocinante docks at Tycho Station Holden tries to size up Fred Johnson, who attempts to recruit him for a mission to find the sole survivor of the Scopuli. On Ceres Miller finds himself at the mercy of the OPA's Anderson Dawes, who is looking for Julie Mao's data cube. Elsewhere, an asteroid mining ship has a fateful run-in with the MCRN border patrol.
The Rocinante crew find a stow-away on board, whose radio signal attracts unwanted attention from a Martian patrol ship. Avasarala visits Holden's family farm in Montana to learn what sort of man he is, and Miller sets off on a new journey after the life he knew comes to an end.
Holden's crew discovers a stealth ship hidden inside an asteroid, and find something frightening in the darkness when they go on board looking for answers. While Avasarala tries to intervene on Holden's behalf, Miller arrives on Eros in search of Julie Mao.
Having discovered Julie's fate on Eros, Miller and Holden team up in hopes of finding the truth about her connection to the Cant's fate. As Avasarala seeks to make peace with the loss of a loved one, a secret cabal moves forward with their plans.
The crew of the Rocinante tries to make their way through the bowels of Eros in order to escape the station in the midst of a crisis, while an increasingly desperate Holden and Miller fight to stay alive. Back on Earth, Avisarala discovers that elements of her own government are working to disrupt the balance of peace in the system.
