Catherine Cawood is a policewoman in the sarcastically nicknamed Happy Valley; the drug-affected Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, England. Her private life is complicated. She still sees and sleeps with her ex-husband, journalist Richard Cawood, even though he has a new woman in his life. She lives with her sister Clare, a recovering addict, and grandson, Ryan, whose mother, Catherine's daughter, Becky, killed herself after being raped. Now the man Catherine believes to be the rapist, Tommy Lee Royce, is out of jail and back in town. At the same time, Kevin Weatherill, disgruntled that his boss Nevison Gallagher will not give him a raise so he can enroll his daughter into a good school, conspires with caravan park owner Ashley Cowgill and his employees, Lewis and Royce, to kidnap Nevison's adult daughter, Ann, for a ransom. When Nevison has a change of heart and offers to pay for both his daughters' tuition, Kevin wants to abort the operation but the others go ahead with it. As the kidnapping unfolds, more people are drawn into the investigation and conspiracy, leading to tragic results.

Learning that Nevison's wife Helen is terminally ill Kevin feels increasingly guilty and tells his own wife Jenny what has happened. She advises him to deny all contact with the others and refuse to accept any money so that when, on Nevison's instructions, he takes the ransom to Cowgill, he hides his own share. Lewis is concerned that Royce is ill-treating Ann and plans to kill her when the full ransom is received but is savagely beaten by Royce when he tries to intervene on her behalf. Catherine meanwhile starts a poster campaign to locate Royce and, after arresting local councillor Marcus Gascoigne for drunk driving and arguing with Richard for refusing to accept Ryan as his grandson, she gets a call leading her to the house where Ann is being held. Royce hides when she rings the bell but becomes paranoid as to how she knew where to look for him.

Following Catherine's visit to the house Royce moves Ann but the van in which he and Lewis are taking her is stopped for speeding by policewoman Kirsten McAskill and so Royce, to Lewis's horror, runs Kirsten over, killing her. Reminded of her daughter's death and accused by Kirsten's partner of pushing her into action Catherine is devastated and, whilst Richard offers to accept Ryan, she can do without being told not to prosecute Gascoigne for drink and drugs as he donates to the police fund. Cowgill is also appalled by Royce's actions, particularly as Royce wants to kill Ann to stop her talking but gives Nevison some hope by suggesting Ann will be released after another ransom payment delivered by Kevin. As a result Helen, who wanted to speak to Catherine, tells her she has changed her mind. Delivering the money to Cowgill Kevin is shocked when Lewis tells him that Royce killed the policewoman whilst Catherine decides to investigate the house where Royce was seen and is suspicious of what she finds in the cellar.

Clare organizes a birthday party for Catherine with the family, colleagues and the Gallaghers but makes the mistake of telling Daniel that Catherine has been seeing Richard. At the party Daniel gets drunk and accuses his parents as well as harshly criticizing Becky, whom he claims was a spoilt bitch and Royce's willing partner, rather than the victim they have all beatified. Next day Lewis's corpse is discovered and Cowgill is murdered by the drugs gang. Royce hides out on a narrow boat and contacts Ryan, explaining that he is his father and encouraging him to visit on the boat. Catherine finds out and races to save her grandson, leading to a confrontation with Royce before the family is reconciled.