Oldsmill, the town's head honcho, is a white tiger. Karup, the chief of police, is a white bear. Huk, Karup's henchman, a white fox. Along with the other animals of immaculate pelt, they form the WASP association (W for White, AS for Anglo-Saxon, P for Protestant). All other town residents, from the black magpie to the reddish-brown fox to the tabby cat, are nothing but trash. And if the police aren't able to enforce white law, the wide-reaching arms of the ruthless Arctic Nation party, hooded and decked out in white robes, will soon put things in order. And they've got all the ropes and burning crosses they need. In this unwelcoming environment, Blacksad, a private detective, is investigating the disappearance of a child of color, Kyle. Dinah, Kyle's mother, had a job as Karup's housemaid, and some say she was getting pretty friendly with Oldsmill's son. It doesn't take Blacksad long to get his claws right into the vipers' nest, and he's as quick to lash out as any of them...