In 1940s Los Angeles, private investigator Roland Drake navigates a world of crime and seduction, solving cases and entangling himself with alluring women, while the corrupt Detective Barry Tate holds sway over the city. This narrative unfolds in the traditional film noir style. Drake finds himself in dire straits, having been evicted from his office and tarnished by a botched missing persons investigation, leaving him disgraced both publicly and with the police. Just as it seems all is lost for him, a chance for redemption arrives in the form of Katherine Montemar, a captivating brunette. She seeks his assistance, and their instant chemistry, along with her distress over her missing family members, draws him into her case—and into her arms.