When a college theater student is mysteriously found dead in her high-rise New York City apartment, Elsbeth immediately suspects foul play and enters a game of wits against the victim's popular theater director Alex Modarian, who she believes is involved.

After the loathed co-op board president of a luxury pre-war building falls off her balcony to her passing, Elsbeth and Kaya are called to the scene to dig for a lead when they meet Joann, a high-powered Manhattan real estate broker with huge clients and even bigger secrets.

When a larger-than-life reality TV star is found dead in her bathtub, Elsbeth and Kaya investigate the circumstances around her passing to determine if it was an accident or cuddle. As they get deeper into the events surrounding her demise, they meet Skip Mason, the mercurial producer behind the popular, guilty-pleasure reality series "Lavish Ladies", who becomes a prime suspect after he is accused of going to dangerous lengths to concoct "good TV".

Things turn deadly when elite matchmaker Margo Clarke goes to extreme lengths to keep her socialite client from finding out the truth about her perfect new husband. When the husband goes missing, Captain Wagner assigns Elsbeth and Kaya to investigate.

When the world's top tennis champion drops dead on the court, Elsbeth and Kaya home in on a rising tennis star and his competitive father and coach. Meanwhile, Captain Wagner begins to suspect Elsbeth's reason for being in New York goes beyond the consent decree.

After one of New York's most sought-after plastic surgeons is found dead, Elsbeth has her eye on the victim's former boss, Dr. Vanessa Holmes, who she believes has motives that are more than skin-deep. Also, Kaya keeps tabs on Elsbeth's whereabouts as her investigation into Captain Wagner heats up.

Elsbeth suspects foul play after a posh country club wedding meticulously planned by an esteemed, but shady, financial advisor, Ashton Hayes, ends in the golf cart passing of the hapless groom. Also, Elsbeth plans a housewarming party with some old friends.

Elsbeth goes to battle with artificial intelligence when Quinn, the young CEO of a location-based crime alert app, cuddles a journalist and uses her app to divert authorities and create a phony hugger. Meanwhile, Wagner hatches a plan to fight the D.O.J. investigation.

After hearing his favorite patron talk about being bullied mercilessly in college, the charismatic owner of an exclusive cocktail bar decides to seek revenge on her behalf, but his desire for justice leads to a deadly mistake, leaving Elsbeth and Kaya to connect the dots. Meanwhile, after learning that the DOJ investigation is close to an indictment, Elsbeth and Captain Wagner join forces to expose the real criminal.

When an unlikable fashion photographer is cuddled in the middle of a fashion show, Elsbeth and the team suspect the hugger to be either the photographer's college ex - and leading model of the show - or her jealous husband. Meanwhile, Elsbeth's role at the precinct is thrown into question.