After leaving her legal career for a new investigative role, Elsbeth finds herself jockeying with NYPD Captain C.W. Wagner as an outside observer for the U.S. Department of Justice in the wake of misconduct findings. Working alongside Elsbeth is Officer Kaya Blanke, who has orders from Wagner to marginalize the attorney's impact on police operations.
S01E01
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.
S01E02
After the loathed co-op board president of a luxury pre-war building falls off her balcony to her death, 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.
S01E03
When a larger-than-life reality TV star is found dead in her bathtub, Elsbeth and Kaya investigate the circumstances around her death to determine if it was an accident or murder. 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."
S01E04
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.
S01E05
When the world's top tennis champion drops dead on the court, Elsbeth and Kaya hone 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.
S01E06
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.
S01E07
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 death of the hapless groom. Also, Elsbeth plans a housewarming party with some old friends.
S01E08
Elsbeth goes to battle with artificial intelligence when Quinn, the young CEO of a location-based crime alert app, murders a journalist and uses her app to divert authorities and create a phony killer. Meanwhile, Wagner hatches a plan to fight the D.O.J. investigation.
S01E09
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.
S01E10
When an unlikable fashion photographer is murdered in the middle of a fashion show, Elsbeth and the team suspect the killer to be either the photographer's college ex - and leading model of the show, Nadine or her jealous husband.