Detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles investigate the grisly murder of a wealthy couple. The M.O. matches the work of a serial killer known as the Surgeon, who once nearly murdered Jane. Now that the Surgeon is behind bars, it seems one of his proteges is picking up where he left off.
Tensions are high as the squad investigates a possible copycat of the legendary Boston Strangler… or could it be the Boston Strangler himself? Meanwhile, Jane butts heads with her new boss, Lt. Grant, who just happens to be from the same neighborhood where Jane grew up. And Maura gets into trouble with her habit of diagnosing everyone – including her date.
Jane and Maura investigate the mysterious death of a young boy whose family is from Cape Verde. It appears at first that he may have died during an attempted exorcism, and it may take a message from beyond the grave for Jane to pinpoint exactly what happened. Jane is distracted from the case when her mother sets her up on a surprise date.
The eldest brother in a Boston “Brahmin” family (direct descendents of passengers on the Mayflower) is found in the harbor dead after an apparent sailing accident. But Maura’s close connection with the family and Jane’s resentment over the wealth they display threaten to derail their investigation. Angela, meanwhile, tries her hand at selling a Polynesian health drink.
After an undercover cop working a narcotics-smuggling sting is shot dead, the killers next turn their sights on Boston homicide headquarters, leaving Jane, Maura and Frankie Jr. trapped in a fight for survival on their home turf. It's a situation that will force Maura to challenge herself like never before. On the home front, Jane's parents are excited that their oldest child, Tommy, is being released after serving time in prison.
After taking a bullet during a siege of the precinct, Jane Rizzoli is honored as a hero at a public event. The celebration is short-lived, however, when disaster strikes. The ensuing case reunites Jane with an old high-school flame, Sgt. Major Casey Jones, who may be just the person she needs to heal her emotional scars.
After a young dockworker is killed, evidence surfaces that the mob has connections to dock operations, which brings up questions regarding involvement by Maura's biological father. Jane does everything she can to get out of sensitivity training. Meanwhile, Maura and Tommy start spending time together.
When a community activist is gunned down, one brave witness comes forward to testify against a well-known gang member who is thought to have murdered 15 people. While the detectives work diligently to put him away, television host Bill O’Reilly comes to town for a book signing and criticizes the police department on-air.
Jane attends her high school reunion and brings Maura along for the ride, but the fun is cut short when one of her old classmates turns up dead on the football field. Jane must focus on the past when she realizes everyone in her class is a potential suspect. Meanwhile, Korsak gets a visit from ex-wife Melody Patterson, who hopes he’ll invest in her new business.
When a statue breaks open to reveal a dead woman inside, Jane and Maura must find the killer quickly as the body count begins to rise. Back at headquarters, a new homicide detective is named to the squad. Meanwhile, Dennis Rockmond returns to Boston after disappearing on Maura and tries to woo her back. Lydia goes into labor.
When a man having breakfast in the Division 1 Café dies from poisoning, Jane and the team must quickly find the source as Angela and the irascible Stanley both come under scrutiny. Meanwhile, Tommy wants proof that he’s the biological father of Lydia’s baby as she returns to take the baby back. And Detective Korsak is reunited with one of his ex-wives.
A famous young writer of memoirs is found dead in an apparent suicide, but Jane and Maura soon discover there’s more to the story. Meanwhile, Frost becomes obsessed with an old case involving a young African American student as his final appeal is denied. And Jane discovers Angela is involved in a secret romance.
When a former college football player is stabbed inside a carwash during a fundraiser for his alma mater, Jane, Maura and the team must piece together clues to track down the killer. Meanwhile, Frost's mother visits Boston with some unexpected news. And Lt. Col. Casey Jones bumps into Jane and is forced to reveal some startling news of his own.
In Rizzoli & Isles, the family bond among the lead characters will undergo some of its greatest challenges. New series Executive Producer, Jan Nash, guides us through what we can expect to see this season.
When it appears one of our own shot an unarmed man on a busy Boston subway platform, the team must fight to find the real killer while clearing our detective’s name. But with Internal Affairs breathing down our necks, it becomes clear that the circumstances surrounding this shooting are anything but clear.
The murder of a college student takes an odd turn when Jane and Maura discover he had 32 girlfriends. Uncovering who killed him and why leads them into a world of app developers, virtual boyfriends and relationships built on lies. Meanwhile, Korsak finally introduces everyone to the new woman in his life.
A security guard foils a robbery when he kills one of the robbers, despite being wounded himself. Jane and Maura work together to solve the case after the search for the robber's accomplice raises some puzzling questions. Jane continues her quest to protect Maura and Angela. But is the price too high?
When a mailman is killed, the team must work with a brash, eccentric postal inspector, who believes the mailman's murder is part of a larger conspiracy. Maura continues to struggle with the ramifications of her injury, and Angela intervenes when she discovers Korsak has gotten Kiki a terrible birthday present.
When a wealthy woman is found dead at the bottom of her stairs, we realize that this was no ordinary slip-and-fall accident. The team is pressed into a game of cat and mouse with a clever killer determined to get away with the perfect crime. Plus, when Maura decides to undergo minor surgery, the surprising part of her healing will be reconnecting with Hope.