Red John strikes into the heart of the CBI. Ever since the serial killer murdered Patrick Jane's family, the California Bureau of Investigation consultant and former faux-psychic has become obsessed with finding the man who destroyed his life. But after a homocide suspect is set ablaze in his jail cell and a CBI agent is later framed as Red John, Patrick realizes his adversary is closer than he imagined.
When the CBI investigates the kidnapping of a prominent lawyer and state house lobbyist, the CBI Director wants Jane on the case, but he is uncertain of his future with the unit after his encounter with Red John.
Patrick Jane and the CBI team are called in to investigate the murder of a convict who served nine years for rape and murder, but was recently released on DNA evidence.
Jane and the CBI team narrowly escape a fiery end when a building explodes while they're investigating a death threat. Meanwhile, sparks fly between Lisbon and billionaire Walter Mashburn when they meet again while on the case.
Patrick Jane accepts the help of a local astrologer, Ellis Mars, to solve the puzzling case of a triple homicide that involves two policemen and the fiancé of an EMT worker.
The CBI pursues two lines of investigation when a Santa is murdered: Patrick Jane goes undercover in an AA group; and Rigsby and Van Pelt question members of an authentic Santa society. Meanwhile, following the demise of a person in custody at the CBI, J.J. LaRoche is brought in to question the team when it appears to be an inside job.
Patrick and the team investigate the murder of a woman with ties to one of the fighters. Meanwhile, LaRoche focuses his investigation on Rigsby, who in turn is forced to ask Cho for a huge favor in order to keep his job.
When Patrick Jane and the CBI must work with a criminal profiler, Dr. Montague, to solve a double murder, it becomes a competition for Jane to prove that his methods are superior.
When a modern-day prospector is found dead near a mining site and Lisbon is injured during the initial stages of the investigation, Agent Hightower joins Patrick Jane in the field for the first time.
After a doctor is found dead at a golf course, the CBI team searches for a killer amongst a hospital's staff and patients. Meanwhile, when LaRoche is placed in charge of the CBI, his first act of business is to name Cho the new team leader.
Patrick Jane and the CBI team must track down the killer of a man who believed he experienced an alien abduction - even after the victim's body is stolen from the coroner's van. Meanwhile, Van Pelt takes a break from the case to shop for wedding dresses.
Patrick Jane must deal with two failed robbery attempts: one resulting in the murder of a repair shop owner and the other involving a former suspect personally hired by Jane to break into LaRoche's home.
When a prison guard is stabbed to death outside of a jewelry store, Patrick Jane suspects one of the guard's inmates is the killer. Meanwhile, Rigsby questions his own father about the murder.
After a young violinist is shot to death, Patrick Jane questions the members of the Northern California Symphony Orchestra about the murder. Meanwhile, Cho crosses paths with a precocious young pickpocket.
A robber with a bomb attached to him is blown up in front of a convenience store, and CBI soon discovers that there may be connections between this case and Red John and agent Hightower.
Patrick trades Hightower's secret location to Laroche for the four remaining names on his list. The team then sets up a trap to uncover Red John's real informant, leading to a possible face-to-face showdown between Patrick and Red John.
