While trying to navigate the everyday drama of high school, the smart, fearless, 17-year-old Veronica Mars also moonlights as an apprentice private investigator out to solve her wealthy town of Neptune's toughest mysteries. After coming to the aid of the new kid, sophomore Wallace Fennel, who's been duct-taped to the school's flagpole, Veronica ends up incurring the wrath of the thugs who put him there, Eli "Weevil" Navarro and his P.C.H. Biker Boyz. To get Weevil and his gang off her and Wallace's case, Veronica devises an intricate plan that helps some of Weevil's cronies avoid trouble with the law.

Meanwhile, defying her father, Keith Mars, the disgraced former sheriff turned private eye, Veronica pursues a late-night case of adultery against billionaire Jake Kane, only to make an unsettling discovery about her mother, who abandoned Veronica and Keith a year ago.

Veronica doesn't believe the evidence adds up against Weevil, who has confessed to stealing credit card applications from Logan's family, and launches an investigation to help her new ally.

Meanwhile, after joining Ms. Mallory Dent's newspaper class, Veronica clashes with socialite Caitlin Ford, Logan's bombshell girlfriend, but is intrigued by the attention shown to her by another wealthy student, Troy Vandegraff, a friend of ex-boyfriend Duncan. Later, Veronica learns that Lilly got a ticket driving her car on the day she died -- two hours after her supposed time of death.

With only a commonplace name, an old address and dim memories as leads, Veronica and Wallace attempt to help classmate Justin Smith find his father John, who disappeared 10 years earlier.

Meanwhile, as Veronica faces some complicated feelings towards ex-boyfriend Duncan and new romantic interest Troy, guidance counselor Rebecca James calls Keith to the school to discuss the recent, dramatic changes in his daughter's life. Later, Duncan struggles with ways to cope with his sister's death as the anniversary of her murder approaches.

In an effort to help Wallace's new crush Georgia, who was duped out of her money in an internet scheme, Veronica must outwit a group of computer "thugs," known as the Silicon Mafia.

Meanwhile, Keith makes Veronica introduce him to her new boyfriend Troy before allowing her to go to the homecoming dance with him. Later, Logan helps Duncan edit together a memorial video for a school dedication ceremony marking the one-year anniversary of Lilly's death. The dance and the video bring back Veronica's memories of when the four of them were friends.

Veronica tries to help her new boyfriend Troy find his father's stolen car and turns to Weevil for assistance, but the situation becomes dangerous when she discovers that Logan and Troy's buddy Luke might have left more than a piata in the car after their night out in Tijuana.

While Keith has accepted that his wife is gone and begins dating school guidance counselor Rebecca James, Veronica continues to secretly investigate her mother's whereabouts, leading her to stumble on a secret Lianne Mars was keeping.

Veronica is hired to track down a one-night-stand, but the situation becomes more complicated when she turns out to be a hooker. Meanwhile, Keith continues his investigation in Dean O'Dell's death, and a visit by Madison Sinclair causes trouble for Veronica and Logan.