While investigating the death of an Irish mobster, Beckett and Castle uncover a local turf war that may be connected to both a late-night infomercial guru and an international drug smuggling operation. But the case turns agonizingly personal when evidence emerges that the killer they're chasing may have had a hand in Beckett's mother's murder.

When the detective who investigated Beckett's mother's murder is shot before Beckett's eyes before he can give her new evidence in the case, Beckett's old wounds are reopened. The investigation of the detective's death leads the team to an old scheme which may provide the answer to why Beckett's mother was murdered and who ordered it. Beckett and Castle's relationship takes a new turn.

When a famous dog trainer is killed, the investigation keeps coming back to charismatic reality TV star Kay Cappuccio. Kay, a favorite of tabloids and gossip websites the world over, has achieved stardom without possessing any discernible skill or talent. But there seems to be more to her story than she is letting on -- does that include murder?

While investigating the murder of a young woman, Castle and Beckett find evidence that links her death with Senator William H. Bracken (Jack Coleman), the man responsible for Beckett's mother's murder. Determined to finally bring Bracken to justice, Beckett soon realizes that things are far more complicated than they seem.

Continuing from the season premiere episode, Beckett races against time to find a stolen toxin capable of killing tens of thousands of people. To make matters worse, Castle was exposed, leaving him with less than 24 hours to live.

The murder of a young record store clerk takes a strange turn when the team discovers his past history as a high-level hacker. But it's nothing compared to the shock Castle receives when their investigation leads them straight to his father, Jackson Hunt.

Castle and Beckett delve into the world of extreme sports when a mysterious motorcyclist shoots an up-and-coming professional skateboarder.

Castle takes on a routine P.I. case, but the investigation turns deadly when he witnesses a murder.

A clue at the scene of the death of an armored-car driver leads Beckett and Castle back to an old case solved by Esposito. But complications arise when they learn that Esposito might not have been telling them everything about his past with the culprit.