Grace Hanadarko is a tormented, fast-living Oklahoma City police detective whose philosophy to life is white-heat living. After seeing tremendous tragedy in her life, both professionally and personally, Grace lives life hard and fast.
While hunting deer, Grace and Ham get called into work on their day off. An oilman was murdered with a tire iron. Grace unravels a love triangle between the man, his business partner, and his wife- a triangle that reflects Grace’s relationships with Ham and Butch.
When the manager of a sleazy motel is murdered, the investigation points towards a maid who claims that the victim was trying to rape her. But something in her story doesn't wash.
Wade, a devoutly Christian teenager and witness to a murder, is being threatened with violence in the days leading up to the trial at which he's supposed to testify.
Grace’s favorite Aunt Cathy comes to town – has a run in with Earl, and clashes with Betty. Rhetta, Grace, and Aunt Cathy get drunk and remember old times.
The death of an alleged call girl in a flight attendant’s uniform leads Grace and the guys to investigate a notorious Oklahoma crime family. Grace is finally confronted by Ham’s wife about the affair. A financially-strapped Rhetta gets excited about making two grand as an expert witness. And Grace and Rhetta hatch a secret plan for Rhetta to meet Earl.
Grace and the guys investigate the murder of a “crispy critter” in the Oklahoma countryside and Bobby soon discovers the deceased was one of his mentees.
While trying to apprehend a murderer, and officer dies. Leon spends time with his son.
At a murder scene, some evidence reminds Grace of a crime that happened eleven years ago. Rhetta visits Leon to try and get more information to support her hypothesis about Earl.
Grace investigates a possible negligent homicide involving a bus accident that resulted in the deaths of three children, but the case takes a backseat when multiple tornadoes touch down in Oklahoma City. Grace serves as a first responder during the crisis and helps a trapped twister victim named Dorothy. Meanwhile, Rhetta gets trapped in the morgue; and Leon considers becoming a Muslim.
Grace's investigation of a deadly drive-in robbery swirls around a man with Down syndrome and a home for the mentally challenged. Elsewhere, a romance blooms between Grace and the atheistic son of her voyeuristic neighbor.
A defense attorney from Los Angeles comes to town for a murder trial and his presence may influence the team in professional and personal areas of their lives.
When a charred car is found with a rape kit and pictures of Paige, Grace is forced to dig into her sister's life. Meanwhile, with Rhetta's help, clues lead Grace to discover that the priest that molested her from when she was 9 until her first period at 12 is still alive. Grace goes to the retirement sanctuary in Tulsa to kill him, only to discover that most likely Earl has had contact with him.