Karen Pirie

Karen Pirie is a British crime drama television series produced by World Productions (the acclaimed team behind Line of Duty, Bodyguard, and The Pembrokeshire Murders) for ITV, based on the Inspector Karen Pirie series of novels by bestselling Scottish author Val McDermid. The series premiered on ITV in September 2022 with three feature-length episodes, immediately becoming one of the most-watched new dramas of that year, launching with 6.6 million viewers and averaging 5.9 million across each episode. The show’s success led to a second series of three episodes airing in July-August 2025, with the drama quickly establishing itself as a fresh, modern take on the cold case detective genre.

The series stars Lauren Lyle (Outlander, Vigil) as DS Karen Pirie, a Glaswegian detective with a quick mouth, tenacious desire for truth, and absolutely no patience for bureaucratic nonsense or being underestimated because of her age or gender. Lyle’s compelling performance earned her dual BAFTA Scotland awards—Best Actress Television and the Audience Award for Favourite Scot on Screen—recognition that confirmed what viewers immediately recognised: Karen Pirie represents a young person’s perspective rare in police procedurals, bringing energy, authenticity, and relatability to the traditionally older detective archetype.

Series One, adapted by Emer Kenny (who also plays Karen’s best friend River Wilde) from McDermid’s first Karen Pirie novel The Distant Echo, introduces Karen as she’s assigned to reopen a 25-year-old cold case: the brutal 1996 murder of teenager Rosie Duff, a barmaid found dead in St Andrews. The investigation originally focused on three university students—Ziggy, Alex, and Weird—who claimed to have discovered her body in the graveyard near the famous bottle dungeon (a medieval oubliette where prisoners were forgotten). Despite implausible explanations and suspicious behaviour, lack of evidence meant the trio were released, and the case went cold.

Twenty-five years later, a popular true crime podcast resurrects the case, using it as an example of police failure and institutional indifference toward violence against women. The resulting media firestorm and public pressure force Police Scotland to reopen the investigation. Wanting a woman to lead the reinvestigation—partly for optics, partly because Karen is genuinely talented—they assign DS Karen Pirie to the Historic Cases Unit. Partnered with DC Jason “Mint” Murray (Chris Jenks), Karen must navigate not just the complexities of a quarter-century-old murder but also hostile original investigators who resent her implying their failure, media scrutiny from the podcast, and attacks on the original suspects that transform her cold case review into an urgent live investigation.

The series excels at showing Karen as a complete person beyond her detective work. Scenes with her best friend Dr. River Wilde (Emer Kenny) reveal Karen’s social life, background, and personality outside the police station—a refreshing approach that makes viewers genuinely care about Karen as a three-dimensional character rather than just a crime-solving machine. The show portrays authentic female friendship alongside professional challenges, exploring what it means to be a young woman proving herself in a field that too often dismisses or undervalues her contributions.

Series Two, based on McDermid’s novel A Darker Domain and co-written by Emer Kenny and Gillian Roger Park, tackles one of Scotland’s most infamous mysteries: the 1984 disappearance of oil heiress Catriona “Cat” Grant and her baby son Adam during the Miners’ Strike. For forty years, the case remained unsolved until a man’s body is discovered, providing the first key piece of evidence in decades. Karen is assigned to reopen the investigation in complete secrecy, navigating increasing media attention whilst trying to unlock what happened to Cat Grant and why sinister forces want the secrets of her disappearance to remain buried. The case brings Karen into contact with Cat’s parents—oil magnate Sir Broderick Grant (James Cosmo) and his ex-wife Mary (Frances Tomelty)—and Fergus Sinclair (John Michie), the father of Cat’s son. Series Two also introduces DC Isla Stark (Saskia Ashdown) as a newcomer to the team.

The supporting cast provides excellent continuity across both series. Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray brings chemistry and partnership to investigations, whilst Zach Wyatt as DS Phil Parhatka, Steve John Shepherd as DCS Simon Lees, and Rakhee Thakrar as journalist Bel Richmond round out Karen’s professional world. The ensemble creates believable workplace dynamics where colleagues support, challenge, and occasionally frustrate each other in ways that feel authentic to real police work.

Filmed extensively on location across Scotland—particularly in the historic university town of St Andrews with its beautiful beaches, ancient architecture, and atmospheric settings—the series serves as a compelling advert for Scottish landscapes whilst grounding its mysteries in distinctly Scottish communities and histories. Series Two expanded filming to include Malta alongside Scottish locations, demonstrating the production’s commitment to authentic settings. Screen Scotland provided £364,000 through the Broadcast Content Fund to support the production basing itself in Scotland, creating trainee opportunities and vital jobs for Scottish crew members.

The production values reflect World Productions’ trademark quality. Director Gareth Bryn (Series One and Two) brings visual flair and pacing that keeps two-hour episodes engaging without feeling bloated. The writing, led by Emer Kenny (who received an Edgar Allan Poe Award nomination for Best Episode in a TV Series for the first episode), balances procedural elements with character development, creating narratives that are “meaty, well-paced and sure-footed” (The Guardian) and delivering mysteries that keep audiences guessing until the final revelations.

Critical reception has been strong, with reviewers praising the show’s modern, fresh approach to tartan noir. The Independent awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, noting that “the tartan noir drama lifts itself above the usual run of these cold case thrillers because the story is told in a refreshingly cohesive way,” particularly highlighting Lyle’s excellence as “the undervalued, underestimated officer who succeeds where the men have failed.” The Times called it “modern and fresh,” the Daily Mail declared it “the best new police serial this year,” and the Celtic Media Festival awarded it Best Drama Series in 2023.

Val McDermid, whose novels have sold 17 million copies worldwide and previously inspired ITV’s Wire in the Blood, expressed confidence that “audiences are in for a treat.” The adaptation captures McDermid’s gift for complex plotting whilst making the material accessible to television audiences, maintaining the novels’ Scottish authenticity whilst creating compelling visual storytelling. Kenny’s adaptation demonstrates deep understanding of both source material and contemporary television’s demands, crafting scripts that honour McDermid’s work whilst standing independently as gripping drama.

Some viewers initially questioned whether Lyle appeared too young for the role, but the series deliberately addresses this through storylines about Karen being underestimated and dismissed—making her youth and gender central to character dynamics rather than ignoring them. The show presents a realistic portrayal of a talented young detective fighting to prove herself in a profession that too often values seniority over skill, making her eventual successes all the more satisfying.

Karen Pirie represents a new generation of British crime drama—one that combines traditional elements (cold cases, meticulous investigation, Scottish settings) with contemporary sensibilities (diverse casting, feminist perspectives, true crime culture commentary, social media impact on investigations). The show doesn’t shy from examining how media attention, public pressure, and institutional failures complicate justice, whilst maintaining the fundamentally hopeful premise that dedicated detectives like Karen can still find truth decades after crimes occur.

With strong viewership, critical acclaim, multiple awards, and a passionate fanbase eagerly awaiting news of Series Three, Karen Pirie has established itself as essential viewing for fans of British crime drama, proving that fresh voices and perspectives can revitalise familiar formats whilst delivering the compelling mysteries audiences crave.

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