It was called "the best police drama this year" when it first aired in 2022 and now ITV’s surprise hit crime drama, Karen Pirie, is making an "epic" return. Adapted from Val McDermid’s hugely popular cold case novels, the new series will reunite us with the titular Scottish investigator (played by Lauren Lyle) – and she’s got another major case on her hands.
The gripping new series will be based on the second story in the bestselling Karen Pirie novels, A Darker Domain, and see Karen delving into the kidnapping of heiress Catriona Grant (Julia Brown) and her young son - but can she get to the bottom of a crime that took place more than 30 years ago? With the series set to arrive on ITV and ITX imminently, here’s everything you need to know before you tune in, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Karen Pirie about?
The first series was based on the first novel in Val McDermid’s book series called The Distant Echo, which was released in 2003. We were introduced to young detective sergeant, Karen Pirie, who was put in charge of investigating a 25-year-old cold case that had become the subject of a true crime podcast. The case centred around the stabbing of teenage barmaid Rosie Duff. Suspicion fell on the three drunken students who discovered her body, but the boys were never charged and 25 years on, DS Karen Pirie set out to find the truth.
What will happen in Karen Pirie series 2?
As we mentioned, the new three-part series will based on author Val McDermid’s 2008 novel, A Darker Domain, and see the return of Lauren Lyle as the fearless young Scottish investigator Karen Pirie. This time round, Karen and her team are reinvestigating the 1984 kidnapping of heiress Catriona Grant (Julia Brown) and her baby son.
According to the official synopsis, "In the turmoil of 1984, when young heiress to the Grant oil fortune Catriona Grant is kidnapped at gunpoint with her young son, it’s assumed that the motivation is political. The huge investigation creates an uncontrollable press storm... but when the culprits unexpectedly fall silent, the case runs cold. Cat and Adam are never seen again.
"Forty years later, when a man's body is discovered, Karen Pirie is assigned to reopen the case in complete secrecy. With the first key piece of evidence in decades, Karen must try to unlock one of Scotland's most infamous mysteries, whilst battling increasing media attention. What happened to Cat Grant and why do sinister forces want the secrets of her disappearance to remain hidden?"
Writer and Executive Producer, Emer Kenny has said she’s never related to a character more than Karen Pirie. "When she’s laughing, I’m laughing. When she’s stressed, I’m stressed. When she turns to drink… well, you get the idea," she says.
"So I’m delighted to be bringing her back to your screens, now a Detective Inspector with more power, more confidence, and some of the same iconic sweater vests. We have a dazzling cast, an heroic crew, and epic plot-twists. If Karen Pirie isn’t already your favourite detective, I promise she will be soon."
Who's starring in Karen Pirie series 2?
The rather large but truly brilliant cast of Karen Pirie series 2 includes:
- Lauren Lyle (Toxic Town, Outlander) as Karen Pirie
- Chris Jenks (Sex Education, Vigil) as DC Jason ‘Mint’ Murray
- Zach Wyatt (Timestalker, The Witcher: Blood Origin) as DS Phil Parhatka
- Steve John Shepherd (Harry Potter, Karen Pirie) as DCS Lees
- Emer Kenny (Father Brown, The Curse) as River Wilde
- Rakhee Thakrar (Wonka, Sex Education) as Bel Richmond
- Saskia Ashdown (Six Four) as newcomer DC Isla Stark
- James Cosmo (Braveheart) as oil magnate Sir Broderick Grant
- Frances Tomelty (Unforgotten) as Sir Broderick Grant’s ex-wife Mary
- John Michie (Holby City) as Fergus Sinclair, the father of Cat’s son Adam
- Julia Brown (World on Fire) as Catriona Grant
- Mark Rowley (One Day) as Mick
- Kat Ronney (Dinosaur) as Bonnie
- Conor Berry (Schemers) as Andy
- Stuart Campbell (The Winter King) as Kevin
- Jamie Michie (Back to Life) as young Brodie Grant
- Madeleine Worrall (The Legend of Tarzan) as young Mary Grant
- Jack Stewart (Outlander) as young Fergus
- Thoren Ferguson (Rebus) as DI Anderson
- Helen Katamba (The Nest) as DC Laurel Blair
Is Karen Pirie any good?
Yes – the first series launched with 6.6m viewers and averaged 5.9m across each episode, making it one of the most watched new dramas on ITV in 2022. It won Best Drama Series at the Celtic Media Festival in 2023 and critics and viewers have called it “modern and fresh” and “the best new police serial this year”. In other words, it’s well worth a watch.
How can I watch Karen Pirie series 2?
ITV hasn't yet shared a release date for Karen Pirie series 2, but we're expecting it to arrive on ITV1 and ITVX very soon. Watch this space for more news as we have it. In the meantime, you can stream the first series of Karen Pirie on ITVX.
