ITV has confirmed that the acclaimed Scottish detective drama Karen Pirie will return for a third series, with Outlander star Lauren Lyle reprising her leading role. The announcement has delighted fans of the show, which is adapted from Val McDermid's novels.
Third series plot revealed
The inaugural series, broadcast in 2022, followed Pirie as she tackled the 25-year-old cold case of a murdered barmaid, exposing hidden truths and deception to identify the killer. The second run saw her examining a death from the 1980s, involving a young heiress and her son who were abducted and never found.
ITV has now revealed the plot for the third chapter, adapted from The Skeleton Road. The story begins with the discovery of a man's remains hidden in the roof of a derelict Edinburgh building. DI Karen Pirie learns that the victim fled the Balkans conflict of the 1990s for the safety of Scotland to marry a now famous author, whose identity stirs up a hornets' nest of publicity.
Cast and crew reactions
As the investigation develops, Karen unearths dangerous secrets and a vicious cycle of revenge as someone takes justice into their own hands. The synopsis poses the question: can Karen stop the killer before they kill again? It adds that when present resentment collides with secrets of the past, the truth is more shocking than anyone could have imagined.
Announcing Karen Pirie's return, commissioning editor Huw Kennair Jones said: "We're thrilled to be returning to Karen Pirie and Lauren Lyle's award-winning performance in what promises to be another brilliant series. Based on Val McDermid's bestselling book, Gillian has woven a compelling story that will delight Karen's many fans. With the fantastic team at World Productions producing, the ITV and ITVX audience are in for a gripping drama."
Writer Val McDermid commented: "I'm thrilled to hear that plans are so far advanced for Karen Pirie series three. The Skeleton Road is a favourite with many readers, so it'll be particularly exciting to see it adapted. I feel very privileged to have such a talented team bringing my books to a wider audience and I can't wait to see what they make of it."
Fan reaction and accolades
Star Lauren Lyle remarked: "Playing Karen Pirie has become one of the most delicious thrills of my career and knowing that people of the world want more of her and her bumbag is an absolute honour! With the added joy of getting to put my Executive Producer hat on for season 3, I can finally, much like Karen, whip all those higher up's into shape."
She added: "In all seriousness, I'm so grateful to be bringing more Karen Pirie to our screens. Season 3 feels even more elevated, with an even wilder story full of thrills, twists, and of course, plenty of eye rolls."
Fans were delighted by the announcement, with one exclaiming: "Brilliant news!" Another enthused: "I can't wait love a decent police drama." A third remarked: "She is just an excellent actor, and this series is so well written."
The crime drama garnered glowing reviews upon its debut, achieving a near-perfect 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, while Lauren clinched Best Actress - Television for her performance at the Bafta Scotland Awards in 2023. Audiences declared it a "must-see", with one viewer stating: "Great detective with a fantastic Lauren Lyle. Funny, engaging. A classic British crime drama with a nice modern touch to it."
"I thought this was great! Suspenseful, funny and dramatic all at the same time," wrote another, while a fellow viewer added: "Interesting plot. Very well done. If you like police procedurals and true crime podcasts, you will enjoy this series." Karen Pirie is available to watch on ITVX.
