Is there anything better than a suspenseful police series that keeps you guessing until the very end? We don’t think so. ITV’s beyond brilliant detective drama Karen Pirie is back for a third instalment, which promises to be nothing short of 10/10. With a quick-witted female detective and cold cases at the centre of the drama, it’s a true Shetland rival. And the next chapter promises to unravel the biggest mystery yet.
The drama, which first aired in 2022, follows the eponymous investigator Karen Pirie (Lauren Lyle), who’s charged with solving Scotland’s biggest unsolved crimes. From the murder of a student barmaid to the abduction of an oil heiress, it's safe to say Karen's had her work cut out. But this series will see the Dr Marten-wearing detective take on a whole new challenge with the gruesome discovery of a man's remains.
With filming set to begin next year, here’s everything you need to know about Karen Pirie series 3, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.
What is Karen Pirie about?
The series, based on Val McDermid’s bestselling novels, follows Detective Karen Pirie (Lauren Lyle) who’s tasked with reopening Scotland's most perplexing cold cases. The fearless and stubborn investigator first appeared on our screens in 2022. In the first series, Karen investigates the 25-year-old unsolved murder of student barmaid Rosie Duff. When the scandal becomes the subject of a true crime podcast, the pressure to find the killer intensifies. At the time, suspicion fell on three drunken male students who found Rosie’s body, but they were never charged - will they be found guilty this time around?
Series 2, based on the second novel in the series, A Darker Domain, sees Lauren return after climbing the ranks to Detective Inspector. This time she has an even bigger case - the 1984 kidnapping of heiress Catriona Grant (Julia Brown) and her young son, Adam. At the time, a media frenzy broke out, but Cat and Adam were never seen again after they were held for ransom at gunpoint. Forty years later, Karen is asked to secretly reopen the investigation after the discovery of a man’s body. But will she ever get to the bottom of what happened to Catriona and her son?
What will happen in Karen Pirie series 3?
The upcoming third instalment will be based on Val McDermid’s third book, The Skeleton Road. The six-part series begins with the discovery of a man’s remains hidden in the roof of a derelict building in Edinburgh. Karen learns that the victim fled the 1990s Balkans conflict, settled in Scotland and went on to marry a famous author. The revelation of their identity goes on to trigger a media firestorm. The deeper she delves into the investigation, the more fraught the situation becomes, as long-buried secrets and a cycle of revenge begin to surface. The question remains: can Karen stop the killer before they strike again?
Lauren shared her excitement for reprising her role ahead of series 3. “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!” she told ITV.
“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 in to shape. 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," she added.
Who’s in the cast of Karen Pirie series 3?
For now, the only confirmed cast member is Lauren Lyle. The regular cast from previous series of Karen Pirie includes:
- Lauren Lyle (Outlander, The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Toxic Town) as Karen Pirie
- Chris Jenks (Vigil) as DC Jason Murray
- Zach Wyatt (Hendrix & Handel) as DS Phil Parhatka
- Emer Kenny (Father Brown) as River Wilde
- Steve John Shepherd (The Best Man) as DI Simon Lees
- Rakhee Thakrar (I, Jack Wright) as Bel Richmond
Is there a trailer for Karen Pirie series 3?
While ITV haven’t released a trailer yet for Karen Pirie series 3, you can get a flavour of the action from the trailer for series 2.
Is Karen Pirie any good?
Yes, the second series drew a staggering 5.3 million viewers with a peak of 5.6 million when it aired on ITV and STV last year. Karen Pirie is a breath of fresh air as the central protagonist. She's young, bold and unapologetic - a welcome change from the genre's traditional depiction of an older, brooding male detective weighed down by personal and professional baggage.
How can I watch Karen Pirie series 3?
While ITV hasn’t yet shared a release date for Karen Pirie series 3, we do know filming will begin in 2027. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it here. In the meantime, you can catch up on series 1 and 2 on ITVX now.
What other detective dramas can I watch now?
Fancy something cosier? We’d recommend Lesley Manville’s Marble Hall Murders. The final chapter in Anthony Horowitz's mystery saga sees book-editor-turned-sleuth Susan Ryeland take on a whole new adventure. This time she gets wrapped up in an Atticus Pünd continuation novel written by troubled young author (Jamie Blackley) and unexpectedly becomes a suspect in a real-life murder case. You can watch Marble Hall Murders now on BBC iPlayer. For some brilliant drama from further afield, try A Remarkable Place to Die. The series from New Zealand follows determined detective Anais Mallory (Chelsie Preston Crayford) who returns from Sydney to her hometown Queenstown to work on an extremely personal case - alongside a string of mystifying murder mysteries. You can watch A Remarkable Place to Die now on U and Channel 4.