Karen Pirie

Name: Karen Pirie
Genre: Drama, Suspense
Released: September 25, 2022
Rating: 76

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 5 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 5 Ratings

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Karen Pirie

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Series Details & Credits

ITV Network | BritBox | Release Date: September 25, 2022

Summary: Scottish police detective DS Karen Pirie (Karen Pirie) investigates a 25-year-old cold case in this British crime series based on Val McDermid's novels.

[Premiered originally in the UK on ITV on 25 Sep 2022 and in the US on BritBox on 25 Oct 2022]

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

Recent Episodes

No episode information is currently available for this season

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

i Rachael Sigee

Oct 24, 2022

Season 1 Review: Despite appearing to retread old ground of the murder of a young woman who was on her way home, Karen Pirie, with its distinctly female-driven lens, feels relevant and self-aware, with an understanding of the effects of trauma that is not always catered for by this kind of show. Read full review

The Independent Sean O'Grady

Oct 24, 2022

Season 1 Review: This Tartan Noir drama lifts itself above the usual run of these cold case thrillers because the story is told in a refreshingly cohesive way – there are relatively few annoyingly random flashbacks and bewilderingly disjointed series. There’s a discipline about the scripting that is curiously absent from too many others of the kind. Read full review

Joel Keller

Oct 2, 2025

Season 2 Review: Karen Pirie continues to be a refreshing detective series because of its enthusiastic main character and format that really lets the show’s writers dig into the characters both past and present. Read full review

The Guardian Lucy Mangan

Oct 24, 2022

Season 1 Review: With all three episodes under my belt, I can confirm that the twists and turns continue to ratchet up the suspense before the whole thing is satisfyingly resolved. Read full review

i Gerard Gilbert

Jul 21, 2025

Season 2 Review: The only surprise is that it took ITV so long to make this sequel to a series that was a hit with both viewers and critics in 2022. This new one looks set to follow suit. Read full review

Screen Rant El Kuiper

Oct 2, 2025

Season 2 Review: It's unlikely to attract viewers who aren't already familiar with or deeply invested in British TV detective dramas. For everyone else, however, Karen Pirie season 2 will prove to be a genuine treat, a well-crafted story of family betrayal, the power wielded by the billionaire class, and one woman's sheer determination to uncover the truth. Read full review

The Telegraph Anita Singh

Jul 21, 2025

Season 2 Review: Three two-hour episodes drag it out when it could have been done more satisfyingly in half that time, and the quality drops off. There were also points in the middle where I had to keep reminding myself who the supporting characters were. Read full review

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User Score

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5.6

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User Reviews

podaddy

Oct 27, 2022

Great series. Much less paint by numbers than the usual BBC crime drama, with a bit of humor squeezed in. After a bit, it's not that difficult to guess who the culprit will be in the end, but it's a lot of fun and it's quite clever how it gets there. Well worth the watch.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

WatchinMovies

Oct 28, 2022

Excellent story. Well acted, Ms Lyle did an excellent job of being a normal, hard working, intelligent officer. Pace moved along nicely. A bit of typical UK social propaganda, but not much and wasn't dwelled on much so it could be ignored. All in all we'd give it a: "well worth watching."

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Seasons & Episodes

76

Series Overview
Season 2

71
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: October 2, 2025
- No episode information is currently available for this season
Season 1

78
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: October 25, 2022