Karen Pirie, the beloved detective drama from ITV, has confirmed its return with several first-look images.
The three-part series, which premiered in 2022, followed the titular character (Lauren Lyle), a detective sergeant who is placed in charge of a 25-year-old cold case involving the unsolved murder of a barmaid.
After becoming one of ITV's "most-watched" shows, the broadcaster renewed the series for a second season, and fans now finally have a month to mark in the calendar after it was confirmed that Karen Pirie will return to screens in July with a trio of two-hour episodes.
The announcement also came with some first-look images, showcasing the titular character in her new role as detective inspector. Fans can also get a glimpse of Chris Jenks, who reprises his role as "loveable sidekick" DC Jason Murray.
Based on Val McDermid's A Darker Domain, the second season sees Karen "seemingly given the authority she has long been fighting for". Just as she acclimatises to her "powerful" new role, the inspector is assigned an "infamous" unsolved case that will put her under "intense scrutiny".
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The 30-year-old case, which is said to have "confounded investigators" and "intrigued the public", concerns the disappearance of a "charming" young heiress and her two-year-old son, with the pair vanishing after ransom demands from their kidnappers were not met.
A twist comes, however, as the body of a man linked to the original kidnap is discovered. With the first new piece of evidence in decades, Karen assembles an "unbeatable team" for the "biggest challenge" of their careers.
Facing pressure from her boss, the media and "sinister" forces, Karen delves deeper into the "internationally renowned" case, discovering "political grudges" and "painful secrets" as it becomes increasingly apparent that the "past is far from dead".
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The return of the series will delight fans and critics alike, with the first season of the detective drama currently boasting an impressive approval rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes from 11 reviews.
The site's critical consensus noted that the "clever and twisty" series "revamped" the "traditional grizzle detective procedural", while The Independent praised the show for telling its story in a "refreshingly cohesive" manner.
Karen Pirie will return on ITV in July.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
