ITV announces new crime drama Karen Pirie from makers of Line of Duty
ITV has announced new crime drama Karen Pirie, adapted from The Distant Echo, the first in a series of cold case novels by Val McDermid.
The series has been commissioned by ITV from the producers of Line of Duty and Bodyguard, and will be adapted by writer and actress Emer Kenny.
The novels follow female detective Karen Pirie in the beautiful Scottish university town of St. Andrew's.
Karen Pirie: What's it about?
"Karen is refreshingly normal and charmingly unfashionable young woman. Slick, maverick cop she is not - but her quick mouth and ingenuity make her an impressive investigator," the drama's synopsis reads.
"Following her promotion to Police Scotland's Historic Cases Unit, Karen is tasked with reopening the investigation into a murder that has been the subject of a provocative true crime podcast. When teenage barmaid Rosie Duff was stabbed to death in 1995, suspicion fell on the three drunken students who discovered her body. But despite police suspicion, the boys were never charged."
Arriving 25 years later, DS Karen Pirie is determined to uncover what happened that fateful night. Do the men know more than they previously revealed? When Karen uncovers flaws in the initial investigation, she finds herself in conflict with the very officers who led the original hunt for the killer.
"From the moment I read that Karen Pirie orders a Bacardi Breezer as her after-work drink (other brands of alco-pop are available) I knew that she was the detective for me," Kenny said.
"Val is the queen of crime for good reason and I’m honoured to be bringing her creation to a TV audience, especially for ITV which has been home to some of my favourite detective shows, from Broadchurch to Prime Suspect. Of course, I'm delighted to be working with World Productions again, who really know their way around a crime drama."
Kenny's writing credits include Harlots and EastEnders, and the 30-year-old actress has also starred in the BBC One soap and BBC's crime drama Father Brown.
The novels of celebrated crime writer Val McDermid have sold over 16 million copies worldwide. The Hill Jordan series of novels was adapted into Wire in the Blood starring Robson Green for ITV.
Filming will take place in Scotland and details of casting will be advised in the coming months.
Karen Pirie will air on ITV later this year.
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