Karen Pirie is one of the best detective shows ever! Period. The series is fresh, funny, and has a twist that hooks you from the second one. Part of that special spark is thanks to Lauren Lyle and we had the pleasure of sitting down with her to discuss the ins and outs of her character, how she prepared for it, and some Outlander tidbits. Ready?
Here we go!
Starring Lauren Lyle (Outlander) and adapted by Emer Kenny (Father Brown) from the celebrated crime writer Val McDermid’s best-selling series of novels, the drama centers on DS Karen Pirie (Lyle), a truly contemporary and brilliant young Scottish detective with a quick mouth and tenacious desire for the truth.
In this opening story, based on the first Karen Pirie novel A Distant Echo, newly promoted Karen is tasked with reopening a murder investigation that has been the subject of a controversial true crime podcast.
When teenage barmaid Rosie Duff was found brutally murdered in a St. Andrew’s graveyard in 1996, suspicion fell on the three students who discovered her body. But with a lack of forensic evidence, no charges were brought and the investigation floundered. Twenty-five years on, someone is willing to risk everything to keep the secrets surrounding the case hidden.
Do the three men know more than they previously revealed? How flawed was the original investigation? And can Karen uncover the truth of what happened to Rosie that fateful night?
Check our exclusive interview with Lauren Lyle below:
There are many shows about police and detectives on our tv but Karen Pirie is not like all the others. And Lauren Lyle explains why. Just a hint: the friendship between women is one of the keys… although not the only one (wink, wink).
Preparing for these types of roles is exhausting. A leading role is never easy and the character of Karen Pirie has an added difficulty due to the different aspects of her that make her such a charismatic character. Lauren Lyle explained to us her process to prepare for the character and she confessed if she read the original material or followed a podcast or Youtuber about true crime.
Lauren Lyle is used to being part of the big spotlight thanks, among other projects, to Outlander. It’s clear that Karen Pirie puts a spin on 18th-century corsets, but what exactly are the differences in terms of filming and creativity? Lauren tells us!
Speaking of Outlander, with season 7 set to premiere next summer, we asked Lauren Lyle about what to expect from Marsali and Fergus’ upcoming adventures, and while Lauren was tight-lipped about it, she did drop us a few goodies…
As Karen Pirie season 1 proves, the show has a lot more stories to tell and Lauren looks like she’s in for many more seasons. Speaking of upcoming adventures, Lauren Lyle’s next project is Something In The Water and while we know few details about it, Lauren has teased us with some really cool stuff.
To end our interview on a fun note, we envision Karen and Marsali being best friends and, you know, gossiping about their lives. Do you know what? Lauren Lyle agrees with us!
We can’t wait to see more of Karen Pirie on our screens, but most of all, we’re excited to see Lauren Lyle getting the success she deserves.
