Scottish detective drama Karen Pirie is back for a second series – and DCI Karen Pirie has a new cold case to solve.
The ITV series is based on author Val McDermid's crime novels, which is considered part of the 'tartan noir' subgenre, and is set around Fife.
In the second series, Pirie's latest cold case involves the abduction and disappearance of a wealthy heiress and her young son that occurred in 1984. Tracing events from over 40 years ago takes Pirie and her team around Scotland and beyond. But where is the popular detective series filmed?
Where is Karen Pirie filmed?
Series two of Karen Pirie was filmed across Scotland, with some scenes also being filmed in Malta, in 2024.
Fife
Police station scenes are filmed in the real-life Glenrothes police station in Fife. The plot line of series two revolves around a historic kidnapping case, with many scenes being filmed in the coastal town of Kinghorn. Dunfermline and Inverkeithing also stood in for Edinburgh during the series.
Luss Estate, Loch Lomond
A cottage in the picturesque surroundings of the Luss Estate was used for some scenes involving the abductors.
The Highland Estate is on the shore of Loch Lomond, and has been previously used for filming Netflix's Outlaw King (based on Robert the Bruce's fight to reclaim Scotland from English forces) and Black Mirror.
Valletta, Malta
Karen and her team briefly swap the Scottish coast for Malta, as they pursue a suspect. Filming took place in the capital Valetta, as well as the city Mdina.
Glasgow
City scenes were filmed in Glasgow, including famous music venue Barrowland and a bar and restaurant in the city centre.
Caiplie Caves, Anstruther
The series reaches its climax with vital clues and a flashback to a dramatic showdown – and these scenes were filmed in Caiplie Caves: a cave system on the Fife Coastal path. Originally cut out of the rock by waves, monks and pilgrims en route to St Andrews later made carvings in the caves. One of the caves also became a hermitage.
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Top image credit: ITV
