Welcome to Val McDermid's website. Val McDermid is one of the biggest names in crime writing. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages, sold over 16 million copies worldwide.

Val has created many notable characters such as journalist, Lindsay Gordon; the private investigator, DCI Karen Pirie, Kate Brannigan, and psychologist, Tony Hill. Her books include four main series: Lindsay Gordon, Kate Brannigan, DCI Karen Pirie, and, beginning in 1995, the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, the first entry in which, The Mermaids Singing, won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the Year. The Hill ⁄Jordan series was adapted for the highly successful television drama; Wire in the Blood, starring Robson Green.

Imagine A Country

Imagine a Country

Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates… Book News & Updates…

1979

New Book '1979' coming soon!

1979: The unmissable first thriller in an electrifying, brand-new series from the Queen of Crime.

Hardcover Publication date in UK: 19 August 2021

The queen of crime is still at the top of her game

The Independent

1979. It is the winter of discontent, and reporter Allie Burns is chasing her first big scoop. There are few women in the newsroom and she needs something explosive for the boys’ club to take her seriously.

More details…

Books by Val Mcdermid

Books celebrated & new…

View a complete list and further information on books by Val McDermid…

View more
Val Mcdermid Biography

A literary life…

“I decided to turn my hand to writing a crime novel, because I’d always enjoyed reading the genre…”

View more
TV Series based on characters created by Val McDermid

High drama…

More about the highly successful television adaptations based on the stories and characters created by Val McDermid…

View more

Home

Val comes from Kirkcaldy, Fife, and read English at St Hilda’s College, Oxford (where she is now an Honorary Fellow). She was the first ever student from a state school in Scotland. Following graduation she became a journalist, and worked briefly as a dramatist.
Her first success as a novelist came with Report for Murder The first Lindsay Gordon Mystery, first published in 1987.

Among her many awards are the Portico Prize for Fiction, the LA Times Book Prize, the Lambda Literary Pioneer Award and the Cartier Diamond Dagger. She has published 36 novels, short stories, non-fiction and a prize-winning children’s book. She is a regular broadcaster for BBC radio and lives in Edinburgh.

Val says: “I never imagined when I started on this journey that I would have the success that has come my way. All those novels, radio plays, short stories, non-fiction and even a children’s book make a significant pile that I have every intention of adding to. I divide my year between writing and promoting my work at home and abroad, and when I’m not travelling, I divide my time between South Manchester and Edinburgh where I live with my partner and my son. Most days, I feel like one of the very lucky ones.”

My Scotland

My Scotland Book Jacket