Why do the police need to know where I am? In the hands of a benevolent government, they could be looking after your interests, but what if the next government isn't so benevolent? Val McDermid benevolentgovernmenthand Change image and share on social
I did want to be Joni Mitchell for quite a long time. Val McDermid jonilongmitchell Change image and share on social
If you don't make the best-seller list, if you don't get shortlisted for any prizes, it's goodbye. Val McDermid goodbyelistmake Change image and share on social
I've never wanted to live in a ghetto or write in a ghetto. I want to write about a world that reflects the one most people live in. Gay people are just one aspect of that. Val McDermid aspectgayghetto Change image and share on social
I won't be attempting to write Jane Austen-style prose - that would be suicidal. But I will attempt to bring the highest level of my own prose, and to make it sparkle. Val McDermid attemptaustenbring Change image and share on social
I think that crime is a good vehicle for looking at society in general because the nature of the crime novel means that you draw on a wide group of social possibilities. Val McDermid crimedrawgeneral Change image and share on social
The contemporary crime novel is, at its best, a novel of character. That's where the suspense comes from. Val McDermid charactercontemporarycrime Change image and share on social
We all present versions of ourselves. The person you are at work is not the same person you are at home. The face we present in our most intimate relationships is not the face we present to the world. Val McDermid facehomeintimate Change image and share on social
I spent a lot of time at my grandparents in the school holidays, and the only books in the house were a copy of the Bible and Agatha Christie's 'Murder at the Vicarage.' I developed a taste for murder mysteries and then later discovered libraries, second-hand bookshops, and jumble sales. Val McDermid agathabiblebook share on social
The thing is that quite a few of my books have ended up as they are because of conversations I've had over the years with forensic scientists. Val McDermid bookconversationend Change image and share on social