1. Early Life and Education
Valarie McDermid was born on June 4, 1955, in Kirkcaldy, a town in Fife, Scotland. She grew up in a working-class family in Fife. After graduating from the local public Kirkcaldy High School, McDermid pursued higher education at St Hilda's College, Oxford, where she studied English. She holds the distinction of being the first student from a Scottish state school to be admitted to St Hilda's College, Oxford.
2. Journalism and Early Writing Career
Following her graduation from Oxford, McDermid initially embarked on a career in journalism. She later transitioned into writing as a dramatist, contributing to the performing arts before fully dedicating herself to novel writing. Her first significant success as a novelist came with the publication of Report for Murder: The First Lindsay Gordon Mystery in 1987, which marked the beginning of her prolific literary career.
3. Literary Career
Val McDermid's literary career is characterized by an extensive output of crime fiction, encompassing multiple series, standalone novels, short story collections, and non-fiction works. Her distinctive writing style, marked by its psychological depth and engagement with social issues, has left a significant mark on the crime fiction genre. Many of her works have also been adapted for television, further broadening her reach and impact.
3.1. Major Series
McDermid has developed several prominent fictional series, each featuring distinctive characters and investigative approaches. These series form the cornerstone of her crime writing output.
The Lindsay Gordon series features a lesbian journalist as its protagonist. The books in this series include:
- Report for Murder (1987)
- Common Murder (1989)
- Final Edition (1991), also published as Open and Shut or Deadline for Murder in the US
- Union Jack (1993), also published as Conferences Are Murder in the US
- Booked for Murder (1996)
- Hostage to Murder (2003)
The Kate Brannigan series follows the exploits of a private investigator based in Manchester. The titles in this series are:
- Dead Beat (1992)
- Kick Back (1993)
- Crack Down (1994)
- Clean Break (1995)
- Blue Genes (1996)
- Star Struck (1998), which won the Grand Prix des Romans d'Aventure
The Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series introduces clinical psychologist Tony Hill, who is noted for suffering from sexual dysfunction, and DCI Carol Jordan, as they collaborate on complex criminal investigations. This series gained significant recognition, with its first book, The Mermaids Singing (1995), winning the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the Year. Other books in this series include:
- The Wire in the Blood (1997)
- The Last Temptation (2002)
- The Torment of Others (2004)
- Beneath the Bleeding (2007)
- Fever of the Bone (2009)
- The Retribution (2011)
- Cross and Burn (2013)
- Splinter the Silence (2015)
- Insidious Intent (2017)
- How the Dead Speak (2019)
The Inspector Karen Pirie series focuses on the investigations led by DCI Karen Pirie. This series includes:
- The Distant Echo (2003)
- A Darker Domain (2008)
- The Skeleton Road (2014)
- Out of Bounds (2016)
- Broken Ground (2018)
- Still Life (2020)
- Past Lying (2023)
The Allie Burns series centers on an investigative reporter. The series comprises:
- 1979 (2021)
- 1989 (2022)
- 1999 (To be confirmed)
- 2009 (To be confirmed)
- 2019 (To be confirmed)
3.2. Other Fiction Works
Beyond her established series, Val McDermid has also published a variety of standalone novels, collections of short stories, and participated in special literary projects.
Her standalone novels include:
- A Place of Execution (1999)
- Killing the Shadows (2000)
- Cleanskin (2006)
- The Grave Tattoo (2006)
- Trick of the Dark (2010), which was dedicated to Mary Bennett and Kathy Vaughan Wilkes
- The Vanishing Point (2012)
McDermid has released collections of short stories, such as:
- The Writing on the Wall (1997), a limited edition of 200 copies
- Stranded (2005)
She has also ventured into other fictional formats:
- Resistance: A Graphic Novel (2021), illustrated by Kathryn Briggs
- The Second Murder at the Vicarage (2022), a contribution to Marple, Twelve New Mysteries
Additionally, McDermid participated in The Austen Project, a series where contemporary authors reinterpret Jane Austen's novels. Her contribution was:
- Northanger Abbey (2014)
McDermid has also written children's books, including:
- My Granny is a Pirate (2012)
- The High Heid Yin's New Claes (2020), published in The Itchy Coo Book o Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales in Scots
3.3. Non-Fiction Works
Val McDermid's non-fiction works delve into various subjects, from the intricacies of crime investigation to personal reflections on her homeland and broader societal issues. Her non-fiction publications include:
- A Suitable Job for a Woman (1994)
- Forensics - The Anatomy of Crime (2014), published in the United States as Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA, and More Tell Us About Crime (2015)
- My Scotland (2019)
- Imagine a Country (2020)
3.4. Genre and Style
McDermid's work is considered a prominent example of "Tartan Noir", a genre characterized by its focus on dark and often violent crime narratives set in Scotland, exploring the grittier aspects of society and human psychology. Her novels, particularly the Tony Hill series, are known for their graphic depictions of violence and torture, which are used to explore the psychological depths of both perpetrators and victims.
A notable aspect of McDermid's writing is her willingness to engage with challenging subjects. For instance, the character Jacko Vance, a television celebrity secretly driven by a lust for torture, murder, and underage girls featured in Wire in the Blood and subsequent books, was based on McDermid's direct personal experience of interviewing the disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile.
Furthermore, McDermid actively incorporates feminist themes and social commentary into her narratives. She identifies as a radical feminist and socialist, and these political and social views often inform her exploration of power dynamics, gender roles, and societal injustices within her crime plots. She has also contributed non-fiction articles to several British newspapers and frequently broadcasts on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland.
3.5. Television Adaptations
Several of Val McDermid's popular novels have been adapted for television, reaching a wider audience and further cementing her status in the crime fiction landscape.
The most prominent adaptation is Wire in the Blood, a television series based on her Tony Hill and Carol Jordan characters. Starring Robson Green, the series ran from 2002 to 2008 and explored complex psychological crimes. Another adaptation is the series Karen Pirie, based on her novels featuring the character of DCI Karen Pirie.
4. Awards and Honors
Val McDermid has received numerous significant literary awards, accolades, and honorary recognitions throughout her career, acknowledging her substantial contributions to literature and cultural life.
4.1. Major Literary Awards
McDermid has been honored with many prestigious awards for her crime fiction.
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | CWA Gold Dagger | Best Crime Novel | Crack Down | Nominated |
1995 | Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger | Best Crime Novel | The Mermaids Singing | Won |
1998 | Grand Prix des Romans d'Aventure | Star Struck | Won | |
1999 | CWA Gold Dagger | Best Crime Novel | A Place of Execution | Nominated |
2000 | Barry Award | Best British Mystery | A Place of Execution | Won |
2001 | Macavity Award | Best Novel | A Place of Execution | Won |
2001 | Anthony Award | Best Novel | A Place of Execution | Won |
2001 | Dilys Award | A Place of Execution | Won | |
2001 | Edgar Allan Poe Award | Best Novel | A Place of Execution | Nominated |
2002 | Barry Award | Best British Mystery | Killing the Shadows | Nominated |
2004 | Barry Award | Best British Mystery | The Distant Echo | Won |
2004 | CWA Gold Dagger | Best Crime Novel | The Torment of Others | Nominated |
2010 | CWA Diamond Dagger | Lifetime Contribution to Crime Writing | Won | |
2011 | Barry Award | Best Paperback Original | Fever of the Bone | Nominated |
4.2. Academic and Professional Recognition
In addition to literary accolades, McDermid has received significant recognition from academic and professional institutions, underscoring her influence beyond the realm of fiction. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Sunderland in 2011. In 2017, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She was inducted into the prestigious Detection Club in 2000.
5. Public Life and Affiliations
Val McDermid actively engages with public life through her involvement with various sports organizations and literary institutions, demonstrating her broader impact on society and culture.
5.1. Raith Rovers FC Affiliation
McDermid has been a lifelong supporter of Raith Rovers FC, a football club based in her hometown of Kirkcaldy, partly due to her father having worked as a scout for the club. In 2010, she sponsored the McDermid Stand at Stark's Park, the club's home ground, as a tribute to her father. A year later, she joined the club's board as a member. From 2014, her personal website became the primary shirt sponsor for the Raith Rovers team.
In February 2022, McDermid publicly announced her decision to withdraw her support and sponsorship from Raith Rovers. This action was taken in protest after the club signed striker David Goodwillie, who had been found to have raped a woman in a civil case in 2017 and ordered to pay damages. Following Goodwillie's signing and McDermid's withdrawal, the Raith Rovers women's team severed ties with the main club. They subsequently renamed themselves McDermid Ladies, in honor of the author, and McDermid redirected her sponsorship to this newly independent women's team.
5.2. Other Affiliations
Beyond her involvement with football, Val McDermid is an influential figure in the literary community. She is a member of the Detection Club, a prestigious society for crime writers. She is also a co-founder of the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival and the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, both integral parts of the Harrogate International Festivals that promote crime writing.
6. Personal Life
Val McDermid's personal life includes her relationships, family, and openly expressed political and social convictions, which offer a more intimate understanding of the author.
6.1. Relationships and Family
Val McDermid identifies as a lesbian. She formerly resided in both Stockport and near Alnmouth in Northumberland, sharing her home with three cats and a border terrier dog. Since early 2014, she has divided her time between Stockport and Edinburgh.
In 2006, McDermid entered into a civil partnership with publisher Kelly Smith. In 2010, she was living with Smith between Northumberland and Manchester. On October 23, 2016, McDermid married her partner of two years, Jo Sharp, who is a Professor of Geography at the University of Glasgow. She is also the guardian of her son, Cameron, who was conceived through artificial insemination with a former partner.
6.2. Political and Social Views
McDermid publicly identifies herself as a radical feminist and a socialist. These political and social convictions often influence her writing, leading to the incorporation of feminist themes and critical social commentary in many of her novels. Her views also inform her public advocacy and commentary on societal issues.
7. Notable Incidents and Controversies
Val McDermid's career has occasionally drawn public attention due to specific incidents and controversies that have impacted her public image and engagement.
7.1. Ink Attack Incident
On December 6, 2012, Val McDermid was subjected to an ink attack during a book signing event at the University of Sunderland. A 64-year-old woman, later identified as Sandra Botham from the Hendon area of Sunderland, approached McDermid and asked her to autograph a Top of the Pops annual that contained a picture of the late, disgraced television presenter Jimmy Savile. After McDermid reluctantly agreed to sign it, the woman threw ink at her and fled the room.
McDermid stated that the incident would not deter her from continuing to do book signings. Northumbria Police arrested Botham on suspicion of common assault. On July 10, 2013, Botham was convicted of common assault and received a 12-month community order with supervision. She was also ordered to pay 50 GBP in compensation and a 60 GBP victim surcharge, and was issued a restraining order forbidding her from contacting McDermid for an indefinite period. Reports indicated that Botham's actions were motivated by a long-standing grievance related to a passage in McDermid's 1994 non-fiction book A Suitable Job for a Woman, which Botham claimed had "besmirched" her and her family.
7.2. Raith Rovers Sponsorship Dispute
In February 2022, Val McDermid found herself at the center of a public controversy involving her long-time beloved football club, Raith Rovers. The dispute arose when the club signed striker David Goodwillie, who had been found liable for rape in a 2017 civil case and ordered to pay damages. As a lifelong fan and a significant sponsor, McDermid publicly announced her immediate withdrawal of support and sponsorship from the club in protest of Goodwillie's signing, stating that the decision was a "stark and terrible" message from the club.
Her principled stand garnered widespread attention and support. In the aftermath, the Raith Rovers women's team made the decision to sever ties with the main club, choosing to rename themselves McDermid Ladies in recognition of her unwavering stance. Val McDermid subsequently transferred her sponsorship to the newly independent McDermid Ladies team, further solidifying her commitment to supporting ethical practices within sports.
7.3. Agatha Christie Estate Dispute
In August 2022, Val McDermid revealed that the literary estate of Agatha Christie had issued a legal threat to her publishers. The dispute centered around the use of the moniker "Queen of Crime," which McDermid's publishers had occasionally used to refer to her. The Christie estate asserted that the term was copyrighted and exclusively belonged to Agatha Christie, leading to a contention over the branding and intellectual property of authorial titles within the crime fiction genre.
8. Legacy and Influence
Val McDermid's enduring legacy rests on her significant impact on the crime fiction genre and her influence on contemporary writers. As a leading voice in Tartan Noir, she has expanded the boundaries of the genre by incorporating complex psychological analyses, explicit violence, and deeply embedded social commentary. Her willingness to tackle challenging and often dark themes, alongside her exploration of feminist perspectives and societal issues, has set a high standard for modern crime writing.
Through her diverse body of work, spanning multiple successful series and standalone novels, McDermid has not only entertained a vast readership but has also contributed to a more nuanced and critical examination of crime and justice. Her influence is evident in the continued popularity and critical acclaim of her novels, as well as in the successful television adaptations of her work, which have introduced her characters and narratives to a global audience. Her contributions to literary festivals and organizations further highlight her commitment to nurturing the crime writing community, ensuring her lasting cultural significance.