Scottish authors criticise cancellation of Glasgow literary festival Aye Write
Val McDermid and Douglas Stuart were among many writers to express outrage after Creative Scotland turned down the literary festival funding application
March 2024
‘Extraordinary’: 101 women narrate A History of Women in 101 Objects audiobook
Miriam Margolyes, Kate Winslet and Gillian Anderson among those giving voice to objects including a femur, a thumbscrew and a glass dildo
December 2023
The pet I'll never forget
Celebrity pet I’ll never forget: Fatty, the curry-loving cat who adopted me, by Val McDermid
I opened my front door to find a beautiful black-and-white cat on the doormat. I had no choice – Fatty was moving in
August 2023
On my radar
On my radar: Val McDermid’s cultural highlights
The bestselling crime writer on exploring the Belgian coast, deep-diving into the middle ages and an enlightening exhibition of female Scottish artists
April 2023
The new LGBTQ+ lit list, chosen by writers
From sensational memoirs to sublime poetry, Douglas Stuart, Ali Smith, Colm Tóibín and others share lesser-known books about queer life that deserve to be classics
February 2023
Val McDermid on Happy Valley: ‘TV every bit as manipulative as Tommy Lee Royce’
Heartstopping for millions of us, cleansing for Catherine Cawood – and not about the feckless, violent men at all in fact. The legendary crime novelist gives thanks for a TV great
September 2022
TV review
Karen Pirie review – this female-led crime drama absolutely sings
‘My dad didn’t sleep, he was so excited’: the ITV drama that’s rewriting the rules of crime TV
‘Feminist icon’ Miss Marple returns in 12 new authorised mystery stories
Names in the news
The Great British Bake Off: let them eat cake. Well, probably not one of mine
Rebecca Nicholson
May 2022
From the ashes: defiant McDermid Ladies stand firm in the spotlight
What Raith Rovers lost from their community when they signed David Goodwillie, McDermid Ladies gained by breaking away and taking a stand
February 2022
‘Shameful’ to let David Goodwillie keep playing, says woman he assaulted
Denise Clair condemns ‘silence’ of Scottish FA after footballer found to have committed rape in 2017
September 2021
The best recent thrillers – review roundup
This month’s crop of crime and suspense fiction includes an engaging tale of government secrets by Robert Peston and a nail-biting new series from Val McDermid
August 2021
Crime and thrillers roundup
The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup
1979 by Val McDermid; A Narrow Door by Joanne Harris; The Turnout by Megan Abbott; Of Fangs and Talons by Nicolas Mathieu; 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard; and These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall
May 2021
Dreaming of a better future? Ali Smith, Malcolm Gladwell and more on books to inspire change
As our thoughts turn to life after the pandemic, authors from this year’s Hay festival choose books that have inspired lasting change in them
February 2021
Books interview
Val McDermid: 'To survive, you had to be twice as good as the guys'
The Scottish crime writer on working in a newsroom in the 70s, coping with lockdown and the transformation of attitudes to gay couples in her home nation
August 2020
Why reading fiction creates good leaders
Fiction readers have made best leaders in Covid-19 crisis, says Val McDermid
Lockdown culture
Scenes for Survival review – Alan Cumming runs wild in lockdown drama
Now you're talking! The best audiobooks, chosen by writers
