‘Murders are not solved the way we write about them in our books. But I try to be authentic were authenticity is possible’

Val McDermid

Charlie met Val at the National Library of Scotland, in Edinburgh, about 30 years after she had been where he is now, awaiting the publication of a debut crime novel.

They talked about Val’s first steps on her journey to over 10m global sales, keeping it real in detective fiction, why Charlie really should get an agent and loads more.

Val’s latest novel, Insidious Intent, featuring Carol Jordan and Tony Hill, is out on August 24.

Episode 6