OUTSIDE the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, crowds are gathering in anticipation of catching sight – or rather whiff – of the rotten, flesh-like smell of the famed corpse flower that is fleetingly in bloom beyond the gates.
As Val McDermid and I join the throng, it is corpses of a different kind that spring to mind. This month the Fife-born writer will publish her latest novel, Insidious Intent, which centres on a serial killer who stalks his victims at wedding receptions.
McDermid, 62, is often asked whether advances in forensic science have undone the job of the crime writer. The thriller, which sees DCI Carol Jordan and psychological profiler Tony Hill return for their 10th outing, cleverly turns that notion on its head.
Catch up with Val at the Edinburgh Festival! She is doing lots of events this summer so head over to our Events page to find out where she is going to be.
You can even see her strutting her stuff on stage (23rd August –details) with the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers…
Val Says: Here’s a glimpse into the secret world of Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers in rehearsal. Getting ready for our gigs at the Edinburgh Book Festival and Bloody Scotland. It’s been a while since I strutted my stuff on stage but finally I get to live the dream of the rock star life. Not.
TACITURN Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh has revealed he belted out a rendition of the Bay City Rollers’ classic Bye Bye Baby live on Bulgarian television.
The deadpan writer famed for his hard-hitting social sagas was called out by fellow Scots author Val McDermid during a live BBC interview to mark the start of the Edinburgh festivals.
TACITURN Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh has revealed he belted out a rendition of the Bay City Rollers’ classic Bye Bye Baby live on Bulgarian television.
The deadpan writer famed for his hard-hitting social sagas was called out by fellow Scots author Val McDermid during a live BBC interview to mark the start of the Edinburgh festivals.
Val is out and about this month…