Biography
Crime writer Val McDermid grew up in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, and studied English at Oxford University. She trained as a journalist and worked on various national newspapers for 14 years before becoming a writer. Her first published book was Report for Murder (1987), and since then, she has written a large number of crime novels. These include three different series of books: The Lindsay Gordon Mystery series which comprises Report for Murder (1987), Common Murder (1989), Final Edition (1991), Union Jack (1993), Booked for Murder (1996) and Hostage to Murder (2003); The Kate Branningan Mystery series which comprises Dead Beat (1992), Kick Back (1993), Crack Down (1994), Clean Break (1995), Blue Genes (1996) and Star Struck (1998); and the Dr. Tony Hill and Carol Jordan Mystery series which includes The Mermaids Singing (1995), The Wire in the Blood (1997), The Last Temptation (2002) and The Torment of Others (2004), which won the 2006 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.
The Wire in the Blood has been made into a successful television series. Her book Stranded (2005), is her second collection of short stories. The first collection, The Writing on the Wall and other stories was published in 1997. She is also the author of a book of non-fiction, A Suitable Job for a Woman: Inside the World of Women Private Eyes (1995). Her latest crime novel is A Darker Domain (2008).
Val McDermid was a crime reviewer for the Manchester Evening News for four years, still writes occasional journalism, and broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland. Her work has been translated into over 30 languages.
A Darker Domain by Val McDermid
Bibliography
Report for Murder Women's Press, 1987
Common Murder Women's Press, 1989
Final Edition Women's Press, 1991
Dead Beat Gollancz, 1992
Kick Back Gollancz, 1993
Union Jack Women's Press, 1993
Crack Down HarperCollins, 1994
A Suitable Job for a Woman: Inside the World of Women Private Eyes HarperCollins, 1995
Clean Break HarperCollins, 1995
The Mermaids Singing HarperCollins, 1995
Blue Genes HarperCollins, 1996
Booked for Murder HarperCollins, 1996
The Wire in the Blood HarperCollins, 1997
The Writing on the Wall and other stories Revolver, 1997
Star Struck HarperCollins, 1998
A Place of Execution HarperCollins, 1999
Killing the Shadows HarperCollins, 2000
The Last Temptation HarperCollins, 2002
Hostage to Murder HarperCollins, 2003
The Distant Echo HarperCollins, 2003
The Torment of Others HarperCollins, 2004
Stranded HarperCollins, 2005
The Grave Tattoo HarperCollins, 2006
Beneath the Bleeding HarperCollins, 2007
A Darker Domain HarperCollins, 2008
Cleanskin HarperCollins, 2008
Prizes and awards
1994 Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction (shortlist) Crack Down
1994 Crime Writers' Association Macallan Short Story Dagger (shortlist) The Writing on the Wall and other stories
1995 Anthony Award for Best Novel (shortlist) Crack Down
1995 Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction The Mermaids Singing
1998 Grand Prix des Romans d'Adventure (France) Star Struck
1998 WH Smith Thumping Good Read Award (shortlist) The Wire in the Blood
1999 Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction (shortlist) A Place of Execution
2000 Barry Award for Best British Mystery A Place of Execution
2000 Edgar Award for Best Critical Work (shortlist) A Suitable Job for a Woman: Inside the World of Women Private Eyes
2000 New York Times Notable Book of the Year A Place of Execution
2001 Anthony Award for Best Novel A Place of Execution
2001 Dilys Award A Place of Execution
2001 Edgar Award for Best Novel (shortlist) A Place of Execution
2001 Lambda Literary Award for Fiction (shortlist) Booked for Murder
2001 Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Mystery/Thriller) A Place of Execution
2001 Mystery Readers of America Macavity Award A Place of Execution
2001 Svenska Deckarakademiens Prize (shortlist) A Place of Execution
2001 WH Smith Thumping Good Read Award (shortlist) Killing The Shadows
2004 Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel The Distant Echo
2004 Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction (shortlist) The Torment of Others
2004 GLBTQ Saints and Sinners Hall of Fame
2004 Mystery and Thriller Book Club People's Choice Award (shortlist) The Torment of Others
2004 Scotland Magazine Icon of Scotland
2004 Sherlock Award for Best Crime Novel The Distant Echo
2004 Spoken Word Publishing Association Awards (Best Crime Novel) The Distant Echo
2005 Crime Writers' Association Dagger of Daggers Award The Distant Echo (shortlist)
2005 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year (shortlist) The Distant Echo
2006 Portico Prize The Grave Tattoo
2006 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year The Torment of Others
2008 British Book Awards Crime Thriller of the Year (shortlist) The Grave Tattoo
