Val McDermid 2007-10-15

In this engaging episode of the Poisoned Pen Podcast, host Barbara Peters interviews acclaimed crime writer Val McDermid, discussing her award-winning debut novel *The Mermaid Singing* and her evolution as a writer. McDermid recounts the surreal moment the story came to her while driving on the motorway, describing it as a 'gift from the gods' that demanded immediate transcription. She delves into the novel’s innovative dual narrative—combining a police investigation with the killer’s own diary—highlighting her intention to subvert the typical serial killer thriller by making it a true whodunit. The conversation explores her meticulous research, including a pivotal visit to a museum of medieval torture in San Gimignano, Italy, which provided chilling inspiration. McDermid reflects on the psychological toll of writing from the killer’s perspective and contrasts her own squeamishness with the dark imagination required for such work. She also discusses her journey from Scottish state school to Oxford, her early career in journalism, and how those experiences shaped her crime fiction, including the creation of journalist protagonist Lindsay Gordon and private investigator Kate Brannigan. The episode concludes with a thoughtful exchange on her role as a book reviewer, where she balances honesty with empathy, especially when reviewing friends’ work, and celebrates the growing cross-cultural exchange between British and American crime fiction.