Val McDermid more than deserves her reputation as the Queen of Crime. Beloved for her intensely gripping, psychologically complex “tartan noir”, she has written five series of crime novels – currently 33 books in total – and has sold more than 17 million copies of her work worldwide.
Her latest novel is in her Karen Pirie series, in which the detective is charged with the seemingly linked deaths of a journalist and an Edinburgh hotel manager. She has also just released Winter, an evocative memoir told through the lens of the coldest season.
So, what are her favourite crime books to read at this time of year? As 25 December rapidly approaches, McDermid shares her top five crime books to read at Christmas – or, as she puts it, her “killer reads for the festive season”.
Dalziel and Pascoe Hunt the Christmas Killer and other stories by Reginald Hill
“A bouquet of bad behaviour – and that’s just from the peerless pair of Yorkshire detectives. In 11 fast-moving and wide-ranging wintry tales, Hill puts his detective duo through their paces with his trademark twists and humour. Wherever you stick your thumb in this collection, you’ll pull out a plum.”
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie
“It certainly wouldn’t be Christmas without a Christie. As perennial as the Royal Christmas broadcast, Dame Agatha’s evergreen garland of seasonal murders is the gift that keeps on giving. When it comes to nostalgia, her novels remain the perfectly wrapped present on the festive bookshelf. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple festive story collection – can Poirot make the connection between five interlinked cases? The tales are all Christmas crackers, but for my money, the title story is the most enjoyable, drawing on Christie’s own childhood Christmases.”
A Maigret Christmas and Other Stories by Georges Simenon, translated by David Coward
“Three festive stories set in Paris, showcasing Simenon’s Inspector Maigret – a man of stout integrity. Once he gets on the scent of a criminal, he’s as persistent as a bloodhound, diverted only (temporarily) by Madame Maigret’s cooking. Again, the title story is the one to savour. But I even forgave the fact that the other two stories didn’t even feature Maigret himself – all three are empathetic tales of human frailty and definitely worth the entrance fee.”
The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler
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“Penzler is the godfather of mystery book publishing and bookselling in the US. And this collection demonstrates why. A Christmas crime anthology of the 100 best festive whodunnits, it will keep you occupied till the new year. We meet familiar faces such as Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Rumpole of the Bailey and Inspector Morse. The list of authors has some surprises too – Robert Louis Stevenson, Thomas Hardy and Isaac Asimov, for example. Truly something for everyone and some left over for the neighbours on Boxing Day.”
The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson
“All these short stories? There must be something longer for the Grinch in the corner who just wants to bury themself in a book. The answer lies in Nicola Upson’s The Christmas Clue. Her detectives are based on real people, Anthony and Elva Pratt, who designed the original board game that developed into Cluedo. The set-up is a murder mystery event in 1943 in a country house hotel. When someone is found beaten to death, the guests find themselves investigating a real killing. There’s terrific historical detail – and Upson’s twisted tale resonates today.”
‘Winter: The Story of a Season’ by Val McDermid is published by Hodder, £16.99. McDermid’s latest novel, ‘Silent Bones’ is also out now (Little Brown, £22)
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