News about Val McDermid

He was the avuncular man in sensible specs who, at his peak, was a Scottish household name - and the true pioneer of the gritty, murderous genre that is 'tartan noir'. Bill Knox, a journalist from the south side of Glasgow, covered untold crimes, fronted for almost a decade STV's Crime Desk slot appealing for help from the public - always signing off the programme with the promise that any calls to the police 'can be in confidence' - and had abundant contacts in the constabulary. But he was also, for decades, the author of many police procedurals and thrillers, of which the best remembered series follows the Glasgow homicides that entangled the excitable Chief Inspector Thane and his calmer deputy, Moss. Knox used so many pseudonyms for other adventures it is hard to tally them all - Michael Kirk, Noel Webster, Robert MacLeod - but he is now thought to have written 65 books between 1957 and his death, a quarter-century ago, on March 24, 1999.

If you live in scotland, you could face a 'hate crime' if you say somewhere, even in your own home. Even your children will be able to notify Police Scotland, which will bring the 'haters' to justice from among its already overburdened, lowlustre ranks.

A group of artists, writers, and lobbyists sent an open letter to the Scottish Government in the summer of 2020, when the world seemed febrile and unsteady, and the prospect of any new laws pertaining to Covid seemed unthinkable. Although the majority of us were focusing on when we could eat in a restaurant with more than three others or set foot in an office once more, Val McDermid, Rowan Atkinson, and Elaine C Smith had one eye on the future. The hate crime legislation, in particular, is expected to go into place this year. They were not worried that the laws would impinge on free expression and artistic achievement, but they did not mince their words.

In fear that new hate crime legislation could pose a threat to artistic liberty, Scotland's national theatre company is set to hold talks with the SNP government. The National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) is reported to be concerned that plays and other performances could result in breach of the legislation, which is expected to go into operation on April 1. Artists protested the Bill, which was masterminded by Humza Yousaf when he was drafted. More than 20 people, including Rowan Atkinson and Val McDermid, had signed an open letter urging ministers to consider again.

This week Bel advises a reader who fears her marriage is in trouble

King Charles, who just officially renamed his three major charities, must be grieving his son Harry's estrangement. The Prince's Foundation has been named the King's Foundation, the Prince of Wales' Charitable Fund has been named the King's Trust, and the Prince's Trust is now the Prince's Trust. Charles had hoped that William - and Harry - would continue his work, but The Prince's Trust kept its name under their joint command. While William made it clear he wants to pursue his own enterprises, wouldn't exiled Harry have been ideal to assume the mantle of his Dad's favourite charity?

With Christmas coming, it's time to start building your reading list. Wondering where to start?Our reviewers have compiled a list of their best books of the year from a variety of genres for you to enjoy.

Harry Bosch, a retired Los Angeles police detective and private investigator, team up with his half-brother, Mickey Haller, to help a woman who was jailed for murdering her ex-husband, a sheriff's deputy. This is Connelly at his best; it's packed with twists and insights, it grips like a hungry python.

For years, the demands of running Scotland and the SNP filled her days. Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister, of the United Kingdom, said she could use the extra time on her hands more effectively by writing a book. Ms Sturgeon spoke at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, where she appeared with her author friend Val McDermid.

Rab Noakes, a Scottish singer-songwriter who was one of Stealers Wheel's founding members, has died suddenly at the age of 75. Noakes died in hospital on Friday after a career spanning more than half a century, with more than 20 albums to his name. He first appeared professionally in 1967 and then went on to be a founding member of Stealers Wheel (inset, circled) and appeared at festivals such as Celtic Connections. Val McDermid, the best-selling crime writer who, like Noakes, hails from Fife, paid tribute to the man she has known since she was a teenager.

Blame the VHS player, Christopher Steffen. Murder cases never stretched for two hours before the 1980s, even before the 1980s' boom in home video machines. It wasn't until the introduction of Inspector Morse in 1987 that film-length episodes became common; when ITV bosses correctly predicted that, with many viewers watching shows later, two hours was not enough time. The experiment was not as fruitful. The bulk of the channel's crime serials now are 120-minute slogs, with ads included. And the majority of people don't like it.

The body of a young woman murdered on a night out, and a pair of mismatched detectives are expected to look at it... so far as cliché, you might imagine, as new crime drama Karen Pirie begins this week. The ITV show, which is based on a series of books written by 'Tartan Noir' crime author Val McDermid, takes an old, rather hackneyed plot and makes it completely new. It's a fairly new crime thriller with podcasts, social media, affirmation, and snowflake millennials. It also asks whether murder could ever be turned into entertainment, and casts a critical eye on a world where violence against women is endemic. 'Sarah Everard vanished when I was writing it, and other instances of missing and murdered women followed,' Emer Kenny, who converted the books for the screen.' I was so angry, as I know several women were.' I couldn't care less if it made a difference to what I was writing about women than taking it home.' "I'm sure it made me think about them and how we portray crime on film because we also have a podcast in the story.'

A collection of the best TV shows on fall has been compiled by a weekend magazine. They have compiled a list of the best shows from various genres, including sci-fi and drama. Strictly Come Dancing, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here (pictured left), Wednesday (pictured right) and This England (pictured top center) are among the shows planned for the forthcoming season.

JENNI MURRAY: Doctors are now likely to suspect the majority of heart attacks are fat middle-aged men, so they are more likely to be identified as high-risk patients than women. This is partially because the scoring system for heart attack risk was only developed with male information, according to the researchers. We must ensure heart tests and therapies are as effective in women as they are in men, and that we address society and healthcare's persistent mistrusts.' Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director of The British Heart Foundation charity, says, 'We must ensure heart tests and treatments are as valid in women as they are in men.' Well, obviously. After all, 51% of the UK's population and need to be treated the same as men. We are not, of course, because none of this is new.

Miss McDermid, a 67-year-old Scottish writer, received a letter requesting that she delete the moniker, which is also used on her website, because the company Agatha Christie Ltd owned the name. On her website, the novelist, who has sold more than 17 million books and is referred to as the Queen of Crime, also said she was sent correspondence from Mrs Christie's great-grandson James Prichard, the head executive of Agatha Christie Ltd, who expressed his'shock' at learning the name. Miss McDermid read about Miss Marple in The Murder As a youth, she fell in love with crime fiction.