Crime pays for Val as she is given top award

Jan 12 2010 by David Whetstone, The Journal

CRIME writer Val McDermid is named today as the recipient of this year’s Crime Writers’ Association Cartier Diamond Dagger Award.

The award honours outstanding achievement in the field of crime writing.

Val, who was born in Kirkcaldy and lives in Alnmouth, Northumberland, is best known for the books which inspired the ITV series Wire in the Blood, starring Robson Green.

But in a long and distinguished career, the journalist turned novelist has written 23 bestsellers which have been translated into 40 languages.

A fixture in the bestseller lists, she has sold more than two million books in the UK and 10 million worldwide.

She has also won many awards, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award.

Last year Val was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the ITV3 Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards, whose partners include the CWA.

Val said of her latest accolade: “I’m delighted to be admitted to this very select group of crime writers. To be awarded the CWA Carter Diamond Dagger is a distinction every writer dreams of.