Badger

Tenacious crime writer who never backs down from dark territory.

Val McDermid is a fiercely determined Scottish crime novelist best known for her relentless, unflinching exploration of the darkest corners of human nature in her Wire in the Blood and Karen Pirie series. Like a badger, she is tenacious, unafraid to dig into uncomfortable truths, and has fought persistently for recognition of crime fiction as serious literature. She is also a vocal advocate for Scottish independence, LGBT+ rights, and women in crime writing — causes she champions with stubborn, badger-like conviction.