Crime fiction fans take note: Val McDermid, author of several popular series (including the Tony Hill series) will be at the Seattle Public Library this Sunday at 2 p.m. to read from—and talk about—her newest book, A Darker Domain. We’re wildly excited to host Val on one of her rare Seattle visits as she reads from and discusses this stand-alone psychological thriller, and also excited that she generously sent a note ahead of time to let Shelf Talk. Here’s what Val has to say about four of her recent favorite nightstand reads:
The Given Day by Dennis Lehane
I’ve been a fan of Dennis’s work ever since I read his debut, A Drink Before the War. His latest is a gutsy, sprawling novel set in Boston in 1918 in the thick of social turmoil. Babe Ruth features large, and I’m glad that, thanks to my American wife, I now understand enough of the game to appreciate what’s going on. It’s an absorbing read, but I keep putting it to one side because I want to savour it rather than gulp it down and be bereft.
Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
This is a debut from a writer who is also a medical doctor. It’s set in ‘Manhattan’s worst hospital’ and features a mafia hitman turned medic. It’s surreal, it’s laugh-out-loud funny and it makes me want never to be sick enough to be hospitalised. If laughter is the best medicine, I’ll just read this regularly as a prophylactic.
Mort by Terry Pratchett
I’m not a big fantasy fan, but Terry Pratchett has been one of my favourite writers for a long time. I love his wit and quick intelligence and the sharp satire of his Discworld novels. I’ve recently got a Sony e-reader, and since I’m currently on tour, it’s become my portable nightstand, and I’ve loaded four of my favourite Discworld books on it for comfort reading on the road. When you’re shuttling from airport to airport, hotel to hotel, you need something familiar to dip into and Pratchett always satisfies with rich storytelling and clever writing. The great tragedy is that he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimers, which seems a terrible irony given the brilliance of his imagination.
The First Person and Other Stories by Ali Smith
Ali Smith is one of the finest short story writers of our time. She’s got the knack of creating small perfect gems that strike at the heart. I was once reading one of her collections on a plane; it reduced me to tears but also left me giggling like a fool. I think the guy in the next seat thought I’d escaped from a mental hospital… Ali’s stories all reveal something of the light and dark within us all, but ultimately, they lift the sprit.
You can meet the author yourself when Val McDermid visits the Central Library on Sunday, February 15, at 2 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by Elliott Bay Book Company, and books will be available for purchase and to have signed.
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