A SCOTTISH crime-writer’s book has been listed on Time magazine’s list of the 100 best mystery and thriller novels of all time.
The magazine set out to create a definitive list of the English language’s best mystery and thriller books with the help of a panel of leading authors.
Val McDermid’s 1999 novel A Place of Execution, which focuses on the murder of a thirteen-year old girl in the Peak District, was among the books on the list.
More than 250 nominees were rated on a scale and none of the panellists, including the likes of Gillian Flynn and Harlan Coben, submitted their own work.
Editors then created a ranking, evaluated each finalist based on key factors including plot, payoff, suspense, ambition, originality and critical and popular reception.
McDermid’s book was listed among some of the most famous novels ever written including Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel Casino Royale, Stephen King’s The Shining and Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon was among those to offer her congratulations to McDermid.
Posting on Twitter/X, Sturgeon said: “Brilliant @TIME list of the best mystery/thriller novels of all time.
“Particularly delighted to see my pal @valmcdermid included. Looking forward to my In Conversation event with her next week @cheltfestivals.”
The full list features books that came out as long ago as 1860 and as recently as 2022 with no single writer’s work appearing more than once.
Panellist and best-selling author Tana French said: “In a world that can often be chaotic and reasonless, we need these stories.
“We need to believe that sometimes things can fit together and make sense, even when that seems impossible; that someday our crisis will end and we’ll be able to leave it behind.”
