features work selected by Scottish crime writer Val McDermid.
I am thrilled to report that my opening scene for a mystery thriller, "A Man in the House," has been selected by Val McDermid for inclusion in CrimeBits2: 100 Opening Gambits for Great Thrillers & Linked Mystery Puzzles. I feel particularly honored to have my work selected by the groundbreaking Scottish crime writer McDermid, who is a major force in what has been called "Tartan Noir." Congratulations to Zoe Green, who is the top winner of the competition that brought 100 opening gambits together. Read more about the book on the publisher's blog. Published by Black Spring Press, the book is edited by Mc.Dermid and Luca Veste. CrimeBits2 will be published in the UK in August of this year and in the US on November 1, 2025. Pre-order from the publisher or from Amazon UK, or from Amazon US, or bookshop.org, or Barnes & Noble.