CRIME DRAMA

Writer says she can't stand her character's taste for gin

- RYAN CARROLL

TOP crime writer Val McDermid says she wishes that she had made the main character in her books a whisky drinker.

The Kirkcaldy-based writer revealed that fans often send her bottles of gin because it was her character Karen Pirie's favourite drink - but she actually can't stand the taste of it.

While first writing the books, McDermid was impressed by the growing gin industry and thought it would be interesting to make Pirie's drink of choice a gin and tonic.

Readers assume she must have made her cold case-solving protagonist a gin drinker because of her own appreciation of the spirit.