It is both refreshing and rewarding to see Val McDermid step away from her masterful thrillers to pen a collection of essays about the last of the four seasons, appropriately titled WINTER.

McDermid refers to winter as the chosen season of creativity, which is especially needed for a writer of dark deeds. She fondly recalls a book tour around the turn of the century that found her in Russia in December, which gave her a deeper appreciation of true winter.

"WINTER could not have come at a better time. Through the mind and talents of Val McDermid, it allows readers to see this season from an entirely distinct perspective."

Prior to her writing career, McDermid was bound to music and shares a song that changed her view of the world: “Winter Song,” written by Lindisfarne’s front man, Alan Hull. It made her recognize how winter could be a cruel time of year for those struggling to survive. She has since gone out of her way to donate to homeless shelters or simply share a hot drink with someone fighting bone-chilling temperatures.

I love the chapter that speaks to a rugged Scottish soup that is often made from whatever leftovers are found in the fridge. It is nice to know that I have a kindred spirit in McDermid, who holds soup in such high regard (as I do) and can’t picture a better way to warm oneself on a cold winter day. She looks forward to the winter solstice, which marks the shortest day of the year and represents not only the start of a new year but also the promise that the light will come back.

One of McDermid’s favorite winter festivals is Hogmanay, the signature Scottish festival in the eyes of the outside world. While many of the traditional customs of Hogmanay have faded away, the comic strip “The Broons” have kept them alive. McDermid always remembers Auld Year’s Day, the last day of the year, as the day that her family would clean the entire house from top to bottom.

Winter sports play a major role in Scottish culture during this time of year. One such activity is the unique tradition of Loony Dook, which reminded me of the Polar Bear Club in the US, where individuals dive into frozen water --- or, in this case, the water of a frozen lake.

A big treat here is the edited version of a speech that McDermid gave in 2023 to the Immortal Memory toast at the annual Mixed Supper of the Bowhill People’s Burns Club, a group that pays tribute to poet Robert Burns. She was the first woman to ever have this honor.

WINTER could not have come at a better time. Through the mind and talents of Val McDermid, it allows readers to see this season from an entirely distinct perspective.