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Winter: The Story of a Season
In this radiant work of creative nonfiction, internationally beloved novelist Val McDermid delivers a dazzling ode to a lost world, ruminating on a single winter in her life as she journeys into the heart of the season’s ever-evolving community-based traditions
Val McDermid has always had a soft spot for the bitter clarity of a crisp cold day, the crunch of frost on fallen leaves, and the chance to be enveloped in big jumpers and thick socks.
In Winter, McDermid takes us on an adventure through the season, from the frosty streets of Edinburgh to the windblown Scottish coast, from Bonfire Night and Christmas to Burns Night and Up Helly Aa. Recalling in parallel memories from her own childhood—of skating over frozen lakes and carving a “neep” (rutabaga) for Halloween to being taken to see her first real Christmas tree in the town square—McDermid offers a wise and enchanting meditation on winter and its ever-changing, sometimes ephemeral, traditions.
A hygge-filled journey through winter nights, McDermid reminds us that it is a time of rest, retreat and creativity, for scribbling in notebooks and settling in beside the fire. A treat for the hunkering-down, post-holiday reading season, Winter is a charming and cozy celebration of the year’s idle months from one of Scotland’s best-loved writers.
Val McDermid has always had a soft spot for the bitter clarity of a crisp cold day, the crunch of frost on fallen leaves, and the chance to be enveloped in big jumpers and thick socks.
In Winter, McDermid takes us on an adventure through the season, from the frosty streets of Edinburgh to the windblown Scottish coast, from Bonfire Night and Christmas to Burns Night and Up Helly Aa. Recalling in parallel memories from her own childhood—of skating over frozen lakes and carving a “neep” (rutabaga) for Halloween to being taken to see her first real Christmas tree in the town square—McDermid offers a wise and enchanting meditation on winter and its ever-changing, sometimes ephemeral, traditions.
A hygge-filled journey through winter nights, McDermid reminds us that it is a time of rest, retreat and creativity, for scribbling in notebooks and settling in beside the fire. A treat for the hunkering-down, post-holiday reading season, Winter is a charming and cozy celebration of the year’s idle months from one of Scotland’s best-loved writers.
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2025
About the author
Val McDermid
337 books5,603 followersVal McDermid is a No. 1 bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have sold over eleven million copies.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews
February 10, 2026
A book I picked up on a whim, as I was in the mood for some non-fiction. Winter is part memoir, part collection of essays. It reads like the Author's love letter to the season, starting from the last gasps of Autumn through to the re-emerging life of an oncoming Spring.
Takes us on a nostalgic trip across the Author's childhood years in Scotland, memories of family and how they celebrated the calendar events that mark the season. We also get musings on how they mark those occasions in the present with their partner and friends—there's a hint of melancholy at how things have changed.
The Author describes the creative processes and rituals they undertake when writing new books and narrates favourite poems and quotes and even a few cooking tips. We get glimpses of Scotland's nature, weather and history; in addition, there are some charming illustrations scattered throughout.
Winter may not be everyone's favourite season, but it's certainly one of the most evocative, given the holidays and notable dates it contains therein, and you'll be hard-pressed whilst reading not to reminisce on some of your own memories.
A new Author for me (I'm not a big crime fiction reader), and whilst it wasn't as nature-themed as I was hoping for, I still went through it in one sitting. It's a relatively short and captivating read that is an elegantly written ode to Winter.
Rating it 3.5/5.
Takes us on a nostalgic trip across the Author's childhood years in Scotland, memories of family and how they celebrated the calendar events that mark the season. We also get musings on how they mark those occasions in the present with their partner and friends—there's a hint of melancholy at how things have changed.
The Author describes the creative processes and rituals they undertake when writing new books and narrates favourite poems and quotes and even a few cooking tips. We get glimpses of Scotland's nature, weather and history; in addition, there are some charming illustrations scattered throughout.
Winter may not be everyone's favourite season, but it's certainly one of the most evocative, given the holidays and notable dates it contains therein, and you'll be hard-pressed whilst reading not to reminisce on some of your own memories.
A new Author for me (I'm not a big crime fiction reader), and whilst it wasn't as nature-themed as I was hoping for, I still went through it in one sitting. It's a relatively short and captivating read that is an elegantly written ode to Winter.
Rating it 3.5/5.
August 18, 2026
“It’s easy to find lovely distractions. Winter makes greater demands on us. Only in winter…”
How can we not appreciate how a writer thinks about what is important to their readers?
“Your first paragraph should make them need to read on.”
“I want to be seduced; I need to be seduced or I’ll sidle along the shelf, stroking the spines till I find something else to draw me in…”
And, off on an adventure this author takes us. But before that…
I came to my local library this particular day to drop off my personal copy of “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans, for a long-time friend who still attended the book group that I once led.
While at the library, this book by one of my favorite crime-fiction writers was displayed on the “new shelf.” I liked the front cover, and the smallness of the book, at just 160 pages. Also, as I ran my hands across the hardback cover scene, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort.
Even though I was born in November, I am definitely not a winter person. I thrive on the coolness and warmth of fall, spring and summer. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder what McDermid might teach me about Winter, the story of a season.
“It’s tinged with the longing for warmth and light and escape.”
Winter is usually my time for nesting. So, how can I learn to look appreciatively at the season of winter?
This is not a typical memoir. Rather, McDermid responds to winter by sharing parts of herself that help create the characters and settings her fans love to read. But it is also poetry in motion, filled with her profound, out-loud thoughts as she describes the scenes that bring life to her own days.
“If I were a character in one of my own novels, I’d be spooked into paranoia by them. Instead, if I’m working late at my desk, I find them curiously calming.”
McDermid is a deeply atmospheric writer of crime mysteries. And, it is through this book that we find the inspiration behind that atmosphere.
As an example, in her chapter ‘talking to my selves’ we find the author walking the estuary, ‘trying out the conversations my characters need to have next.’
By being present with her, readers can feel the rhythm of water alongside her steps, knowing that the dynamics of setting, colors, and natural beauty will eventually find their way onto her pages, conveying what is happening in her stories. She caresses the atmosphere with words that glide effortlessly, carrying readers toward the places she wants them to experience.
For McDermid, as she writes of ‘devious deeds done in the dark,’ winter—with its short days and long nights—is rich territory for noir fiction.
Her muse.
“Imagine being homesick for crisp cold.”
And for us, it is like going on that walk with her. Experiencing the senses. Smelling, tasting, feeling, hearing, and seeing what she does—knowing that these impressions will eventually find their way onto the pages we love to read.
“And so, I celebrate the end of the winter festivals because it promises not just the light returning but also the darkness will come back to be illuminated by words.”
Sigh…
A lovely, meandering read that offers intimate glimpses into the mind, senses, and creative process of an incredible author.
And perhaps, just perhaps, it has taught this decidedly not-a-winter-person to appreciate the season a little more.
“The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
How can we not appreciate how a writer thinks about what is important to their readers?
“Your first paragraph should make them need to read on.”
“I want to be seduced; I need to be seduced or I’ll sidle along the shelf, stroking the spines till I find something else to draw me in…”
And, off on an adventure this author takes us. But before that…
I came to my local library this particular day to drop off my personal copy of “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans, for a long-time friend who still attended the book group that I once led.
While at the library, this book by one of my favorite crime-fiction writers was displayed on the “new shelf.” I liked the front cover, and the smallness of the book, at just 160 pages. Also, as I ran my hands across the hardback cover scene, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort.
Even though I was born in November, I am definitely not a winter person. I thrive on the coolness and warmth of fall, spring and summer. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder what McDermid might teach me about Winter, the story of a season.
“It’s tinged with the longing for warmth and light and escape.”
Winter is usually my time for nesting. So, how can I learn to look appreciatively at the season of winter?
This is not a typical memoir. Rather, McDermid responds to winter by sharing parts of herself that help create the characters and settings her fans love to read. But it is also poetry in motion, filled with her profound, out-loud thoughts as she describes the scenes that bring life to her own days.
“If I were a character in one of my own novels, I’d be spooked into paranoia by them. Instead, if I’m working late at my desk, I find them curiously calming.”
McDermid is a deeply atmospheric writer of crime mysteries. And, it is through this book that we find the inspiration behind that atmosphere.
As an example, in her chapter ‘talking to my selves’ we find the author walking the estuary, ‘trying out the conversations my characters need to have next.’
By being present with her, readers can feel the rhythm of water alongside her steps, knowing that the dynamics of setting, colors, and natural beauty will eventually find their way onto her pages, conveying what is happening in her stories. She caresses the atmosphere with words that glide effortlessly, carrying readers toward the places she wants them to experience.
For McDermid, as she writes of ‘devious deeds done in the dark,’ winter—with its short days and long nights—is rich territory for noir fiction.
Her muse.
“Imagine being homesick for crisp cold.”
And for us, it is like going on that walk with her. Experiencing the senses. Smelling, tasting, feeling, hearing, and seeing what she does—knowing that these impressions will eventually find their way onto the pages we love to read.
“And so, I celebrate the end of the winter festivals because it promises not just the light returning but also the darkness will come back to be illuminated by words.”
Sigh…
A lovely, meandering read that offers intimate glimpses into the mind, senses, and creative process of an incredible author.
And perhaps, just perhaps, it has taught this decidedly not-a-winter-person to appreciate the season a little more.
“The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 24, 2026
EXCERPT: I've always had a soft spot for winter. For most people, winter is the poor relation of the seasons. It's not got the fresh excitement of spring, that thrust of new life bursting through the earth, leaves covering barren branches with fleshy crowns in myriad shades of green. It's not got the glamour of summer, when gaudy flowers bloom, people don their bright shirts and skirts and shorts, and streets and parks and beaches are full f the golden light of long days. It's not got the melancholy splendour of autumn, with its mists and mellow fruitfulness, and its cascades of gold and brown, perfect for scuffing through on pavements and paths.
For most people, winter means short days and harsh weather and nipping cold and clothes that disguise us. It's tinged with the longing for light and warmth and escape.
Outside, the cold bites our faces and sneaks in around the cuffs of our gloves and jackets. It reminds me of childhood - knees chapped with cold and legs rubbed raw from the tops of wellies; stamping on ice-covered puddles to release the water beneath the sharp shards; running home from school through rain and sleet and fog for a steaming plate of soup. I even forgive the promise betrayed by those amazing bright blue days when the low sun dazzles me and lulls me into stripping off my scarf and gloves. It's a chance to envelop myself in merino layers, big jumpers and thick socks.
We deal with the hostile environment ('No such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes,' as the sanctimonious outdoor-wear marketing managers tell us), then we turn our backs and go inside to the enveloping warmth. It's time to snuggle indoors without guilt; to curl up on the sofa with a good book or a box set, a hot drink or a wee whisky to hand.
ABOUT 'WINTER: THE STORY OF A SEASON': Val McDermid delivers a dazzling ode to a lost world, ruminating on a single winter in her life as she journeys into the heart of the season’s ever-evolving community-based traditions
Val McDermid has always had a soft spot for winter: the bitter clarity of a crisp cold day, the crunch of frost on fallen leaves, and the chance to be enveloped in big jumpers and thick socks.
In Winter, McDermid takes us on an adventure through the season, from the frosty streets of Edinburgh to the windblown Scottish coast, from Bonfire Night and Christmas to Burns Night and Up Helly Aa. Recalling in parallel memories from her own childhood—of skating over frozen lakes and carving a “neep” (rutabaga) for Halloween to being taken to see her first real Christmas tree in the town square—McDermid offers a wise and enchanting meditation on winter and its ever-changing, sometimes ephemeral, traditions.
A hygge-filled journey through winter nights, McDermid reminds us that it is a time of rest, retreat and creativity, for scribbling in notebooks and settling in beside the fire. A treat for the hunkering-down, post-holiday reading season, Winter is a charming and cozy celebration of the year’s idle months from one of Scotland’s best-loved writers.
MY THOUGHTS: I have never been a fan of winter, but Val McDermid has provided me with a totally new perspective.
Winter: The story of a season is part essay, part memoir, and part writing manual.
Val's writing, as always, is compelling. Lyrical, descriptive and energising, she weaves her own story subtly into her thoughts on her favorite season. Apparently as close to a memoir as we are ever likely to get.
I intend to purchase myself a hardcopy of this to help ease me through my least favorite season.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#Winter #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: VAL MCDERMID writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via NetGalley for providing an DRC of Winter: The Story of a Season by Val McDermid for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For most people, winter means short days and harsh weather and nipping cold and clothes that disguise us. It's tinged with the longing for light and warmth and escape.
Outside, the cold bites our faces and sneaks in around the cuffs of our gloves and jackets. It reminds me of childhood - knees chapped with cold and legs rubbed raw from the tops of wellies; stamping on ice-covered puddles to release the water beneath the sharp shards; running home from school through rain and sleet and fog for a steaming plate of soup. I even forgive the promise betrayed by those amazing bright blue days when the low sun dazzles me and lulls me into stripping off my scarf and gloves. It's a chance to envelop myself in merino layers, big jumpers and thick socks.
We deal with the hostile environment ('No such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes,' as the sanctimonious outdoor-wear marketing managers tell us), then we turn our backs and go inside to the enveloping warmth. It's time to snuggle indoors without guilt; to curl up on the sofa with a good book or a box set, a hot drink or a wee whisky to hand.
ABOUT 'WINTER: THE STORY OF A SEASON': Val McDermid delivers a dazzling ode to a lost world, ruminating on a single winter in her life as she journeys into the heart of the season’s ever-evolving community-based traditions
Val McDermid has always had a soft spot for winter: the bitter clarity of a crisp cold day, the crunch of frost on fallen leaves, and the chance to be enveloped in big jumpers and thick socks.
In Winter, McDermid takes us on an adventure through the season, from the frosty streets of Edinburgh to the windblown Scottish coast, from Bonfire Night and Christmas to Burns Night and Up Helly Aa. Recalling in parallel memories from her own childhood—of skating over frozen lakes and carving a “neep” (rutabaga) for Halloween to being taken to see her first real Christmas tree in the town square—McDermid offers a wise and enchanting meditation on winter and its ever-changing, sometimes ephemeral, traditions.
A hygge-filled journey through winter nights, McDermid reminds us that it is a time of rest, retreat and creativity, for scribbling in notebooks and settling in beside the fire. A treat for the hunkering-down, post-holiday reading season, Winter is a charming and cozy celebration of the year’s idle months from one of Scotland’s best-loved writers.
MY THOUGHTS: I have never been a fan of winter, but Val McDermid has provided me with a totally new perspective.
Winter: The story of a season is part essay, part memoir, and part writing manual.
Val's writing, as always, is compelling. Lyrical, descriptive and energising, she weaves her own story subtly into her thoughts on her favorite season. Apparently as close to a memoir as we are ever likely to get.
I intend to purchase myself a hardcopy of this to help ease me through my least favorite season.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#Winter #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: VAL MCDERMID writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via NetGalley for providing an DRC of Winter: The Story of a Season by Val McDermid for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
January 9, 2026
WINTER was a gift to me from the publisher, and it is Val McDermid's gift to her fans. It is a short book, a collection of essays that glide through topics connected to winter in Scotland. It contains many of McDermid's wonderful word pictures, e.g.,
it's the time to snuggle indoors without guilt; to curl up on the sofa with a good book or a box set, a hot drink or a wee whisky to hand.
a range of hills is rendered unfamiliar, black on blue; a darkling river glints briefly alongside.
the bracken and the branches shone brilliant white like ghosts of themselves...those dead leaves hung stark white on the branches like albino bats, unmoving in the still air.
Poetic writing!
WINTER is also partially a memoir, describing briefly her life as a working-class girl growing up in a coal mining village. Note, working-class, not poor. There was always food on the table and presents for Christmas, even if her father did work on Christmas morning. Perhaps, that's one reason I can relate so easily to McDermid's stories; I too was a working-class girl, although my father never worked Christmas Day. The source of pride in working-class families was "work". I remember my mother saying with pride that my dad always had a job, even during the worst of the depression. And, likewise, McDermid is proud of her working-class origins, and of her ability to keep creating page-turning novels. She describes how she begins the new year with her thoughts and notebook scribbles to begin a new book:
Your first paragraph should make them need to read on.
Later, she describes how, while walking by herself,
I'll be trying out the conversations my characters need to have next.
And as the essays progress, you'll find that each ends with a conclusion that might not be implicit in the beginning section. For example, a section on her writing routine turns into a memoir about her teenage foray into the folk club scene and her parents political beliefs, then a friend who died of a heroin overdose, to the conclusion:
Still, it shames me that half a century on from my first encounter with homeless people, they're still freezing to death on the streets of one of the richest countries in the world.
As the chapters morph from one topic to another, between chapters and within chapters, I must admit that one of my favourites was the brief portrayal of her (and her partner's) attempts to feed the winter birds while withstanding attacks by four-legged creatures to steal the food. I smiled at the description of rats sliding down the pole they had sprayed with WD40.
There is even a brief trip to the French Quarter in New Orleans, where Christmas displays of lights and plastic sculptures were on full display.
Every now and then, we'd pass a darkened house, miserable as a missing tooth in a gleaming mouth...'It's poverty. It's got to be bad if they don't even have a plastic tree in the window.'
So a quick glance into some of Val McDermid's notebooks. A present for fans interested in how her brain works.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
it's the time to snuggle indoors without guilt; to curl up on the sofa with a good book or a box set, a hot drink or a wee whisky to hand.
a range of hills is rendered unfamiliar, black on blue; a darkling river glints briefly alongside.
the bracken and the branches shone brilliant white like ghosts of themselves...those dead leaves hung stark white on the branches like albino bats, unmoving in the still air.
Poetic writing!
WINTER is also partially a memoir, describing briefly her life as a working-class girl growing up in a coal mining village. Note, working-class, not poor. There was always food on the table and presents for Christmas, even if her father did work on Christmas morning. Perhaps, that's one reason I can relate so easily to McDermid's stories; I too was a working-class girl, although my father never worked Christmas Day. The source of pride in working-class families was "work". I remember my mother saying with pride that my dad always had a job, even during the worst of the depression. And, likewise, McDermid is proud of her working-class origins, and of her ability to keep creating page-turning novels. She describes how she begins the new year with her thoughts and notebook scribbles to begin a new book:
Your first paragraph should make them need to read on.
Later, she describes how, while walking by herself,
I'll be trying out the conversations my characters need to have next.
And as the essays progress, you'll find that each ends with a conclusion that might not be implicit in the beginning section. For example, a section on her writing routine turns into a memoir about her teenage foray into the folk club scene and her parents political beliefs, then a friend who died of a heroin overdose, to the conclusion:
Still, it shames me that half a century on from my first encounter with homeless people, they're still freezing to death on the streets of one of the richest countries in the world.
As the chapters morph from one topic to another, between chapters and within chapters, I must admit that one of my favourites was the brief portrayal of her (and her partner's) attempts to feed the winter birds while withstanding attacks by four-legged creatures to steal the food. I smiled at the description of rats sliding down the pole they had sprayed with WD40.
There is even a brief trip to the French Quarter in New Orleans, where Christmas displays of lights and plastic sculptures were on full display.
Every now and then, we'd pass a darkened house, miserable as a missing tooth in a gleaming mouth...'It's poverty. It's got to be bad if they don't even have a plastic tree in the window.'
So a quick glance into some of Val McDermid's notebooks. A present for fans interested in how her brain works.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
January 20, 2026
Suppose it was my mistake in understanding what this book was about...I thought it would be about nature in winter time. Instead it is more an autobiography of sorts. The author writes about different traditions and festivals in Scotland, but mostly her memories of being a child experiencing these. Also, I did not realize this is an author of thriller, mystery books perhaps well known for those who enjoy this type of genre.
The beginning of the book begins with what McDermid typically does in a new year, preparing to write a new book. Then it backtracks to the Fall with Halloween, and how that was for her growing up in Scotland. How different things were, such as using a neep, or rutabaga, instead of a pumpkin. This becomes a pattern for the festivals and holidays that occur during the winter, with McDermid’s personal recollections. Often those are of her in childhood, but not always. There was a section on comfort food, which for her is soup.
It is decent enough, and I didn’t mind reading about Scottish traditions and her experiences. I just wish I had known that going in. Again, fully my part in not understanding as I sometimes just glance at descriptions not wanting too many spoilers beforehand. The book included some drawings peppered throughout the book. I quite enjoyed those images.
Book rating: 3.75 stars
Thanks to Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
The beginning of the book begins with what McDermid typically does in a new year, preparing to write a new book. Then it backtracks to the Fall with Halloween, and how that was for her growing up in Scotland. How different things were, such as using a neep, or rutabaga, instead of a pumpkin. This becomes a pattern for the festivals and holidays that occur during the winter, with McDermid’s personal recollections. Often those are of her in childhood, but not always. There was a section on comfort food, which for her is soup.
It is decent enough, and I didn’t mind reading about Scottish traditions and her experiences. I just wish I had known that going in. Again, fully my part in not understanding as I sometimes just glance at descriptions not wanting too many spoilers beforehand. The book included some drawings peppered throughout the book. I quite enjoyed those images.
Book rating: 3.75 stars
Thanks to Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
December 20, 2025
Winter by Val McDermid is part memoir, part a fond look at that cold season’s many festivals and rich history in Scotland while also a tribute of sorts to her favorite time of year, the season when she finds her creative spark working the hardest each year. This is the time her novels are largely formed and written.
McDermid’s obvious love and knowledge of Scotland drives this book along, with stories of major and minor festivals and celebrations from Halloween through the Christmas and year’s end festivities, all the way to the first sign of winter waning, the snowdrops appearance. There are ties to the cultural world in seasonal festivals with literature, music, food of all kinds. Anyone with a drop of Scottish blood will possibly learn a few new things here and enjoy the process. Even those who might not share the background are definitely apt to enjoy learning such a variety of interesting stories, facts and history from a writer who has lived so much that she is describing. Recommended as a relatively short, seasonal read.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for an early copy of Winter. This review is my own.
McDermid’s obvious love and knowledge of Scotland drives this book along, with stories of major and minor festivals and celebrations from Halloween through the Christmas and year’s end festivities, all the way to the first sign of winter waning, the snowdrops appearance. There are ties to the cultural world in seasonal festivals with literature, music, food of all kinds. Anyone with a drop of Scottish blood will possibly learn a few new things here and enjoy the process. Even those who might not share the background are definitely apt to enjoy learning such a variety of interesting stories, facts and history from a writer who has lived so much that she is describing. Recommended as a relatively short, seasonal read.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for an early copy of Winter. This review is my own.
November 11, 2025
"Winter" is a joyful short non-fiction offering from one of Scotland's best loved writers.
Val McDermid trawls her family memories along with the history of Scottish winters and all that they entail from the raw winds of the East coast to the joy of skating on a local pond when she was a child.
The book is interspersed with poetry, a few "loose" recipes for soup. There are also beautiful drawings by Philip Harris, who uses dip pen and ink linocut to create these delicate works of art, which truly sum up a Scottish winter.
I have also added a few new names to my TBR list of Scottish writers I've never heard of. If you like a trip out there are a myriad places that Ms McDermid waxes lyrical about.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and sat with a smile on my face for the whole reading. It would make a lovely Christmas present for anyone and I'd highly recommend it.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy.
Val McDermid trawls her family memories along with the history of Scottish winters and all that they entail from the raw winds of the East coast to the joy of skating on a local pond when she was a child.
The book is interspersed with poetry, a few "loose" recipes for soup. There are also beautiful drawings by Philip Harris, who uses dip pen and ink linocut to create these delicate works of art, which truly sum up a Scottish winter.
I have also added a few new names to my TBR list of Scottish writers I've never heard of. If you like a trip out there are a myriad places that Ms McDermid waxes lyrical about.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and sat with a smile on my face for the whole reading. It would make a lovely Christmas present for anyone and I'd highly recommend it.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy.
November 25, 2025
According to Val McDermid, “In winter, the first frosts produce the crunching underfoot of the pericarps left behind after the acorns have been plundered by squirrels, a percussive counterpoint to the susurration of the fallen leaves.” And, from then on in I was captivated.
I could easily imagine her at her desk looking out the window at “the branches and twigs [that] form a kind of road map.” She writes that, “Tracing their paths is the perfect mindless activity when I need to let the wheels turn so the next piece of prose can form in my head.” In summer the branches are covered in leafy green making this activity more difficult.
She says, “For most people, winter is the poor relation of the seasons.” The season of “short days and harsh weather and nipping cold and clothes that disguise us.”
McDermid finds traveling by train in the dark “quite magical.” It’s hard to tell our whereabouts as we gaze into the darkened scenery. A light flasing in the dark provides “the promise of strange mysteries; a range of hills is rendered unfamiliar, black on blue; a darkling river glints briefly alongside.” Meanwhile, we’re blissfully unaware of anything that’s happening outside our cosy carriage. “It’s a romance on rails.”
McDermid writes of the importance of a book’s opening paragraph to capture the reader’s attention and make them want more. Specifically, she says, “I want to be seduced; I need to be seduced or I’ll sidle along the shelf, stroking the spines till I find something else to draw me in…”
Describing the Fourth Estuary - “In winter, it’s mostly at least fifty shades of grey, windblown into white horses, high tide attacking harbours and sea walls with spectacular spray.”
Craigleith is best known for its puffin colony. However, the colony was radically reduced when the puffins were unable to dig burrows due to the tangles of roots of “tree mallows, giant invasive plants.” Volunteers have managed to reduce the plants, and the puffins are starting to slowly increase. McDermid describes puffins as “the cutest and most comedic of all seabirds.” She adds that “they’re a welcome sight.”
Winter is the season of comfort food. I loved McDermid’s story about asking her mum for her favourite soup recipe, so she could make it to impress her friends at the university where she was a student. Her mum had already mailed her haggis but now she wanted to make her famous soup.
Her mum responds to the request, “There isnae a recipe,” and goes on to describe making the stock and then throwing in whatever vegetables and pulses you have to hand, “and a tin of tomatoes if you’ve got some, tomato puree if not. Then you simmer it for a few hours.” Finally, she says, “It’s no’ really a recipe, more a rummage.”
Another highlight was reading about her trip “to New Orleans for a pre-Christmas break” and being delighted by the Christmas lights. First, they drove, then they walked through the neighborhoods admiring all the dazzling lighted decorations of people’s front yards.
She notes that “Every now and then, we’d pass a darkened house, miserable as a missing tooth in a gleaming mouth.” Turning to her friend she asks, “Is this bah humbug?” Her friend’s sobering response, “No. It’s poverty. It’s got to be bad if they don’t even have a plastic tree in the window.”
“In Edinburgh, January lays on a breathtaking treat for art lovers.” During January, the National Gallery of Scotland displays “thirty-eight of [Turner’s] finest watercolour sketches, thanks to the terms of Henry Vaughan’s bequest.” Admission is free of charge. Why January? “Because in that month, the weak hours of daylight are minimal and the works can be safely exhibited without risk of them being faded or damaged.”
McDermid writes that “for me, the Turners represent confidence in the light coming back.” Two of his prints “whose brilliant colours lifted [her] spirits for years” during her youth when she dreamed of being a writer were displayed on her bedroom wall. She continues to visit the watercolours annually as they “remind [her] of the power of dreaming, of holding fast to ambition even when its realization seems against the odds.”
I could easily imagine her at her desk looking out the window at “the branches and twigs [that] form a kind of road map.” She writes that, “Tracing their paths is the perfect mindless activity when I need to let the wheels turn so the next piece of prose can form in my head.” In summer the branches are covered in leafy green making this activity more difficult.
She says, “For most people, winter is the poor relation of the seasons.” The season of “short days and harsh weather and nipping cold and clothes that disguise us.”
McDermid finds traveling by train in the dark “quite magical.” It’s hard to tell our whereabouts as we gaze into the darkened scenery. A light flasing in the dark provides “the promise of strange mysteries; a range of hills is rendered unfamiliar, black on blue; a darkling river glints briefly alongside.” Meanwhile, we’re blissfully unaware of anything that’s happening outside our cosy carriage. “It’s a romance on rails.”
McDermid writes of the importance of a book’s opening paragraph to capture the reader’s attention and make them want more. Specifically, she says, “I want to be seduced; I need to be seduced or I’ll sidle along the shelf, stroking the spines till I find something else to draw me in…”
Describing the Fourth Estuary - “In winter, it’s mostly at least fifty shades of grey, windblown into white horses, high tide attacking harbours and sea walls with spectacular spray.”
Craigleith is best known for its puffin colony. However, the colony was radically reduced when the puffins were unable to dig burrows due to the tangles of roots of “tree mallows, giant invasive plants.” Volunteers have managed to reduce the plants, and the puffins are starting to slowly increase. McDermid describes puffins as “the cutest and most comedic of all seabirds.” She adds that “they’re a welcome sight.”
Winter is the season of comfort food. I loved McDermid’s story about asking her mum for her favourite soup recipe, so she could make it to impress her friends at the university where she was a student. Her mum had already mailed her haggis but now she wanted to make her famous soup.
Her mum responds to the request, “There isnae a recipe,” and goes on to describe making the stock and then throwing in whatever vegetables and pulses you have to hand, “and a tin of tomatoes if you’ve got some, tomato puree if not. Then you simmer it for a few hours.” Finally, she says, “It’s no’ really a recipe, more a rummage.”
Another highlight was reading about her trip “to New Orleans for a pre-Christmas break” and being delighted by the Christmas lights. First, they drove, then they walked through the neighborhoods admiring all the dazzling lighted decorations of people’s front yards.
She notes that “Every now and then, we’d pass a darkened house, miserable as a missing tooth in a gleaming mouth.” Turning to her friend she asks, “Is this bah humbug?” Her friend’s sobering response, “No. It’s poverty. It’s got to be bad if they don’t even have a plastic tree in the window.”
“In Edinburgh, January lays on a breathtaking treat for art lovers.” During January, the National Gallery of Scotland displays “thirty-eight of [Turner’s] finest watercolour sketches, thanks to the terms of Henry Vaughan’s bequest.” Admission is free of charge. Why January? “Because in that month, the weak hours of daylight are minimal and the works can be safely exhibited without risk of them being faded or damaged.”
McDermid writes that “for me, the Turners represent confidence in the light coming back.” Two of his prints “whose brilliant colours lifted [her] spirits for years” during her youth when she dreamed of being a writer were displayed on her bedroom wall. She continues to visit the watercolours annually as they “remind [her] of the power of dreaming, of holding fast to ambition even when its realization seems against the odds.”
December 17, 2025
I'll be honest: I hate winter. The cold, the dark, it is no source of enjoyment nor inspiration. For me, the best life is in my garden watching green unfold or on my bike in shorts with the wind in my hair and sunburnt shoulders at the end of the day. Of course I know some people thrive in winter (my husband being on of them), but this short non-fiction from the queen gave me a whole new outlook on wintertime.
It is filled with nostalgia, with music and food, childhood memories and folklore, all converging to form the fertile source of our much beloved books. Maybe I'll try to embrace the chill just a little bit more from now on. Or maybe this good intention will fly out the door with all the other ones. Probably.
Even a die-hard winter hater like me couldn't not be warmed by the beautiful musings of one of my favourite authors, and I was especially pleased to have a little glimpse of her private life.
So if you - like me - are a fan of Mrs. McDermid, I would absolutely put this short book on your wishlist.
Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Mercer and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.
It is filled with nostalgia, with music and food, childhood memories and folklore, all converging to form the fertile source of our much beloved books. Maybe I'll try to embrace the chill just a little bit more from now on. Or maybe this good intention will fly out the door with all the other ones. Probably.
Even a die-hard winter hater like me couldn't not be warmed by the beautiful musings of one of my favourite authors, and I was especially pleased to have a little glimpse of her private life.
So if you - like me - are a fan of Mrs. McDermid, I would absolutely put this short book on your wishlist.
Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Mercer and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.
January 1, 2026
Authors love letter to Winter, Scotland and nostalgia!! Magical series of essays as to what the Winter season means to the author who is best known for her murder mysteries. Totally enjoyed this book!!
February 21, 2026
Charmingly meandering, appropriately nostalgic, and as soothing as a mug of hot chocolate on a frigid day--the perfect seasonal read.
December 21, 2025
(3.5) I didn’t realize that Michael Morpurgo’s Spring was the launch of a series of short nonfiction books on the seasons. McDermid writes a book a year, always starting it in early January. She evokes the Scottish winter’s “Janus-faced” character: cosy but increasingly storm-tossed. In few-page essays, she looks for nature’s clues, delves into childhood memories, and traverses the season through traditional celebrations as she has experienced them in Edinburgh and Fife: Hallowe’en, Bonfire Night, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. The festivities are a collective way of taking the mind off of the season’s hardships, she suggests. I was amused by her mother’s recipe for soup, which she described as more of a “rummage” for whatever vegetables you have in the fridge. It was my first time reading McDermid and, while I don’t know that I will ever pick up one of her crime novels, this was pleasant. I reckon I’d read Bernardine Evaristo on summer and Kate Mosse on autumn, too.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
December 19, 2025
This is a lovely collection of Val McDermid's thoughts about the winter season, including her own memories, some poems and quotes from other authors, and quite a bit about writing and books. There are also some very nice illustrations of nature done by Philip Harris which complement the writings. I'm surprised that this wasn't published in time for gift giving this holiday season. It would have made a terrific choice for several book lovers on my list.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new book via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new book via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
August 22, 2026
If my winter weren't so harsh, I'd write a better review, nonetheless, a few words to share my gratitude. The last kind of book I'd expected from one of my favorite writers, in her acknowledgements thankful for "the chance to depart from my usual gig of murderous fiction." Each page a reflection on nature, Scottish history and culture (both past and present), personal memories, lots of literature, including the resurrection of Susan Ferrier, who outsold Jane Austen but is now forgotten, and art, Henry Vaughan, origin of the term "mad as a hatter, and Turner. Yet also the thought provoking questions: why choose this genre instead of poetry or plays? An emphasis on Burns' influence on equality, the working man, her own family background of men going down into the pit mining coal. All accompanied by beautiful illustrations, a bit of drum roll, never losing sight of the droll.
December 10, 2025
I had read and really enjoyed Spring by Michael Morpurgo, which is the first in this seasonal series. That one is set in Somerset, close to where I live, so most of what he was writing about felt very familiar. This one is by Val McDermid, a Scottish crime writer, so it is about life across the boarder. This one is mostly about the festival's that take place during the winter season; Samhain, or Halloween, Bonfire night, Christmas and if course Hogmanay. It has a very nostalgic feel to it, as she looks back on celebrations from her past, and at how they are changing nowadays. I would love to have experienced Hogmanay before it became so managed, it always looked so much fun.
I had originally shelved this with my Nature books, as Spring was much more rooted in nature writing, but this one isn't, which is not to say it wasn't enjoyable, it really was, just not what I was expecting. I really should try to get to some of her fiction. Looking forward to the next books in this series.
*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.
I had originally shelved this with my Nature books, as Spring was much more rooted in nature writing, but this one isn't, which is not to say it wasn't enjoyable, it really was, just not what I was expecting. I really should try to get to some of her fiction. Looking forward to the next books in this series.
*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.
November 26, 2025
The “quine of crime”, Val McDermid is renowned for her best selling mysteries. Winter is a quasi memoir work of creative non fiction, an ode to the cold, windblown winters in Scotland.
Winter is when McDermid’s creative juices start flowing and she typically begins her next novel. Yet, she also embraces all that this season offers in her homeland.
Beautifully written and lyrical, there are childhood memories of beloved activities, muses on how winter celebrations and rituals have evolved over the years, an appreciation of the natural wonders and beauty to be found in this sometimes bleak and harsh season. The drawings by artist Phillip Harris that accompany the text are stunning.
I have to admit that winter is my least favorite season. Actually, I hate it. Yet, McDermid helped me recall some happy times as a child during those cold northern winters that I have escaped as an adult. This was a delightful read.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @GroveAtlantic for the DRC.
Winter is when McDermid’s creative juices start flowing and she typically begins her next novel. Yet, she also embraces all that this season offers in her homeland.
Beautifully written and lyrical, there are childhood memories of beloved activities, muses on how winter celebrations and rituals have evolved over the years, an appreciation of the natural wonders and beauty to be found in this sometimes bleak and harsh season. The drawings by artist Phillip Harris that accompany the text are stunning.
I have to admit that winter is my least favorite season. Actually, I hate it. Yet, McDermid helped me recall some happy times as a child during those cold northern winters that I have escaped as an adult. This was a delightful read.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @GroveAtlantic for the DRC.
December 31, 2025
Welcome to Winter, a warm and cozy winter we can actually enjoy, even as we're grumbling while we put our summer clothes away for the next few (or many, depending on where you live) months. It's a collection of twenty short, non-fiction essays, that also is a "love letter" to our coldest season, filled with personal memories and reflections on winter traditions.
Val McDermid states she has always had a soft spot for winter: "the bitter clarity of a crisp cold day, the vivid skies over the Firth of Forth, the crunch of frost on fallen leaves and the chance to be enveloped in big jumpers and thick socks." The book is a collection of twenty short stories: Val's "love letter" to the coldest season, filled with personal memories and reflections on winter traditions.
When I first moved to Central Oregon, I swooned over every winter. I didn't even mind shoveling snow. Now? If Ms. McDermid wants to share her address with me, I'll happily send my winters her way, haha! But, seriously, I enjoyed every one of her memories and traditions, and I thank her for the chance to read them!
Thank you, #AtlanticMonthlyPress, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Winter was published November 20, 2025.
#ValMcDermid #NonFiction #Scotland #Memoir #Cozy #Essays
Val McDermid states she has always had a soft spot for winter: "the bitter clarity of a crisp cold day, the vivid skies over the Firth of Forth, the crunch of frost on fallen leaves and the chance to be enveloped in big jumpers and thick socks." The book is a collection of twenty short stories: Val's "love letter" to the coldest season, filled with personal memories and reflections on winter traditions.
When I first moved to Central Oregon, I swooned over every winter. I didn't even mind shoveling snow. Now? If Ms. McDermid wants to share her address with me, I'll happily send my winters her way, haha! But, seriously, I enjoyed every one of her memories and traditions, and I thank her for the chance to read them!
Thank you, #AtlanticMonthlyPress, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Winter was published November 20, 2025.
#ValMcDermid #NonFiction #Scotland #Memoir #Cozy #Essays
December 31, 2025
What a book to end the year.
April 5, 2026
"The light always comes back"
Reading this whilst looking onto Tasmania's Freycinet National Park on a crisp day just made the whole experience that much better. What a beautiful ode to the wonderment of winter. The chapter on soup and porridge spoke to me, deeply. Also, if there was ever another excuse for me to get back to Scotland, this was it.
Reading this whilst looking onto Tasmania's Freycinet National Park on a crisp day just made the whole experience that much better. What a beautiful ode to the wonderment of winter. The chapter on soup and porridge spoke to me, deeply. Also, if there was ever another excuse for me to get back to Scotland, this was it.
May 25, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Winter: The Story of a Season
Author: Val McDermid
Source: Orlando Public Library @ocls
Publication Date: Nov. 20, 2025
NON-FICTION
WINTER
NORDIC NOIR
MEMOIR
Val McDermid is a prolific writer, and Winter is a sweet, non-fictional Memoir of her favorite season, which in her native Scotland lasts a long time.
Like Ms. McDermid, I enjoy the winter season with the lights, pageantry, carols, cold, and nights. She writes her novels in a room with big windows, which let her enjoy the seasons, but although every season is pretty, she likes the darker side, with bare trees and snow-covered mountains. The book also contains lovely drawings and artistic renderings that help you get into the mood even when reading during the hot Florida summer.
This is a charming palate cleanser and a simple book of the author's shared thoughts. I enjoyed her observations, and I second her emotions!
#Winter
@quineofcrime
@atlanticmonthly
#nordicnoir
#ValMcdermid
Winter: The Story of a Season
Author: Val McDermid
Source: Orlando Public Library @ocls
Publication Date: Nov. 20, 2025
NON-FICTION
WINTER
NORDIC NOIR
MEMOIR
Val McDermid is a prolific writer, and Winter is a sweet, non-fictional Memoir of her favorite season, which in her native Scotland lasts a long time.
Like Ms. McDermid, I enjoy the winter season with the lights, pageantry, carols, cold, and nights. She writes her novels in a room with big windows, which let her enjoy the seasons, but although every season is pretty, she likes the darker side, with bare trees and snow-covered mountains. The book also contains lovely drawings and artistic renderings that help you get into the mood even when reading during the hot Florida summer.
This is a charming palate cleanser and a simple book of the author's shared thoughts. I enjoyed her observations, and I second her emotions!
#Winter
@quineofcrime
@atlanticmonthly
#nordicnoir
#ValMcdermid
December 2, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the advanced copy.
You can surely judge this book by its cover. Its a cozy fireplace read full of amazing illustrations and depictions of winter postcards. Is beautifuly written much so that feels like you are in a room hearing stories while waiting for a winter storm to pass.
I also think it works better if you already have an affection with the author or her books which I didn't have. Maybe because im Portuguese. Still it transcends her earlier works and it works as a warm essay about the joys of the darkest season.
You can surely judge this book by its cover. Its a cozy fireplace read full of amazing illustrations and depictions of winter postcards. Is beautifuly written much so that feels like you are in a room hearing stories while waiting for a winter storm to pass.
I also think it works better if you already have an affection with the author or her books which I didn't have. Maybe because im Portuguese. Still it transcends her earlier works and it works as a warm essay about the joys of the darkest season.
February 15, 2026
A short reflective book about Winter days in Scotland by Val McDermid author of 40 books - mostly crime stories.
This book reminds us of the pleasures of the changing seasons and is nostalgic for her youth growing up in Fife and enjoying the celebrations from Halloween through to Burns Night. Reading about Scotland got my feet itching for a walking holiday there.
For fans of Robert Burns there is a tribute to him at the end that she gave at her father’s club. She was the first woman invited to do so.
Beautifully written.
This book reminds us of the pleasures of the changing seasons and is nostalgic for her youth growing up in Fife and enjoying the celebrations from Halloween through to Burns Night. Reading about Scotland got my feet itching for a walking holiday there.
For fans of Robert Burns there is a tribute to him at the end that she gave at her father’s club. She was the first woman invited to do so.
Beautifully written.
December 3, 2025
A sweet little memoir which is a nostalgic look at life in Scotland in the author’s early life. It is a quick read which is easy to fit in for a little lift in the dark winter months. Not a literary masterpiece but an enjoyable short read.
January 11, 2026
4.5 Really loved this short meditation and author’s experiences on winter in Scotland. Many parts I experience on my own walks; other parts enlightening me of Scottish traditions and history.
April 8, 2026
Tolle und sehr persönliche Schilderung der Autorin über ihre Verbindung mit dieser Jahreszeit, ihrem Arbeitsrhythmus, Bräuchen etc.
December 30, 2025
Val McDermid’s writing is lyrical and beautiful, and having seen her at a few events, I could ‘hear’ her voice in my head as I was reading. The book moves from the early signs of winter such as bare trees and darker nights, through significant dates such as Hallowe’en, Guy Fawkes Night and the winter solstice, through to late winter flowers like snowdrops heralding the coming Spring.
I particularly enjoyed reading the author’s own memories of winters when she was a child as well as her more recent feelings about the season. It’s a time when you can stay indoors watching television or reading a book with no sense of guilt. Winter is a time to rest and take stock. Since Val McDermid is from Fife and now lives in Edinburgh, a lot of the places and traditions she writes about are familiar to me.
The chapter about Hallowe’en and how it used to be celebrated in Scotland brought back many memories. I well remember helping my dad chisel out a turnip lantern and the distinctive smell of burning turnip when a candle was lit inside. And yes, I remember when costumes were home-made not bought from a shop and didn’t have to be scary.
It was good to read about winter traditions old, new and reclaimed, such as Samhuinn, the Winter solstice, the Loony Dook at New Year, Hogmanay and Up Helly Aa to name a few. As the author says, it’s no accident that at the darkest time of year, we find much to celebrate to brighten up the days.
With beautiful illustrations, a focus on nature, folklore, the changing seasons and McDermid’s own creative process, Winter is a warm celebration of our coldest season.
I particularly enjoyed reading the author’s own memories of winters when she was a child as well as her more recent feelings about the season. It’s a time when you can stay indoors watching television or reading a book with no sense of guilt. Winter is a time to rest and take stock. Since Val McDermid is from Fife and now lives in Edinburgh, a lot of the places and traditions she writes about are familiar to me.
The chapter about Hallowe’en and how it used to be celebrated in Scotland brought back many memories. I well remember helping my dad chisel out a turnip lantern and the distinctive smell of burning turnip when a candle was lit inside. And yes, I remember when costumes were home-made not bought from a shop and didn’t have to be scary.
It was good to read about winter traditions old, new and reclaimed, such as Samhuinn, the Winter solstice, the Loony Dook at New Year, Hogmanay and Up Helly Aa to name a few. As the author says, it’s no accident that at the darkest time of year, we find much to celebrate to brighten up the days.
With beautiful illustrations, a focus on nature, folklore, the changing seasons and McDermid’s own creative process, Winter is a warm celebration of our coldest season.
October 18, 2025
They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but in the case of Winter, by Val McDermid, you absolutely should. It’s such a beautiful drawing, really evoking the feeling of Winter.
As much as I love feeling the warmth on my face, when the weather starts to chill, I love digging out my cosy thick jumpers, and warm socks. Curling up with a good book under a blanket, with a cat curled in my lap. So when I read the synopsis of this book, it really felt like it was talking to me.
The author has written a lovely book, which celebrates this special season, along with reminiscing her favourite memories of Winter, from childhood to adulthood. Hearing Val narrate her own words felt very intimate, it was as if we were walking through the places she was describing so beautifully, just talking to me, and me only.
There is so much that made me smile. The description of Val’s partner Jo, in the Marilyn wig made me snort out loud; the image of Val dressed up as Acker Bilk made me smile too. My husband also has fond memories of carving out a swede. When he did this many years later for me, it gave the house a lovely smell of my Nan’s stew.
I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy little book, and highly recommend it for all Val McDermid fans, and for those who love the festive season. It’s a charming read.
As much as I love feeling the warmth on my face, when the weather starts to chill, I love digging out my cosy thick jumpers, and warm socks. Curling up with a good book under a blanket, with a cat curled in my lap. So when I read the synopsis of this book, it really felt like it was talking to me.
The author has written a lovely book, which celebrates this special season, along with reminiscing her favourite memories of Winter, from childhood to adulthood. Hearing Val narrate her own words felt very intimate, it was as if we were walking through the places she was describing so beautifully, just talking to me, and me only.
There is so much that made me smile. The description of Val’s partner Jo, in the Marilyn wig made me snort out loud; the image of Val dressed up as Acker Bilk made me smile too. My husband also has fond memories of carving out a swede. When he did this many years later for me, it gave the house a lovely smell of my Nan’s stew.
I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy little book, and highly recommend it for all Val McDermid fans, and for those who love the festive season. It’s a charming read.
December 21, 2025
Winter is Val McDermid's love letter to the coldest and darkest of the seasons , from the treasured memories of her past to the valuable part it plays in her writing process to this day. Beautifully written and with gorgeous traditional illustrations throughout, this is a book to savour as the Winter nights draw in, ideally from a comfy fireside chair with a glass of something peaty and smoky in hand. Following the timeline of the season from Halloween to Hogmanay and beyond, the author delves into her memories of the traditions of times past and how times have changed. There is a warmth to the book that belies the setting and subject matter, and it is a reminder of the importance of community, something that seems to be on the wane.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
January 18, 2026
In Winter: The Story of a Season, acclaimed novelist Val McDermid turns her considerable skills to a collection of essays/reflections about winter. It's a blend of exquisite nature writing with memoir focused on her memories of growing up, celebrating winter traditions with family and friends. It's centered around a single winter season and the moments that connect her with these memories -- and it evokes such a beautiful sense of time passing from the first brisk nights, to frozen ponds, to the emergence of snowdrops heralding the end of the winter season. I really enjoyed reading this -- and also it made me want to visit Scotland in the winter to experience the moments she captures.
January 27, 2026
Val McDermid is a Scottish fiction writer. Her 2025 book Winter is a series of short memoiristic essays about her memories and experiences with the winter season. This was the first McDermid work I've picked up (given my general allergy toward fiction) and I confess given the title and cover I was expecting something different, more scientific/nature-focused than personal reminiscences. I stuck around as this was a very short book/listen (160 pages/2 hour audiobook). This was an OK read and did remind me of some of my own winter memories from childhood onwards.
My statistics:
Book 25 for 2026
Book 2331 cumulatively
My statistics:
Book 25 for 2026
Book 2331 cumulatively
Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews