None of us know what is going to sell or what people want to read.

Crime fiction is the fiction of social history. Societies get the crimes they deserve.

There's a real emphasis on being witty in Scotland, even in crime novels.

There's always these giant baffling books, like 'The Da Vinci Code.' People say it's not as well written as 'Midnight's Children.' Why aren't people reading 'Midnight's Children?' Nobody knows why these phenomenons happen but they're great.

I always wanted to work at Take A Break magazine, you know, just to inject a little bit of politics into their stories. I applied for a job there after I'd done my law degree and didn't even get an interview. I only wrote Garnethill because I didn't get that job!

I'd read so much right-wing crime fiction where they find the evidence and shoot the bad guy - I thought there must be another approach.

In my heart Im just a lucky waitress.