Who dunnit: binge or boring?

Traces, available on BBC iPlayer

Are you addicted to crime thrillers? Generally accepted as the first crime or detective story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe was published in April 1841 in a magazine and it seems we’ve been hooked ever since. They’re so satisfying to read or watch since they always end with a conclusion: who dunnit and how, the baddie gets caught and led out in handcuffs.

Gold Dagger winning, Val McDermid wrote a new series for the BBC called Traces (spot Val’s cameo) and it is enjoyable, if a bit fast forwarded in places - who falls in love and moves in with a new partner in less than a week? The story centres around a murder and in spite of my will power, I binge watched the final episodes although the way it finally wrapped up caused some eye roll and huffing. Why was there such an age difference between the main protagonists? It was gross watching them and it seemed jarringly retrograde when so much of the series is refreshingly contemporary and enjoyable to watch. The city of Dundee and the surrounding scenery looks beautiful compared to the miserable awfullness portrayed through the fabulous Succession tv series.

Do you prefer watching or reading crime thrillers? It’s not my usual book genre although I’ve read a few of Val McDermid’s books in addition to classic Sherlock Holmes. I find the wrapping up of a crime novel too co-incidental and having less mystery or potential for surprise than a visual crime thriller. For me, Val McDermid’s books have a compelling beginning, gripping middle and a hurried ending. Please correct me if I’m wrong, I’d love your book suggestions in the comments.

I listened to Val McDermid at the launch of her book about forensic science at the Edinburgh International Book Festival a few years ago where I had a few copies signed, she is incredibly witty and charming. The book event also announced a new course, available to anyone who is interested and referenced in Traces, to learn about forensic science over six weeks. You can sign up here.