Val McDermid and I chatted on the top deck of the bus.

‘I am embarrassed to admit that I have never read any of your books’, I confessed. ‘It’s just that everyone says that they are so gory and that I’ll hate them.’

‘Don’t listen to these idiots’, Val advised. ‘Read just one and you’ll be a fan.’

‘Where should I start?’ I asked.

‘Anywhere’ came the reply.