Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon will bring a special festive-themed edition of  their in-conversation event In The Company Of Books to Edinburgh this Christmas, on Sunday 15 December. Tickets for the event go on sale at noon on Friday 8 November. 

The best-selling crime novelist and former First Minister have built a friendship based on their shared love of books, and plan to project their enthusiasm to a packed-out audience at Assembly Hall. They promise some mulled wine and oodles of festive cheer alongside their entertaining literary ramble. The improbable duo will also pay a visit to this year’s Glasgow International Comedy Festival next March. 

Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon said, ‘Books are magic. Portable magic, according to Stephen King. And like magic, books build bridges. In our case, an improbable friendship between a passionate politician and Scotland's queen of crime. Our love of books is what first drew us together and it remains the mainstay of that friendship. Every conversation we have eventually meanders round to the books we are reading, what we've been enjoying, what has been making us laugh or cry, or keeping us on the edge of our seats. And now we want to share the love. 

‘First up, festive fun at Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms with two stellar mystery guests; then off to the Glasgow International Comedy Festival where we’ll be joined by two top names from the comedy world. We’ll be interrogating our guests about the books that shaped them and why they love reading. Revelations galore await as we explore the love and laughter between the covers.’ 

McDermid and Sturgeon join a packed line-up for Edinburgh’s Christmas, including Jason Byrne, the drag-parody show Swamplesque and more.