Hey hey, book hunters—Kendra Cassidy here, ready to drag you into the dark, thrilling, and just-plain-good storytelling of Val Penny—one of my favorite crime writers who proves that the heart of a mystery often lies in ordinary lives made extraordinary.

Val Penny is an American author now living in Southwest Scotland, penning two gripping crime series that’ll keep you checking over your shoulder long after you close the book. Her first claim to chilling fame: the DI Hunter Wilson Crime Thrillers, beginning with Hunter’s Chase, set against the moody, atmospheric streets of Edinburgh. Her second act? The Jane Renwick Thrillers, starring one of the most complex and capable women you’ll meet on the page—and trust me, she’s got shadows in her past.

Val didn’t pop into crime fiction fully formed. She’s got a background that’s just as rich: a Law degree from Edinburgh, an MSc through Napier University, and a life filled with more “normal” jobs than most heroes in thrillers have villains. She’s battled illness, turned to reading and blogging when energy was limited, and eventually let her mind wander back to stories she’d always wanted to tell.

Books of hers are bingeable. Hunter’s Chase, Hunter’s Revenge, The First Cut, Hunter’s Blood... these aren’t cozy armchair mysteries. No—they’re streets slick with rain, secrets held tight, detectives digging where the darkness tries to hide. And Val balances it all with a grit that says: you can’t scare me, I’ve walked through fire (sometimes literally).

So settle in, grab a blanket, dim the lights. Because we’re about to dig into what makes Val Penny’s stories pulse with menace, empathy, and that addictive pull of turning the page just one more time.

Where to follow Val Penny (because if you love crime & grit, you’ll want to stalk her updates):

🌐 Author Website: valpenny.com

 📚 Goodreads: Val Penny on Goodreads

 📸 Instagram: @valerieepenny

 🐦 Twitter/X: @valeriepenny

Get ready—this one’s going to sting with truth, surprise with plot twists, and leave you craving more.

A book you’re looking forward to release (by someone else)?

The Night Stairs the new book by Erin Kelly. It is a psychological thriller about school girls fainting at an elite boarding school. The novel is due to be released in July 2026. Erin has been most supportive of my writing and I always look forward to reading her work.

A book that pleasantly surprised you?

I recently read None of this is True by Lisa Jewell. 

It is beautifully crafted and delightfully twisted. A great read that I highly recommend.

Coffee, tea, or cacao?

Tea. Usually Earl Grey, Green or Lemon.

I was being treated for cancer and couldn’t do very much because I was exhausted and had no immune system. I read books and commented on them. Eventually, my long-suffering husband asked me, “If you know so much about what makes a good book, why don’t you write one?”

Challenge accepted. Hunter’s Chase was born.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

When I worked in the real world, I always wanted a job where the hours were 3pm-8pm with an hour for dinner. Now I have that.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I wrote my first book to entertain my younger sister when I was eight. It was a family adventure called The Andersons and illustrated with original drawings. The book was written in an old school jotter,  I still have it somewhere. 

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I’m a sociable person and enjoy spending time with family and friends. The conversations often throw up ideas or scenarios that I can use in my writing. I also like to travel, swim, go to the theatre and listen to live music, just not all at the same time.

I have written nine fiction books, one non-fiction and contributed to five charity anthologies. It is not possible to choose a favourite of the books I have written, it would be like choosing a favourite child! However, I do remember another author telling me early in my career, “You better like your first book, because you’ll be promoting it for the rest of your life.”

What do you think makes a good story?

Characters that interest readers and are dealing with issues that captivate and excite them. The readers have to keep wanting to turn to the next page and read on.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a ballet dancer or run a candy store. Until either of these dreams come true, I guess I’ll keep writing books.

What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

Vanity publishers which charge inexperienced authors a great deal of money to publish their book. 

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

There are many. However the most common are probably:

1) Thinking they can save money by self-editing their book or getting a friend to read it through.

2) Believing they will strike it rich when their first book is published.

3) Failing to promote their book.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

I did consider using a pseudonym, but my mentor, Peter Robinson, told me that if I was proud of my work I should write under my own name and I have always done so.

Are you traditionally or self published? 

I am traditionally published. My publishers are SpellBound Books Ltd based in London, England

What do you have coming next?

My new book, A Fighting Chance, has just been launched. It is the second in my series of Jane Renwick Thrillers. 

I am now working on North by North East, a Jane Renwick Thriller to be published early next year and my next Hunter Wilson Crime Thriller is Hunter’s Festival, to be published late summer next year to coincide with the International Festival of Arts that takes place in Edinburgh each year.

Well, there you have it—our sit-down with Val Penny, crime writer with grit in her pen and Edinburgh shadows in her stories. We’ve talked about her journey, her inspirations, and the way her characters grab the wheel when she least expects it. And now you know why I can’t stop reading her thrillers.

If you want to keep up with Val and her ever-growing roster of page-turners, here’s where you can find her:

🌐 Website: valpenny.com

 📚 Goodreads: Val Penny on Goodreads

 📸 Instagram: @valerieepenny

 🐦 Twitter/X: @valeriepenny

And let me tell you—her newest book, A Fighting Chance, is a knockout. Rival drug cartels clash, Detective Jane Renwick is caught in the middle, and Stirling’s streets are heating up with betrayal, secrets, and blood. The body count rises, and justice hangs by a thread. This isn’t just another case—it’s personal, dangerous, and utterly addictive.

So don’t wait—give yourself A Fighting Chance and grab your copy today: https://amzn.to/3JYcM1M.