Crime writer ____ McDermid

Latest answer — August 22, 2026

7 Down

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Clue explained

VAL is the first name of crime writer Val McDermid, a Scottish author known for crime and thriller novels. The blank after the writer’s description asks for her given name.

Clue type:
Nickname or title
A portrait of crime writer Val McDermid.

Telegraph Mini Crossword

This clue's Saturday, August 22, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Grain used as a breakfast cereal
  2. 4Winter sports equipment
  3. 6Immature insect
  4. 8Consume
  5. 9Land surrounded by water

Down

  1. 1Norwegian capital
  2. 2Otherwise called (abbr.)
  3. 3Becomes fatigued
  4. 5Not on time
  5. 7Crime writer ____ McDermid

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Grain used as a breakfast cereal — Answer: OATS. Hint: A bowl of this whole-grain staple makes a classic morning meal 🥣
  2. 4. Winter sports equipment — Answer: SKI. Hint: You might strap these on before gliding downhill 🎿
  3. 6. Immature insect — Answer: LARVA. Hint: This early life stage often wriggles before adulthood 🐛
  4. 8. Consume — Answer: EAT. Hint: What you do when you take a bite of something 🍽️
  5. 9. Land surrounded by water — Answer: ISLE. Hint: Picture a tiny piece of land with water all around it 🏝️

Down

  1. 1. Norwegian capital — Answer: OSLO. Hint: This Scandinavian capital sits at the head of a fjord 🇳🇴
  2. 2. Otherwise called (abbr.) — Answer: AKA. Hint: Use this abbreviation when introducing a second name 🏷️
  3. 3. Becomes fatigued — Answer: TIRES. Hint: Long exertion gradually leaves someone feeling worn out 😓
  4. 5. Not on time — Answer: LATE. Hint: Arriving after the scheduled moment earns this description ⏰
  5. 7. Crime writer ____ McDermid — Answer: VAL. Hint: This crime novelist has a concise three-letter first name 📚

The answer to “Crime writer ____ McDermid” in the The Telegraph Mini crossword is VAL — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Mini crossword on August 22, 2026 at 7-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Crime writer ____ McDermid” answer

VAL (3 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's VAL.

When else has “Crime writer ____ McDermid” appeared?

The Telegraph Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 22, 2026 (most recent) → VAL. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Crime writer ____ McDermid”?

The answer is VAL, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Mini crossword on August 22, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Crime writer ____ McDermid”?

3 letters: VAL.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Telegraph Mini crossword on August 22, 2026, at 7-Down.

Can “Crime writer ____ McDermid” have a different answer?

Yes — The Telegraph Mini sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of today's Telegraph Mini answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the Telegraph Mini answers page.

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