For journalist, mum, and now author Kirsty Lockwood, launching a debut novel felt like “a wedding without a groom”.

“It’s been absolutely surreal,” says the 36-year-old Fifer, who previously wrote columns and political commentary for The Courier, The Herald, The Observer and more under the name Kirsty Strickland.

“For a year and a half, it’s just been me and my book, so it’s felt really strange to see it fly the nest and go out into the world.”

Between friends and family flocking to celebrate the recent release of her crime thriller We Know What You Did, and positive early reviews, it’s no wonder the writer is sporting a bride-like glow of achievement when we speak.

Inspired by waves of online sleuthing in cases like the late Nicola Bulley’s, the book itself follows Odette, 19, and Amos, 80, who have captured the hearts of thousands online with their unlikely, intergenerational friendship.

Then when Amos is brutally murdered during a livestream and Odette is filmed covered in his blood, the teenager’s fans turn on her and a media storm ensues.

But throughout it all, Odette won’t say a word in her own defence.

Nominated for the 2026 Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year award and dubbed “a magnificent achievement” by former first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, the novel examines what happens when the public get involved in criminal investigations.

As more reviews roll in, we discuss readers’ evolving fascination with crime stories in the TikTok age, the headache of choosing a pen name, Kirsty’s move away from columns, and how she almost missed her own book launch.

Author ‘absconded’ from hospital to bookshop

“I really should have Googled what a lumbar puncture was before I went into the hospital,” laughs Kirsty when we finally meet after several rearranged Zoom calls – illness on my end, hospital admission on hers.

What started as a simple check after she experienced balance........

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