THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL 2024 LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AS IT REVEALS 21ST ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME LINE-UP CELEBRATING NEWCOMERS AND TITANS OF THE GENRE
Festival Dates: 18 – 21 July 2024 www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com #TheakstonsCrime
Tuesday 14th May: Harrogate International Festivals today revealed the full programme for this year’s 21st Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the world’s most prestigious celebration of crime fiction and thriller writing, at a special reception at Hachette in London.
The Festival, which takes place at Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel from 18-21 July, has been curated by 2024’s Festival Chair, bestselling crime novelist Ruth Ware, and reflects a Festival looking firmly to the future while celebrating the rich heritage of the crime fiction world. From cutting edge AI and technology’s impact on criminal investigation, to the complexities and capabilities of neurodivergent sleuths; from the shadowy world of spies and twisty whodunnits, to boundary-pushing psychological thrillers, there is plenty to surprise and thrill in this year’s programme.
Programme highlights include an all-star lineup of acclaimed writers and global bestsellers including Mick Herron, Louise Candlish, M.W. Craven, James Comey, Lucy Foley, Femi Kayode and Saima Mir joining Special Guest headliners Chris Carter, Jane Casey, Elly Griffiths, Peter James, Erin Kelly, Vaseem Khan, Dorothy Koomson, Shari Lapena, Abir Mukherjee, Liz Nugent and Richard Osman, the crowning of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and the much anticipated Critics’ New Blood panel which showcases four talented debut novelists. This year’s cohort, selected by a panel of the UK’s leading crime fiction critics, are Jonny Sweet, Martta Kaukonen, Claire Coughlan and Colin Walsh. For aspiring writers, Creative Thursday offers an immersive day of workshops and talks led by bestselling writers and industry experts, with the unique opportunity to pitch work in the ‘Dragon’s Pen’.
A Festival for everyone, the evening events offer a host of opportunities for readers to engage with their favourite writers and include the hotly contested Late Night Quiz hosted by Val McDermid and Mark Billingham and the highly anticipated Confessions of a Crime Writer where well-known authors disclose deliciously dreadful secrets from their past and the audience decide if they should be forgiven, or not. Two hot-ticket Author Dinners will see readers join forces with crime writers Kia Abdullah, Chris Brookmyre, Sunny Singh, Imran Mahmood, Lesley Thomson, Syd Moore, John Sutherland, Trevor Wood, Araminta Hall and many more to solve a murder mystery with a twist.
Ruth Ware, bestselling author and 2024 Festival Programming Chair said:
“After so many months of plotting and planning, I’m thrilled with the incredible showcase of crime writing talent the Festival committee has put together. From newcomers to titans of the genre, from cosy crime to hard-boiled whodunnits, from psychological thrillers to forensic procedurals, there really is something for everyone at this year’s Festival. But for me the true joy of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival has always come down to one thing: the sheer pleasure of being among so many fellow book lovers, in a festival that puts the reader at the heart of everything. If you’re a booklover, this Festival is for you.”
Simon Theakston, Chairman of T&R Theakston Ltd, said:
“This year’s Festival celebrates crime fiction’s rich heritage while looking firmly to the future of the genre, with extraordinary debut writers appearing alongside legends of their craft, and boundary-pushing events exploring bold new ideas. As an avid crime fiction fan and reader, as well as headline sponsor, I am looking forward to an unforgettable Festival.”
Sharon Canavar, Chief Executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:
“The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival marks its twenty-first anniversary this year and we are incredibly proud of this world class event which is so warmly anticipated by authors, visitors and locals alike. Ruth has put readers at the centre of her brilliant programme and there is so much for everyone to discover and enjoy. Whether you are a reader or a writer we look forward to welcoming you to the Festival in July.”
Tickets for individual events are on general sale from 10am on Thursday 16 May. Classic Weekend Break Packages, Author Dinners and tickets for Creative Thursday are on sale now. To book tickets, please call +44(0)1423 562 303 or email info@harrogate-festival.org.uk. More information about tickets and packages can be found here.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS:
THURSDAY 18th JULY:
Creative Thursday: Crime Fiction Writing Workshops
An immersive day of workshops and talks for aspiring crime writers with bestselling authors including Isabel Ashdown, Penny Batchelor, Mark Billingham, Adele Parks, William Shaw, K.L. Slater, Ruth Ware, Russell Wate, and publishing experts including N.J. Cooper, Sam Eades, Francesca Pathak, Phoebe Morgan, Jon Wood and Madeleine Milburn.
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
A celebratory event as the winner of crime fiction’s most prestigious prize is announced, with the inaugural McDermid Award for debut fiction and the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award also presented.
FRIDAY 19TH JULY:
Special Guests in Conversation: Abir Mukherjee and Vaseem Khan
Crime fiction authors Vaseem Khan and Abir Mukherjee talk about their latest novels, Vaseem’s insightful thriller Death of a Lesser God, and Abir’s gripping stand-alone Hunted.
PANEL: The Past is a Foreign Country
Authors S.J. Parris, Ambrose Parry, Amy Chua and Anna Mazzola discuss murder most horrid – and historical – with chair Laura Shepherd-Robinson.
PANEL: Welcome to the Mind Palace
Authors Stef Penney, Nita Prose, Joanna Wallace and Sarah Hilary celebrate neurodivergence and the complexities and capabilities of minds build differently, chaired by N.J. Cooper.
PANEL: Cops and Robbers
Writers of detective fiction M.W. Craven, Simon Mason, Christie J. Newport and Nadine Matheson put the police under the microscope with chair Mark Billingham.
PANEL: The Letter of the Law
From courtroom wrangles to breathless whodunnits, some of today’s best crime writers have their roots in the legal system. James Comey, Harriet Tyce, Kia Abdullah and Tony Kent will discuss what makes lawyers great storytellers with chair Imran Mahmood.
Special Guests in Conversation: Shari Lapena and Liz Nugent
Internationally bestselling authors Shari Lapena from Canada and Liz Nugent from Ireland reveal the tricks to crafting twisty thrillers and creating uniquely memorable characters.
Author Dinner
A unique opportunity for crime fans to take part in a murder mystery with host crime writers Kia Abdullah, Heidi Amsinck, M.J. Arlidge, Penny Batchelor, Katherine Faulkner, Heather J. Fitt, Dugald Bruce Lockhart, Louise Hare, Jackie Kabler, Simon Marlowe, John Marrs, Rachel North, Nadine Matheson, Imran Mahmood, Helen Phifer, Rod Reynolds, Tim Sullivan, Lesley Thomson, B.P. Walter, Bridget Walsh.
Special Guest: Peter James
Celebrating his milestone twentieth Roy Grace book One Of Us Is Dead, Peter James will be in conversation with TV presenter Louise Minchin.
Confessions of a Crime Writer
Favourite crime writers including, Mark Billingham, Gytha Lodge, Val McDermid, Richard Osman and Luca Veste, confess dark and dreadful secrets from their past as the audience decides if they should be forgiven – or not!
SATURDAY 20TH JULY:
Special Guest: Chris Carter
Former clinical psychologist and professional musician Chris Carter, bestselling author of the Robert Hunter series, will be interviewed by crime fiction critic Lisa Howells.
Psycho Thrillers
Explore the genre that keeps getting darker and more ingenious, with boundary-pushing psychological thriller writers A.A. Chaudhuri, Abigail Dean, C.M. Ewan and T.M. Logan, interviewed by Luca Veste.
Critics’ New Blood
Showcasing four outstanding debut novelists, selected this year by a panel of the UK’s top crime fiction critics, actor and writer Jonny Sweet, Finnish bestseller Martta Kaukonen and Irish writers Claire Coughlan and Colin Walsh will be in conversation with Festival Programming Chair Ruth Ware.
I Spy
Masters of the genre Mick Herron, Ava Glass, Terry Hayes and Kim Sherwood will discuss all things espionage with chair Charlotte Philby.
From AI to PI: Detectives in a ChatGPT World
Explore mind-bending innovation, AI and post-apocalyptic worlds with writers putting the ‘tech’ into ‘detection’, Sarah Moorhead, Helen Fields, Jo Callaghan and Stuart Turton, with chair Ajay Chowdhury.
Special Guest: Dorothy Koomson
Bestselling thriller writer and ‘Queen of the Big Reveal,’ Dorothy Koomson will be interviewed about her latest novel Every Smile You Fake by Magic FM’s Bookworm Natasha Knight.
Author Dinner
‘Who dunnit?’ A second murder mystery dinner with authors Suzy Aspley, Kate Bendelow, Lauren Beukes, Chris Brookmyre, Emily Freud, Araminta Hall, Peter Hanington, David Hewson, Jane Jesmond, Alex Kane, Ruth Kelly, Bonnie MacBird, Syd Moore, Kristina Perez, Sunny Singh, John Sutherland, Russ Thomas, M.J. White, Michael Wood and Trevor Wood.
The Tangled Web
Plotters extraordinaire Lucy Foley, Louise Candlish, Catherine Ryan Howard and Jack Jordan reveal how they craft the perfect whodunnit and what makes for a truly killer reveal. Chaired by C.L. Taylor.
Special Guest: Richard Osman
Global bestseller Richard Osman will discuss his much-loved Thursday Murder Club novels and previews his new series We Solve Murders, interviewed by Festival Programming Chair Ruth Ware.
Late Night Quiz
Join popular quizmasters Val McDermid and Mark Billingham as teams of authors and readers go head-to-head in a battle of crime fiction wits.
SUNDAY 21ST JULY:
Special Guests in Conversation: Erin Kelly and Jane Casey
Jane Casey introduces her new Maeve Kerrigan novel After the Fire in conversation with Erin Kelly, whose latest thriller is The House of Mirrors, as they discuss crafting addictive mysteries and creating compelling characters.
The Lie of the Land
Saima Mir, Ian Moore, Femi Kayode and Chris Whitaker discuss the importance of place and identity in crime fiction, with chair C.S. Robertson.
Special Guest: Elly Griffiths
Festival favourite Elly Griffiths discuss her new standalone mystery The Last Word with Stig Abell.
Full programme details are available here.