In The St Hilda's Spotlight - Martyn Waites

Name: - Martyn Waites (AKA C.B Everett)

Job: - Author

Introduction: -

Martyn Waites is the author of the Stephen Larkin, Joe Donovan and Tom Killgannon series. In 2006 the first book in his Joe Donovan series The Mercy Seat was shortlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel dagger. Under the pseudonym Tania Carver he wrote eight books in the Brennan and Esposito series. The first book in the series Little Bones was shortlisted in 2010 for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2013, he was chosen to write Angel of Death, the official sequel to Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black. In 2014 he received the Grand Prix du Roman Noir Award for his novel Born Under Punches which was the fourth book in his Stephen Larkin Series.

Under the name C B Everett, he is currently the author of two books. The most recent being The Final Chapter.

Current book? (This can either be the current book that you are reading or writing or both)

The current one for writing is the new CB Everett, Destroying Angels, which I’ve just finished. Literally, just. And for reading: Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay which is absolutely fantastic.

Why do you think anti-heroes are so interesting to readers?

In the same way that villains are always popular (certainly with actors, much more fun to play), anti-heroes appeal to the side of human nature that lets us get away with things, with not being hidebound by sticking to the rules. They may do the right thing, but it’ll usually be for the wrong reasons. They’re not big on altruism. 

Which two anti-heroes or enemies would you invite to dinner and why?

Hannibal Lector, as long as he wasn’t doing the cooking, and Dexter from Jeff Lindsay’s novels and the TV series. I reckon I’d be safe with them and if Hannibal was bringing the wine, I’d know I’d be drinking something good.

How do you relax?

 How do I what? That’s like being asked what hobbies I have. None. Everything I do is for work, or can be construed to be for work. Reading? Work. Watching a film or TV? Work. Going for a bike ride? Work, if it’s helping me think about writing. The only thing I do that could be classed as relaxing is making models because that uses a different part of the brain and recharges you. Ready to work. 

Which anti hero would you like to be on your side in a difficult situation?

Again, probably Hannibal Lector. He has immaculate manners so if I were to point out that someone was being disrespectful then he would have them. I’d probably feel safe with him.

If you were to write a book involving an anti-hero where would you set it and why?

Already have. See below.

How would you describe your latest published book?

It’s The Final Chapter by my new pseudonym CB Everett. In the words of The Guardian, it’s ‘a metafictional tour de force’. A new novel has appeared by a hugely successful writer who disappeared fifteen years ago.  The writer wants his old friend, CB Everett, to edit the book and make notes. Everett soon realises that the novel contains clues as to where the writer is now and what happened to him. It’s a novel within a novel and brilliant fun to read.

With Bad Apples: crime fiction’s enemies and anti-heroes theme at St Hilda's this year, who are you three favourite anti-heroes?

Well, since I’m writing about them I’ve got to include George Harvey Bone from Patrick Hamilton’s Hangover Square and Mr Gorse from Patrick Hamilton’s Gorse Trilogy. Third? Probably Dexter again.

Which 3 films or television series featuring anti-heroes would you rewatch and why?

This will come as no surprise, but Hannibal and Dexter (obviously) and The Shield featuring Michael Chiklis as corrupt cop Vic Mackey. It’s kind of slipped off the radar now but it’s one of the best TV series ever made. I’m due a rewatch.

What are you looking forward to at St Hilda's?

Having a laugh with my mates!

The Final Chapter by C.B Everett (Simon & Schuster)

A missing author. A lost manuscript. A final chapter that could reveal the truth. Ten years ago, bestselling literary novelist Jonathan Durward vanished without a trace - leaving behind no body, no answers, and no final book. Now that missing manuscript has finally surfaced. But it isn’t the masterpiece anyone expected. It’s a spy novel: pulpy, outlandish, and packed with clichés, tradecraft and Bond-style twists. Jonathan’s former publisher asks his closest friend, fellow author C. B. Everett, to annotate the novel and separate fact from fiction. But as C. B. reads, he begins to spot unsettling echoes of real people, real events - and perhaps the truth about Jonathan’s disappearance. Because hidden inside this strange, slippery thriller may be a confession. Or a clue. Or a trap. As C. B. is drawn deeper into the mystery, one question becomes impossible to ignore: did Jonathan vanish - or was he written out of the story?

Information about programme, and ticket sales including online tickets can be found here.

Over on Instagram there is a chance to win a pair of online tickets. Information can be found here.

#HCFW26

In the St Hilda's Spotlight - Hallie Rubenhold

 Name:- Hallie Rubenhold

 Job:- Historian, author and historical adviser for period drama.

 Website:- https://www.hallierubenhold.com

 X:- @HallieRubenhold

 Instagram:- @hallierubenhold

 Facebook:- @HallieRubenholdBooks

Introduction:- Hallie Rubenhold is the author of eight books.  Her 2019 book The Five which told the story about the lives of the women who were murdered by Jack the Ripper won the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction, was the Hay Festival Book of the Year. It was shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize, the CWA Non-Fiction Gold Dagger, the HWA (Historical Writers Association) Crown for non-fiction, the Agatha Award for Non-Fiction and the Anthony Award for Non-Fiction. Her 2025 book Story of a Murder which examines the historical true crime story of Dr Crippen and how he was brought to justice won the Clue Award for True Crime Book of the year and was an instant Sunday Times bestseller.

Current book? (This can either be the current book that you are reading or writing or both)

At the moment I'm immersed in Said The Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa. What a ride! This is a work of experimental non-fiction about the author's relationship to those who once lived in a now derelict asylum in Cork. What she writes about communing with the dead through documents in the archives has given me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes. 

Why do you think anti-heroes are so interesting to readers?

Anti-heroes remind us that people are never entirely good or bad. It pleases us to believe in binaries, but history has taught me that human beings are complicated, contradictory and often shaped by circumstance. We are drawn to anti-heroes because they force us to wrestle with uncomfortable questions about morality, justice and empathy.

Which two anti-heroes or enemies would you invite to dinner and why?

I'm not sure having a pair of enemies at my table would make for an enjoyable evening! The tension would be terrible and I doubt I'd learn anything about either of them, because people rarely drop their guard when they're in the presence of others they don't trust. Having said that, I would have loved to have met Ethel Le Neve, Dr Crippen's mistress and accomplice - and maybe to get her into the same room as Belle Elmore, Crippen's wife (and future victim). Watching Ethel squirm would be fascinating.

 How do you relax?

I try to take a walk every day, no matter what the weather. As a writer, it's so necessary to step away from the computer and to engage with the physical world. Holidays are also essential. I rarely go on holiday in the UK because I always end up working! There is something about going somewhere culturally different that takes me out of my life and allows me to switch off. 

Which anti-hero would you like to be on your side in a difficult situation?

Daenerys Targaryen (who is the main fictional character in George R.R. Martin's book series A Song of Ice and Fire and the TV adaptation Game of Thrones).

If you were to write a book involving an anti-hero, where would you set it and why?

I'm dying to write a novel set in the American frontier. I'm so fascinated by what the harsh and relentless environment did to people. Those who went west in the 19th century were shaped by a very conservative, Victorian set of values and it fascinates me to see what happened when those very rigid ideologies were tested by the need to survive. Suddenly women weren't just subservient wives and mothers, they had to pull ploughs, build log cabins, trudge miles through sub-zero temperatures. People had to drop their prejudices when they had to cooperate with neighbours who didn't speak their language or share their culture, yet doing that often caused an internal struggle. These are the very conditions that create anti-heroes and force characters to evolve, for better or for worse. 

How would you describe your latest published book?

Story of a Murder is the true story behind one of Britain's most notorious crimes: the Crippen case. Rather than retelling it in the familiar way, which either centres the murderer or the detective who caught him, I broaden the lens and examine the lives of the people caught up in the case. As is the case with every crime and every trial, everyone has a version of events. I've approached writing the book as a historian approaches an episode in the past - I've interrogated everything, peeled back every layer and as a result seen things that others who have previously written about the case haven't.

With Bad Apples: crime fiction's enemies and anti-heroes theme at St Hilda's this year, who are your three favourite anti-heroes?

I think any woman who has ever held a position of power has been framed as an anti-hero, from Medieval queens to Nell Gwynn, to Theresa May! Women are not supposed to be outspoken, cunning or too clever. I'm not sure I can really choose from among them - but any woman in the past who has struggled to get by, made difficult and possibly even ruthless choices in the face of her own survival is someone who fascinates me.

Which three films or television series featuring anti-heroes would you rewatch and why?

Succession - this is the ultimate anti-hero watch! The Roys are all so unpleasant, but each of them seems to find a way to do something redemptive at some point, even if it is only for a brief moment.

White Lotus- Like Succession, this is one of my favourite series. The complexities of these characters makes me come back for more every time. Some characters are more detestable than others, but no one in any of the three seasons is perfect. Somehow acknowledging their flaws makes it all feel more real and also more entertaining.

Game of Thrones - Extraordinary plotting and character development aside, I feel this is one of the best depictions of the pre-modern world ever to make it to the screen! Even though it's pure fantasy, all of the structures, roles and rules of the past have been perfectly recreated. It really allows us to understand and empathise with the circumstances that make characters appear 'bad'. 

What are you looking forward to at St Hilda's?

Festivals are wonderful because they bring together readers, writers and ideas in equal measure. I'm particularly looking forward to discussing the complexities of crime writing with fellow authors, hearing fresh perspectives on anti-heroes, and, perhaps most of all, meeting readers. Those conversations are often the highlight of any festival.

Story of a Murder: The Wives, The Mistress and Dr Crippen by Hallie Rubenhold. (Transworld Publishers Ltd)

On 1 February, 1910, vivacious music-hall performer, Belle Elmore, suddenly vanished from her north London home, causing alarm among her circle of female friends, the entertainers of the Music Hall Ladies’ Guild who demanded an immediate investigation.

They could not have known what they would provoke: the unearthing of a gruesome secret, followed by a fevered manhunt for the prime suspect: Belle’s husband, medical fraudster, Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen. Hiding in the shadows of this evergreen tale is Crippen’s typist and lover, Ethel Le Neve – was she really just ‘an innocent young girl’ in thrall to a powerful older man as so many people have since reported?

Information about programme and ticket sales including on line tickets can be found here.

Over on Instagram there is a chance to win a pair of online tickets. Information can be found here.

#HCFW26

Photo © Sarah Blackie

In The St Hilda's Spotlight - Simon Mason

Name:- Simon Mason

Job:- Author

X:- @simonmasonbooks

Introduction: Simon Mason is the author of Juvenile and adult fiction. His 2022 novel A Killing in Novemberwhich was the first in his D I Wilkins series set in New Hinksey, Oxford was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and was a Sunday Times Crime Book of the month along with the second book in the series The Broken Afternoon (2023). In 2024 Missing Person: Alice the first in the Finder series was published. He also commissioned Barry Forshaw to edit the excellent and prize-winning two volume Encyclopedia of British Crime Writing (2009). His most recent book is The Dangerous Stranger (2026) the sixth book in his D I Wilkins series.

Current book? (This can either be the current book that you are reading or writing or both)

I’ve belatedly discovered Daniel Kehlmann, the astonishingly entertaining but erudite German writer, whose novels Tyll – featuring the eponymous folkloric trickster at large during the seventeenth-century wars of religion – and The Director – based on the life of Expressionist cinema director P. W. Pabst – have been my most thought-provoking and fun reads this year. 

Why do you think anti-heroes are so interesting to readers

We’re all anti-heroes, I think that’s it; and as we connect with that fact through reading about them, it produces in us all the most profound emotions: shame, excitement, fear, anger, guilt and so on.

Which two anti-heroes or enemies would you invite to dinner and why?

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (squabbling friends rather than enemies, and funny).

How do you relax?

I watch quite a lot of boring television, to be fair.

Which anti hero would you like to be on your side in a difficult situation.

Long John Silver. It’s important, when you get into those little jams, to have a stone-cold killer at your side.

If you were to write a book involving an anti-hero where would you set it and why?

I’ve always wanted to write a novel about the famously bad-tempered Sheffield United goalkeeper Fatty Foulkes of the early 1900s.

How would you describe your latest published book?

A bugger to write. I’ve been told not to keep saying that. So . . . adventures of a detective pantomime horse.

With Bad Apples: crime fiction’s enemies and anti-heroes theme at St Hilda's this year, who are you three favourite anti-heroes

Brer Rabbit, Becky Sharp and the aforementioned Long John Silver.

Which 3 films or television series featuring anti-heroes would you rewatch and why.

Matt Damon’s Ripley (at least partly for Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Freddie Miles); the 1998 TV version of Vanity Fair (for Natasha Little’s Becky Sharp); Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (for them).

What are you looking forward to at St Hilda's?

Company.

The Dangerous Stranger by Simon Mason (Quercus Publishing)

On a warm and pleasant evening in Oxford, gentle city of poets and scholars, rioters outside a hotel full of asylum seekers set a young refugee on fire. The city - the country - convulses in shock. Is this who we are? It's international news of the very worst kind, and the Chief Constable demands immediate and exemplary action in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The detectives leading the investigation fill him with misgivings, however: DIs Ryan and Ray Wilkins (no relation), Thames Valley's detective pantomime horse, one Oxford-educated, the other Oxford-trailer park. He doesn't understand why they work together. 'Do they even get on?' 'Somehow that doesn't seem necessary,' their Superintendent replies. Who burned the boy alive? Was it a far-right extremist? Was it an ordinary person who had simply gone along to watch and got caught up in the emotion? Could it even be one of the children who were there? Deploying a range of investigative skills, some standard, some unconventional and some frankly nuts, the Wilkinses do what they do: results with chaos. But when they discover that the victim was not an asylum seeker after all, or even a resident of the hotel, the whole investigation kicks into a completely different configuration. 

Information about programme and ticket sales including on line tickets can be found here.

Over on Instagram there is a chance to win a pair of online tickets. Information can be found here.

#HCFW26