Crime Writers’ Association Announces 2026 Dagger Awards Longlists

 The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) reveal the longlists for the prestigious 2026 Dagger Awards, celebrating the very best in crime writing.

Created in 1955, the world-famous CWA Daggers are the oldest awards in the genre and have been synonymous with quality crime writing for over half a century.

This year’s longlists showcase the breadth of talent from internationally bestselling authors to emerging debuts.

Nadine Matheson, Chair of the CWA, said: “Congratulations to every author who appears on this year’s Dagger Awards longlist. A longlist recognition is no small thing and speaks to the dedication, craft, and ambition that goes into every book. This year's longlist also reflects something that excites me deeply as Chair of the CWA; the extraordinary range and evolution of crime writing today. The genre continues to grow in breadth, in voice, and in ambition, and this longlist is a testament to that.”

The coveted KAA Gold Dagger, sponsored by Kevin Anderson & Associates, is awarded for the best crime novel of the year. The longlist includes Abigail Dean, longlisted for The Death of Us, a powerful psychological novel also longlisted in the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and Twisted Dagger categories.

Also longlisted are British crime writers Vaseem Khan with Quantum of Menace, and Laura Shepherd-Robinson for The Art of a Lie, alongside international authors, James Lee Burke, and the late Martin Cruz Smith.

The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger honours the best thriller of the year. The longlist includes global bestseller Karin Slaughter, alongside Robert Crais and Julie Clark. The Historical Dagger features acclaimed writers such as Graeme Macrae Burnet and Ariel Lawhon on the 2026 longlist.

The Twisted Dagger for psychological suspense longlists bestselling authors Lisa Jewell, Alice Feeney, and Sarah Pinborough. The Whodunnit Dagger for books with an intellectual challenge at the heart of a good mystery, sees SJ Bennett, Clare Mackintosh and Guy Morpuss in the running.

The global reach of the genre is showcased in the Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger. International authors longlisted include Antti Tuomainen and Kotaro Isaka. Their translators are also recognised in the award, which is sponsored in honour of Dolores Jakubowski.

Maxim Jakubowski, Chair of the CWA Daggers’ committee, said: "Once again the Daggers longlists come up with a tasty menu full of surprise inclusions and omissions, established authors and a diversity of newcomers, evidence yet again of the independence of thought of our various juries."

The ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction includes The CIA Book Club by Charlie English and The Spy in the Archive by Gordon Corera, reflecting the enduring fascination with espionage and true crime.

The Short Story Dagger features crime-writing heavyweights such as Denise Mina and Peter Swanson and is one of the few high-profile awards celebrating short-form storytelling.

The Dagger in the Library, voted for by librarians, recognises authors whose bodies of work have resonated with readers over time. This year’s longlist includes bestselling names such as the Death in Paradise creator Robert Thorogood, Paula Hawkins, Reverend Richard Coles, and Abir Mukherjee.

The CWA Daggers are also known for providing a platform for emerging talent, with the much-anticipated ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger and the Emerging Author Dagger competition, sponsored by Fiction Feedback; over two dozen past winners and shortlisted debut authors have signed publishing deals to date.

The Best Crime and Mystery Publisher category recognises the publishers behind the genre’s success, with leading imprints including Faber & Faber, Pan Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster among those longlisted.

The CWA Diamond Dagger, sponsored by Karen Baugh Menuhin, is awarded to an author whose crime-writing career has been marked by sustained excellence, is announced in early spring and in 2026 was awarded to Mark Billingham.

The shortlists will be released on 28 May, and the winners announced at the CWA gala dinner awards night in July.

The longlists in full:                                     

CWA KAA Gold Dagger

Carnival of Lies by D.V. Bishop (Pan Macmillan/Macmillan)

Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie by James Lee Burke (Orion Fiction/Orion Fiction)

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby (Headline)        

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (HarperCollins/Hemlock Press)

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson (Penguin Random House/Michael Joseph)

Quantum of Menace by Vaseem Khan (Bonnier Books UK/Zaffre)

The Frozen by Ariel Lawhon (River Swift Press)          

The Rush by Beth Lewis (Profile Books/Viper)

A Voice in The Night by Simon Mason (Quercus/riverrun)

The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney (Bonnier Books UK/Zaffre)

Hotel Ukraine by Martin Cruz Smith (Simon & Schuster UK) 

The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (Pan Macmillan/Mantle)

A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith (Bloomsbury Publishing/Raven Books)

Ian Fleming Steel Dagger

The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani (Profile Books/Viper)

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (Bonnier Books UK/Zaffre)

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby (Headline)

The Big Empty by Robert Crais (Simon & Schuster UK)

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (HarperCollins/Hemlock Press)

The Chemist by A A Dhand (HarperCollins/HQ Fiction)

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni (Amazon Publishing/ Thomas & Mercer)

A Sting in her Tale by Mark Ezra (Bedford Square Publishers/ No Exit Press)

Burying Jericho by William Hussey (Bonnier Books UK/ Zaffre)

Such Quiet Girls by Noelle Ihli (Pan Macmillan/ Pan)

The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney (Bonnier Books UK/Zaffre)

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter (HarperCollins Publishers)

ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction

The Devil Takes Bitcoin by Jake Adelstein (Scribe)      

Shadow of The Bridge: The Delphi Murders and The Dark Side of The American Heartland by Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee (Pegasus Books/Pegasus Crime)

Saffie by David Collins (Silvertail Books)        

The Spy in the Archive: How One Man Tried to Kill the KGB by Gordon Corera (HarperCollins/ William Collins)

The Murder Game by John Curran (HarperCollins/Collins Crime Club)

The CIA Book Club: The Best-Kept Secret of the Cold War by Charlie English (HarperCollins/ William Collins)

Murderland by Caroline Fraser (Little, Brown Book Group/Fleet)

The Einstein Vendetta: Hitler, Mussolini, And A True Story of Murder by Thomas Harding (Penguin/ Michael Joseph)

A Spy in the Family by Paul Henderson and David Gardner (Mirror Books)     

The Cleveland Street Scandal by Neil Root (The History Press)            

That Dark Spring by Susannah Stapleton (Pan Macmillan/Picador)

The Illegals by Shaun Walker (Profile Books)

Historical Dagger

A Granite Silence by Nina Allan (Quercus/riverrun)

Spoiler's Prey by Robin Blake (Severn House)

Benecula by Graeme Macrae Burnet (Birlinn Ltd/ Polygon)

The Mourning Necklace by Kate Foster (Pan Macmillan/Mantle)

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (Swift Press)

The Rush by Beth Lewis (Profile Books/Viper)

Barvick Falls by Rob McInroy (Tippermuir Books)

The Devil's Draper by Donna Moore (Fly on the Wall Press)

Gunner by Alan Parks (John Murray Press/Baskerville)

Cairo Gambit by SW Perry (Atlantic Books/Corvus)

The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (Pan Macmillan/Mangle)

A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith (Bloomsbury Publishing/Raven Books)

 

Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger

Home Before Dark by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir (Orenda Books) translated by Victoria Cribb

Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse (Faber) translated by Florian Duijsens

Scars of Silence by Johana Gustawsson (Orenda Books) translated by David Warriner

The Lake by Jørn Lier Horst (Penguin Random House) translated by Anne Bruce

Seesaw Monster by Kotaro Isaka (Penguin Random House) translated by Sam Malissa

Red Water by Jurica Pavicic (Bitter Lemon Press) translated by Matt Robinson

The Grave in the Ice by Satu Rämö (Bonnier Books UK) translated by Kristian London

Big Bad Wool by Leonie Swann (Allison & Busby) translated by Amy Bojang

The Winter Job by Antti Tuomainen (Orenda Books) translated by David Hackston

Strange Pictures by Uketsu (Pushkin Press) translated by Jim Rion

Whodunnit Dagger

The Christmas Cracker Killer by Alexandra Benedict (Simon & Schuster UK)

The Queen Who Came in from the Cold by SJ Bennett (Bonnier Books UK/ Zaffre)

Etiquette for Lovers & Killers by Anna Fitzgerald Healy (Little, Brown Book Group/Fleet)

Little Secrets by Victoria Goldman (Three Crowns Publishing UK/self-published)

A Queer Case by Robert Holtom (Titan Books)

The Margaret Code by Richard Hooton (Little, Brown Book Group/Sphere)

A Cinnamon Falls Mystery by RL Killmore (Simon & Schuster UK)

Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh (Little, Brown Book Group/Sphere)

Not Another Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton (HarperCollins/Avon)

A Trial in Three Acts by Guy Morpuss (Profile Books/Viper)

A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant (John Murray Press/Baskerville)

Bad Influence by CJ Wray (Orion Fiction)

Twisted Dagger

What Happens in the Dark by Kia Abdullah (HarperCollins/HQ Fiction)

Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke (Penguin Random House UK/Harvill)

Some of Us are Liars by Fiona Cummins (Pan Macmillan/Macmillan)

The House of Water by Fflur Dafydd (Hodder & Stoughton/Hodder Fiction)

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (HarperCollins/Hemlock Press)

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (Pan Macmillan/Macmillan)

Scenes From A Tragedy by Carole Hailey (Atlantic Books/Corvus)

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell (Penguin Random House/Century)

The Bodies by Sam Lloyd (Transworld/Bantam)

The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney (Bonnier Books UK/Zaffre)

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough (Orion Fiction)         

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon (Orion Publishing Group/ Orion Fiction)

ILP John Creasey (First Novel) Dagger

The Malt Whiskey Murders by Natalie Jayne Clark (Birlinn Ltd/Polygon)

Etiquette for Lovers and Killers by Anna Fitzgerald Healy (Little, Brown Book Group/Fleet)

The Peak by Sam Guthrie (HarperCollins Publishers)

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenberg (Little, Brown Book Group/ Sphere)

The Lost Detective by Elspeth Latimer (Story Machine)

The Wolf Tree by Laura   McCluskey (HarperCollins/Hemlock Press)

The Vanishing Place by Zoë Rankin (Profile Books/Viper)

Coram House by Bailey Seybolt (Bloomsbury Publishing/Raven Books)

A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan (Pan Macmillan/Mantle)

Holy City by Henry Wise (Bedford Square Publishers/No Exit Press)

Short Story Dagger

 ‘Arlene’ by William Boyle in Birds, Strangers and Psychos (No Exit Press)

 ‘Split Your Silver Tongue’ by SA Cosby in Birds, Strangers and Psychos (No Exit Press)

‘Chest’ in Birds, by Ragnar Jónasson Strangers and Psychos (No Exit Press)

‘The Karpman Drama Triangle’ by Denise Mina in Birds, Strangers and Psychos (No Exit Press)

 ‘Full Circle’ by Abir Mukherjee in Playing Dead: Short Stories by Members of the Detection Club (Severn House)

‘The Apple Falls Not Far’ by Ambrose Perry (Canongate)

‘Once Upon a Time in New Jersey‘ by Zoë Sharp and John Lawton in CrimeFest: Leaving the Scene Celebrating 16 Years (No Exit Press)

 ‘Strangers on a School Bus’ by Peter Swanson in Birds, Strangers and Psychos (No Exit Press)

 ‘Waiting’ by Michael Wood in Criminal Pursuits: This Is Me (Telos Publishing)

Dagger in the Library

Ben Aaronovitch              

Damien Boyd     

Reverend Richard Coles 

Rhys Dylan         

Paula Hawkins   

JD Kirk  

Clare Mackintosh             

Freida McFadden             

Abir Mukherjee 

Tim Sullivan       

Robert Thorogood           

Best Crime & Mystery Publisher

Allison & Busby

Baskerville (John Murray/Hachette)

Bitter Lemon Press

Constable (Little, Brown)

Faber & Faber

Harvill Vintage (Penguin Random House)

Muswell Press

No Exit Press (Bedford Square)

Pan Macmillan

Polygon (Birlinn)

Simon & Schuster

Viper (Profile Books)

 

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL - Programme announced

 

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL returns for biggest year EVER as new stage announced and all-star programme revealed

 

Festival Dates: 23 – 26 July 2026

www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

#TheakstonsCrime

Tuesday 14th April: Harrogate International Festivals today revealed the full programme for the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the world’s largest and most prestigious celebration of crime fiction, at a special reception at Hachette, Carmelite House in London.

This year’s programme has been curated by bestselling psychological thriller writer Lisa Jewell and features over 140 crime and thriller writers, making it the biggest event ever in the festival’s illustrious twenty-three-year history. An all-star line-up of bestselling authors and crime fiction names including Richard Armitage, Ardal O’Hanlon, Andi Osho, Denise Mina, Adam Kay, Abir Mukherjee, Elly Griffiths, Vaseem Khan, Val McDermid and M.W. Craven join Special Guest headliners Ann Cleeves and Brenda Blethyn, Anthony Horowitz, Holly Jackson, Chris Brookmyre, Chris Whitaker, Jane Harper, LJ Ross, Nadine Matheson, Gillian McAllister, Steve Cavanagh, Alice Feeney, and US crime superstar David Baldacci, on the packed programme.

Taking place at Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel from 23-26 July, this year’s Festival offers crime fiction fans even more opportunities to hear from superstar writers and discover new talent with the launch of the Swift Half Stage. This innovative new space championing brilliant storytellers, rising stars and boundary-pushing creatives in a series of bite-size events, features authors including Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, Mick Herron, Ahana Virdi, Will Carver, Clare McGowan, Kia Abdullah, and Traitor’s star Harriet Tyce.

Festival highlights include the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards Ceremony and the much-anticipated Critics’ New Blood panel showcasing four extraordinary debut novelists, Anna Maloney, Leodora Darlington, M.K. Oliver and Mel Pennant, selected by leading crime fiction critics. For aspiring writers, Creative Thursday offers an immersive day of workshops and talks led by industry experts and bestselling writers including A.A Dhand, GR Halliday, and Julie Mae Cohen, with the rare opportunity to pitch work in the ‘Dragon’s Pen.’  

From dark domestic noir to the impact of technology on the criminal mind and a celebration of Agatha Christie’s enduring influence on the genre fifty years after her death, there is plenty to thrill everyone on this year’s programme. Evenings offer exclusive opportunities for fans to engage with authors at relaxed events, include the hilarious Interview Bingo and the hotly contested Late Night Quiz, compèred by Val McDermid and Mark Billingham. Two Author Dinners will see readers join forces with crime writers K.T. Nguyen, Sean Watkins, Emma Christie, Rupa Mahadevan, William Hussey, and many others to solve a fiendishly twisty murder mystery, hosted by Mel Pennant.  

Lisa Jewell, bestselling author and 2026 Festival Programming Chair said:

“This year marks Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival’s twenty-third year. Every year it gets a bit better, a bit bigger, more polished, and more exciting, and 2026 promises to be the best Festival yet. We were spoiled for choice when we compiled this year’s programme; never before have there been as many rich pickings in the fields of crime, thrillers and debuts, and this year’s programme is overflowing with new voices, old voices, literary legends, and Festival favourites. So, here’s to 2026; let the sunshine, the drinks flow and a bounty of brilliant writers cast their spells as we gather together to enjoy an unmissable year at the best crime-writing Festival in the world.”

Simon Theakston, Chairman of T&R Theakston Ltd, said:  

“We are extremely proud to support this world class event for an incredible twenty-third year and welcome over 140 writers for what promises to be our biggest and boldest Festival ever. Lisa Jewell and the committee have delivered an outstanding programme packed with legends of the genre, massive internationally bestselling authors, rising stars, thrilling panels, and exclusive events. We look forward to an unforgettable Festival as we celebrate the very best in global crime writing this summer.”

Sharon Canavar, Chief Executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:

“We are thrilled to reveal the full programme for this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, curated by Lisa Jewell and the Programming Committee. As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Harrogate International Festivals, we are excited to expand the festival by introducing the Swift Half Stage to offer even more for our community of crime fiction fans to discover and enjoy this year. Whether you are a reader or a writer – and whether you’ve been coming to the festival for twenty-three years or this will be your first time - we look forward to welcoming you to Harrogate in July.”

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS:

THURSDAY 23 JULY:

Creative Thursday: Crime Fiction Writing Workshops (9am-5.45pm)

An immersive day of workshops and talks for aspiring crime writers with bestselling authors and industry experts including A.A. Dhand, Nikki Allen, GR Halliday, LC Winter, Becca Day, Sophie Flynn, Julie Mae Cohen, N.J. Cooper, Laura Sherlock and Mark Billingham.

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards & Festival Opening Party (9.00pm)

A celebratory event as the winner of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, crime fiction’s most prestigious prize, is announced, with the McDermid Award for debut fiction and the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award also presented.

FRIDAY 24 JULY:

Special Guest: Nadine Matheson & Steve Cavanagh (9.00am, Theakston Stage)

Two former lawyers, Nadine Matheson and Steve Cavanagh, discuss how they use their legal training to brilliant effect in their latest compelling novels.

Conversation: Truth, Lies & Alibis (10.00am, Swift Half Stage)

Join crime writers Harriet Tyce and Anna Mazzola for a fast, fun game of secrets and deception guaranteed to test your detective skills to the limit, chaired by C.B. Everett.

Panel: From Poirot to Podcasts (10.30am, Theakston Stage)

It is fifty years since the death of Agatha Christie and one hundred years since her hideaway in the Old Swan Hotel. Leading contemporary crime writers Ruth Ware, Ragnar Jónasson, Lucy Foley and Ross Montgomery explore Christie’s enduring influence on the genre with chair Val McDermid.  

Conversation: When Two Become One: how do writing partnerships stay in synch? (11.30am, Swift Half Stage)

A sharp, insightful session for crime fans, aspiring writers and anyone interested in the creative process, as one half of Evelyn Clark joins duo Ellery Lloyd to discuss the art of collaborative writing.

Special Guests: Holly Jackson & Gillian McAllister (12.00pm, Theakston Stage)

Ingenious and original rising stars Gillian McAllister and Holly Jackson discuss their exciting new novels and how TV and TikTok have proved vital to their successes! 

Panel: Can’t Get You Out of My Head (2.00pm, Theakston Stage)

Bestselling authors Abigail Dean, Erin Kelly, Jo Murray and Yemi Dipeolu discuss crime, control and dark psychological landscapes through a distinctly female lens, chaired by Andrew Hunter Murray.

Conversation: Still Killing it: 20 Years of Doug Johnstone (3.00pm, Swift Half Stage)

A celebratory event as Doug Johnstone marks 20 years since the publication of his debut novel - and the release of his twentieth book - in conversation with Chris Brookmyre.

Panel: Man About the House (3.30pm, Theakston Stage)

Bestselling writers John Marrs, CM Ewan, Mark Edwards and TM Logan examine domestic noir and what draws male writers to themes of home and family with journalist Lisa Howells.

Conversation: Unspoken: Why are secrets so powerful in crime fiction? (4.30pm, Swift Half Stage)

Join two of crime writing’s most psychologically astute voices, Clare McGowan and Kia Abdullah for an in-depth conversation about the power of hidden truths in storytelling.

Special Guest: Chris Brookmyre (5.00pm, Theakston Stage)

A special event celebrating thirty years since the publication of Chris Brookmyre’s debut novel Quite Ugly One Morning – and the return of wisecracking investigative journalist, Jack Parlabane, in 2026 sequel Quite Ugly One Evening. Chris will be in conversation with Mark Billingham.

Come Di-n-e With Me Friday Author Dinner (6.15pm)

A unique opportunity for readers to solve a murder mystery hosted by Mel Pennant, with crime writers Foluso Agbaje, Alice Bell, Nina Bhadreshwar, Hannah Brennan, Ronnie Brown, L.M. Chilton, Alex Hay, Sarah Hilary, Louise Jensen, Chris McDonald, K. T. Nguyen, Lauren North, Daniel Sellers and Paula Sutton.

Panel: Nothing But the Truth (6.30pm, Theakston Stage)

An exciting panel bringing together writers whose novel tackle complex societal issues through the unique lens of crime fiction, with Dorothy Koomson, Adam Kay, Saima Mir and Garry Disher in conversation with Matt Nixson.

Special Guest: David Baldacci (8.30pm, Theakston Stage)

One of the world’s leading crime writers, David Baldacci, in conversation with journalist Julia Wheeler about his hugely successful career and his latest novel, ‘Hope Rises’ featuring compelling anti-hero Walter Nash.

Interview Bingo (10.00pm, Theakston Stage)

Four authors and questions submitted by readers – ranging from the insightful to the ridiculous. Expect a funny, fast-paced and entirely unpredictable evening with Abir Mukherjee, Elly Griffiths, Andi Osho and Holly Stars – with chair Luca Veste.  

SATURDAY 25 JULY:

Special Guest: Anthony Horowitz (9.00am, Theakston Stage)

One of the UK’s best loved and most prolific writers Anthony Horowitz discusses his brilliant new novel A Deadly Episode with TV presenter Matthew Stadlen.

Conversation: From Page to Screen (10.00am, Swift Half Stage)

Is a crime story more powerful on the page or on screen?  M.J. Arlidge and Chris Chibnall compare the craft of writing novels and television drama, chaired by Julia Wheeler.

Panel event: What Happened to all the Serial Killers? (10.30am, Theakston Stage)

As technological advances make it ever easier for police to catch criminals, how do killers, crooks – and crime writers – navigate this new world? Crime writers Ajay Chowdhury, Vaseem Khan, Dame Sue Black and G.D. Wright discuss with chair Clare Mackintosh.

Conversation: Dark Minds & Twisted Tales (11.30am, Swift Half Stage)

Why do we enjoy being unsettled? Two of the most exciting voices in contemporary crime and psychological fiction, Ahana Virdi and Will Carver discuss pushing genre boundaries and using darkness and humour to challenge readers. 

Panel: Critics’ New Blood (12.00pm, Theakston Stage)

Showcasing the stars of tomorrow, four outstanding debut novelists Anna Maloney, Leodora Darlington, M.K. Oliver and Mel Pennant, selected this year by a panel of the UK’s top crime fiction critics, will be in conversation with critic and writer Natasha Cooper.

Panel event: A Way With Words (2.00pm, Theakston Stage)

Celebrating the writers who describe the dark stuff with a dazzling touch of poetry as Denise Mina, Sabine Durrant, Tracy Sierra and Calum McSorley join chair Tariq Ashkanani.

Conversation: The First Crime is the Hardest (3.00pm, Swift Half Stage)

Rebecca Philipson – whose journey to publication began at Creative Thursday – discusses her debut novel How to Get Away With Murder with Val McDermid.

Panel event: You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me (3.30pm, Theakston Stage)

Unlikeable characters are central to many of the most-loved crime novels. Liz Nugent, Araminta Hall, Callie Kazumi and Chris Bridges discuss perfecting the art of imperfect protagonists with chair Shari Lapena.

Conversation: Are Spies Heroes Anymore? (4.30pm, Swift Half Stage)

An entertaining look at the evolution of the spy hero – from glamorous Cold War operatives to today’s flawed protagonists - with two of the genre’s best-loved writers Mick Herron and David McCloskey.

Special Guests: LJ Ross & Jane Harper (5.00pm, Theakston Stage)

Meet two natural storytellers, LJ Ross and Jane Harper, who both use remote and atmospheric locations – Northumberland and smalltown Australia – to spin beguiling stories of murder and mystery.

Come Di-n-e With Me Saturday Author Dinner (6.15pm)

‘Who dunnit?’ A second chance for crime fiction fans to test their detective skills by solving a murder mystery written with authors: Emma Christie, Jane Corry, Samantha Dooey-Miles, James Ellson, William Hussey, Fiona Keating, Nasheema Lennon, Rupa Mahadevan, Simon McCleave, Anna McPartlin, Ian Moore, David Tuch, Bridget Walsh, Paul Waters and Sean Watkin.

Panel: Whiteboards Versus Empty Screens: How Do They Do It? (6.30pm, Theakston Stage)

Four very different writers - Richard Armitage, Ardal O’Hanlon, Adele Parks and Remi Kone - discuss the joys of writing and the mystery of technique, and their very different approaches to writing a crime novel, with author Sophie Hannah.  

Special Guests: Lisa Jewell (8.30pm, Theakston Stage)

Multi-million copy bestselling psychological thriller writer Lisa Jewell discusses her addictive new novel It Could Have Been Her in conversation with crime writing icon and creator of Jack Reacher, Lee Child.

Late Night Quiz (10.15pm, Theakston Stage)

Authors and readers go head-to-head in a battle of crime fiction wits with quizmasters Val McDermid and Mark Billingham.

SUNDAY 20 JULY:

Special Guests: Alice Feeney & Chris Whitaker (9.00am, Theakston Stage)

Two hugely popular global sensations Alice Feeney and Chris Whitaker tell the inspiring and moving stories behind their journey to becoming writers and discuss their latest bestselling novels.   

Panel: Your Local Crime Writer (10.30am, Theakston Stage)

An author’s workspace is their home from home, and four writers Amen Alonge, M.W. Craven, Frances Crawford and Marie Tierney discuss how their environment affects their work, with broadcaster and crime writer Jeremy Vine.

Special Guests: Ann Cleeves & Brenda Blethyn (12.00pm, Theakston Stage)

Two incredible creatives, novelist Ann Cleeves and actor Brenda Blethyn discuss how they bought iconic detective DCI Vera Stanhope to life on our screen and on the page. 

We All Want Our Just Desserts by Suk Pannu

We’ve all got an Indian Aunty - whether you’re Indian or not. These are the women who helped bring you up, who fed you and nurtured you and sent you off to school on the days your mum was at work. They also have an uncanny knack for getting into your business, unravelling your deepest secrets and generally interfering with every corner of your life. 

Bertie Wooster was plagued by strong minded aunts and it’s not a stretch to imagine that Wodehouse was similarly plagued. However, we never got to hear about it from the aunt’s point of view. Growing up, and being bought up, by a rich tapestry of Indian Aunties, and in parallel developing a growing love of genre fiction - especially crime - is where the idea for Mrs Sidhu began to crystallise. The aunty skillset: a sharp eye for detail, a good instinct for human behaviour, doggedness, a strong moral compass and quite simply nosiness seemed like offered itself up as a great fit for an updated amateur sleuth. She’s since been described as Slough’s answer to Miss Marple.

Let’s tackle that location. I grew up in the area and Slough hits a resonance for most British people. Or maybe that’s an anti-resonance. On the musical scale of British towns it seems to strike a bum note. I feel like it gets a bum rap. It’s an industrial town, full of industrious people. Its biggest crime is that it’s not an architectural gem. Then again, aesthetics were not the first priority for a generation of immigrants arriving in the 60’s and 70’s.

The interesting thing about Slough is what’s around it. This concrete dog poop is laid on the gentle pastures that house Windsor Castle, Eton College, Cookham and the Chiltern hills. So, an Indian Aunty from Slough, nosing around in the business of the rich and well heeled of Berkshire. You can see how it all came together from the world around me.

“Mrs Sidhu’s Just Desserts” is the second novel in the series. The first “Mrs Sidhu’s Dead and Scone” plunges her into the world of occult activities at a Wellness retreat in a quaint Berkshire village. This second novel brings a new challenge; an art heist.

Art heists have always fascinated us. Witness the global intrigue around the recent theft from the Louvre in Paris. And the shock caused by the raid that deprived the Oslo art museum of ‘The Scream’. The criminals there simply walked in and took it off the wall!

In fiction, art heists usually have a bit more finesse. Acrobatic thieves dangle from cables to circumvent laser beams, thermal sensors and pressure pads. In “Just Desserts” Mrs Sidhu caters a swish gallery opening where a painting is stolen in an impossible heist and her favourite waitress is murdered in the process. No aunty worth her salted samosas is going to stand for that, and our hero sets out seeking the just desserts of the title.

This of course brings her deeper into the world of art. It’s an area that’s a particular challenge for a humble, Slough bred woman. Art, for the uninitiated is a daunting world. Mrs Sidhu is overawed from the start. The other wonderful thing about the art world, is that it’s divisive, entertaining and dramatic. Most of all it has larger than life characters doing wild things. Van Gogh slashing at his ear, Tracey Emin unmaking her bed, Damien Hirst bottling up dead animals. Then there are the waspish art critics, the sly dealers and the moneyed collectors. It’s also got the reverse - bound up amateurs daubing out watercolours.That’s great material for a murder mystery thriller and it’s the cast of suspects.

The entertainment value of the suspect ensemble has always felt important to me, almost as entertaining as a great sleuth. “Just Desserts” plunges Mrs Sidhu into the tensions and rivalries of that world. While she is daunted by all this new and unfamiliar world, an Indian aunty is never cowed and in Mrs Sidhu’s case curiosity always wins over fear and her search for justice is too strong to be denied.

I’ve had the somewhat unique pleasure (and privilege) of writing Mrs Sidhu for three different media. She started life on BBC Radio 4’s “Mrs Sidhu Investigates” and moved across to TV with the brilliant Meera Syal playing the lead in both. Now, she’s available in print too. Each medium has its own challenges and opportunities, but in the novels I relished developing her inner voice. It’s been a huge amount of fun. I hope you will agree.

Mrs Sidhu's Just Desserts by Suk Pannu (HarperCollins Publisher) Out Now

It's the most glamorous event of the year. Mrs Sidhu has snagged the contract of her life: the chance to cater the grand opening of Berkshire's new art gallery. But there's horror among the hors d'oeuvres. Then the gallery's star painting is stolen, and Mrs Sidhu's favourite waitress is left dead on the floor. Mrs Sidhu is back for a second helping. Can a widowed, Slough-based caterer take down a ruthless, murderous art thief? She's determined to crack the strangest case of her career and serve up her signature dish: just desserts.

Suk Pannu can be found on Instagram @suk.pannu

World Book Night: 23 April - Turn a New Page in National Year of Reading

 Crime writers Leye Adenle and Louise Jensen are 

2026 Quick Reads authors.

The Reading Agency is gifting thousands of Quick Reads books on World Book Night (23 April) during the National Year of Reading.

Six new Quick Reads titles, spanning crime, romance and contemporary fiction, are published especially for the national charity’s celebration of reading, World Book Night. 

Two of the six are the crime authors Leye Adenle and Louise Jensen.

On World Book Night, the UK is encouraged to host book themed parties, book swaps, as well as dedicate time to read in a national #ReadingHour from 7-8pm.

The Reading Agency is gifting over 35,000 Quick Reads distributed free of charge, supported by publishers, to libraries, charities, and in community settings. The Quick Reads books will also be available in supermarkets and retailers for just £1, and available to borrow in public libraries.

Leye Adenle is a Nigerian-born crime thriller author, known for his gripping and suspenseful stories that explore the darker side of human nature. His debut novel, Easy Motion Tourist, won the prestigious Prix Marianne in France in 2016.

With a growing reputation as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary crime fiction, Adenle's work has been praised for its sharp prose, memorable characters, and unflinching portrayal of the darker side of human nature.

Adenle is a frequent speaker on issues related to African literature and culture, and has given talks at universities and literary festivals around the world. He is also an advocate for gender equality, and his writing often explores the experiences of women in Nigerian society.

Leye Adenle said: “Everything about Quick Reads is the reason I write. Books have the magical power to create empathy, deepen understanding, broaden horizons, and even shape worldviews. They have changed the world, one mind at a time. What an immense honour to be part of this year’s Quick Reads campaign and to create art for such an important cause.”

His Quick Reads, Cell One follows the story of rookie cop, Bobby Fatokun, who has left his life

in London for the hustle of Nigeria’s capital, Lagos. When his boss, Superintendent Adams is kidnapped, it triggers a race to find him as his captors start a countdown to his live execution. Without knowing who he can trust, Bobby will have to rely on his instincts alone to find the truth before time runs out.

Louise Jensen’s Quick Reads is the psychological thriller, The Woman Next Door. 

Louise has sold over a million copies of her international bestselling psychological thrillers, and they have been translated into twenty-five languages. Louise has been nominated for multiple awards including Goodreads Debut Author of the Year, The Guardian's 'Not The Booker Prize', and she has also been shortlisted for two CWA Dagger awards. Louise lived in Northamptonshire.

As short, affordable, and carefully crafted books, Quick Reads help to give readers confidence and rediscover a joy of reading.

Louise Jensen said: “When The Reading Agency asked me to write a Quick Reads novella it was an immediate yes. Both my husband Tim and I were so excited that after ten years of me writing books, this would be the first one he could read. Tim is dyslexic and although he has been so supportive of my career neither of us thought he’d ever read anything longer than one of the short stories I write for magazines. Until I wrote The Woman Next Door, that is.  

“Tim read, and loved, the very first draft and it was such a joy to hear his views on the characters and plot. Since then, we’ve bought other Quick Reads books for him to enjoy and because of these, he’s developed a real love of reading. It really is such a wonderful campaign and one that I’m proud to be part of. “

The Woman Next Door tells the story of two neighbours, two secrets, and one chance at

survival. Running from her past, Meena hopes to find peace in her new home. But her neighbour, Ada, is a mystery.  While Meena and Ada are watching each other, someone is watching them. With danger closing in, they must rely on one another to survive, but when both are lying, trust becomes the deadliest weapon. What secrets lie next door?

Quick Reads helps adults overcome barriers to reading by providing short, accessible books by leading authors. Unlike other short-form fiction, Quick Reads go through a rigorous review process to ensure accessibility – including testing for readability, concentration, and suitability for those rebuilding reading confidence.

Karen Napier, CEO, The Reading Agency, said: “Quick Reads are more than short books – they’re stepping stones back into reading that are designed to fit modern life. Literally turning a page can change your life – improving wellbeing, focus, and even life satisfaction. The National Year of Reading is the perfect moment to make reading part of everyday life again.”

The full list of 2026’s Quick Reads:

Rachel Hore – The Girl in the Picture (Simon & Schuster)

Leye Adenle – Cell One (Simon & Schuster)

Rosie Goodwin – Sweet Charity (Bonnier Books UK)

Louise Jensen – The Woman Next Door (HQ, HarperCollins)

Derek Owusu – Hunger Pains (Merky Books, Penguin Random House)

Carmel Harrington – The Last Bench (Headline, Hachette)

Findings from The Reading Agency’s State of the Nation’s Adult Reading 2025 report show:

Only half of UK adults (53%) describe themselves as regular readers – down from 58% in 2015.

Nearly half (46%) struggle to focus on reading due to distractions, rising to 55% among 16–24-year-olds.

Almost half of under-44s now read “on the go” while commuting, exercising or doing chores.

Three in five adults (nearly 33 million) say the cost-of-living crisis leaves them with less time and money for leisure.

2026 marks 20 years of the life-changing Quick Reads initiative.

Throughout 2026, to mark its 20th anniversary, The Reading Agency aims to gift up to one million Quick Reads to communities across the UK.

Since the programme launched in 2006, Quick Reads has collaborated with over 30 publishers to create and distribute 5.4 million copies with over 6.2 million library loans.

The books can be ordered online from The Reading Agency.