Bad Indians: A lesson on writing monstrous characters by Amin Ahmad.

It all started one afternoon a few years ago. I was driving down the New Jersey Turnpike, thinking about ideas for my next novel when a black Lincoln limousine zipped by. Tinted windows hid the passenger, the chauffeur wore a peaked cap and a vanity license plate proclaimed, ‘SINGH IS KING’.

This was new to me. Indians in America are discreet professionals—doctors, techies, engineers—but here was a person proudly proclaiming his wealth to the world. As a novelist, this image stuck in my mind. Who was Mr. Singh? Where did his money come from? Why was he so confident?

The stories written about Indian immigrants tend to stay within familiar themes: The loss of culture. Painful assimilation into the American mainstream. Generational conflict. Arranged marriages. Curry.

The guy in the Lincoln was different. He was rich. He was badass, and he wanted the world to know it.

Slowly, over the next few months, the shadowy figure in the back of the limousine took on more definition. In my imagination he became Abbas Khan, an Indian immigrant who arrived in America in the 1970s and built his real-estate empire from scratch. He was a canny, hard-nosed businessman, a bazaar merchant who knew how to manipulate people. Now he had made it in America and was redeveloping a large swathe of Manhattan.

As Abbas Khan came to life, I found I was having a really good time. Oh, the joy of writing a bad Indian. The freedom of it.

As a novelist, my protagonists so far had been honourable, good people stuck in bad situations. Abbas Khan was different: He was a monster who hid his insecure, angry self behind an armour of fine British tailoring. Abbas had been forced into an arranged marriage, but instead of freeing his own two adult daughters, he pushed them into arranged marriages. To protect the reputation of his real estate company he hid a shameful link to a serial killer who’d terrorized New York City a decade ago.

It was fun to create a dark, manipulative character—but then an odd thing happened: I began to like Abbas. Yes, he was awful to his wife and adult daughters, but he was human too. He had made a ton of money, but as a Muslim man, he was not really accepted into New York elite society.

So Abbas made his own world. He bought an abandoned 1920’s estate on Long Island, painstakingly restored it to its former glory, and staffed it with faithful Indian servants. Like any immigrant, he tried to root himself into the New World by replicating the familiar.

And once I got a taste for writing bad Indians, I couldn’t stop.

Abbas is searching for a husband for his beloved younger daughter, but he forgoes the eligible young Muslim men with MBAs, and instead settles on Ali Azeem, a slacker from Mumbai. He does this because Ali is malleable, but also because Ali comes from the Old Country, like Abbas himself, and the two men develop an oddly affectionate bond.

There was also Farhan, Abbas’s older daughter, who once had been the apple of his eye. Now in her thirties, Farhan is a mess, and of course she acts out. And as I developed my novel, I created more members of the Khan family: insecure, backstabbing, jockeying for position.

As a novelist, I had learned an important lesson. I’d previously thought I should write ‘likable’ protagonists with honesty and integrity—but it was so much more interesting to write flawed, messy, contradictory characters. The trick was to make them human and recognizable: “There for the grace of God go I.”

Another thing I discovered as a novelist was that plot, instead of being an external situation imposed on the characters, could grow out of the contradictions and complexities of the characters themselves: Abbas, while trying to maintain his hard-won reputation, suppressed information that would come back to destroy him. Ali wanted to take a shortcut to wealth, ended up marrying into a family he did not understand, and was forced to lose his naivety. Farhan’s self-destructiveness reached new levels. And while creating characters who were glorious messes, I found that I could hide the motivations of one of the quieter, staid characters, who turned out to be the real ‘killer in the family’.

Now that I finished writing ‘A Killer in the Family’, I’m on to my next novel. And guess what? It’s full of bad Indians. It turns out that once you discover the joy of writing monstrous characters, there is no going back.

A Killer in the Family by Amin Ahmad (Cornerstone) Out Now

Good-natured but naïve, Mumbai party boy Ali Azeem is drifting through life. Then he meets the Khan sisters: pretty, marriage-material Maryam and sexy, unpredictable, off-the-rails Farhan. They are the daughters of Abbas Khan, the formidable immigrant patriarch of a glittering property empire, who has succeeded in making New York City his playground. Ali finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into the Khan family’s seductive world of private jets and towering skyscrapers. He begins to uncover rumours of affairs, accusations of corruption – and a troubling connection to the serial killer who once stalked the streets of Manhattan. As he closes in on the truth and learns the cost of the Khans' unattainable wealth and power, Ali must decide: is it a price worth paying?

More information about Amin Ahmad can be found on his website. He can also be found on Instagram @aminahmadbooks

Longlist for Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2026 Announced

 

LONGLIST FOR THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER 

CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2026 

New talent competes with established global bestsellers for the UK and Ireland’s most prestigious crime fiction prize

Festival Dates:-23rd -26th July 2026

www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com

#TheakstonsAwards #TheakstonsCrime

Thursday 30 April 2026: Harrogate International Festivals today announced the 18 titles longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2026, the UK and Ireland’s most prestigious crime fiction award, now in its twenty second year. 

The longlist, voted for by an academy of journalists, reviewers, booksellers, bloggers, podcasters and industry representatives, showcases stories that transport readers from gangland Yorkshire to a haunted Dartmoor country house, from wartime Glasgow to a remote Scottish island, and features a host of remarkable sleuths - from the world’s first AI detective, to a time-travelling cold case investigator. 

The Longlist includes:

Six talented authors are longlisted for the first time, including bestselling authors A.A. Dhand and Alice Feeney, who both have smash hit TV adaptations to their names. 

5 former winners - 2024 champion Jo Callaghan, Mick Herron, Denise Mina, Belinda Bauer - and two times winner Mark Billingham - feature on the longlist. Belinda Bauer and Jo Callaghan are both alumni of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival’s celebrated ‘New Blood’ initiative championing emerging talent. 

The longlist features writers from across the UK, including Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham, Sussex, Cardiff and Oxfordshire, with four Scottish authors, Tariq Ashkanani, Callum McSorley, Denise Mina and Alan Parks nominated. 

Celebrating innovative and entertaining storytelling, the 2026 longlist showcases a thrilling range of crime fiction subgenres, from gritty gangland thrillers and locked room mysteries to enthralling court room dramas, dark domestic noir and atmospheric historical murder mysteries. 

The full Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2026 longlist (in alphabetical order by surname) is:  

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

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

The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer (Penguin Random House, Bantam) 

What The Night Brings by Mark Billingham (Little, Brown Book Group, Sphere) 

Human Remains by Jo Callaghan (Simon & Schuster) 

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

The Chemist by A.A. Dhand (HarperCollins, HQ Fiction) 

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (Pan Macmillan, Pan Fiction) 

The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths (Quercus Books) 

The Examiner by Janice Hallett (Profile Books, Viper) 

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins (Penguin Random House, Doubleday) 

Clown Town by Mick Herron (John Murray Books, Baskerville) 

Quantum of Menace by Vaseem Khan (Bonnier Books, Zaffre) 

Paperboy by Callum McSorley (Puskin Press, Vertigo) 

The Good Liar by Denise Mina (Penguin Random House, Harvill)

Gunner by Alan Parks (John Murray Books, Baskerville) 

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough (Orion Publishing Group, Orion Fiction) 

A Schooling in Murder by Andrew Taylor (HarperCollins, Hemlock Press) 

Crime fiction fans are now invited to help whittle 18 down to 6 by voting for their favourite novels to reach the shortlist, with the winner of the coveted Award announced on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival on Thursday 23rd July. 

The longlist in more detail: 

Five former winners are vying for top honours at this year’s Awards, including 2024 champion Jo Callaghan, who is longlisted for Human Remains, the third in her highly original series featuring detective duo DCS Kat Frank and her AI colleague Lock, alongside Belinda Bauer for The Impossible Thing, a historical mystery set in the world of rare egg trafficking. Both Jo Callaghan and Belinda Bauer are alumni of the Festival’s acclaimed ‘New Blood’ initiative supporting outstanding new voices. Also nominated are Denise Mina’s The Good Liar, a taut conspiracy thriller where a blood spatter expert is caught in a deadly dilemma about whether to reveal a miscarriage of justice, and Mark Billingham’s What the Night Brings, a pulsating Tom Thorne thriller where a series of targeted murders against police officers lead to an investigation into betrayal and vengeance. They are joined by Mick Herron who is longlisted for Clown Town, the latest instalment in the bestselling Slough House series, which sees a gang of washed-up spooks entangled in a dangerous game of blackmail with its roots in the Irish Troubles. Highly commended in 2023, Elly Griffiths receives an impressive eleventh longlisting for The Frozen People, the first in a new series with a time-travelling spin, as an unsolved mystery takes a cold cases investigator back to the freezing London of 1850.

Among the six hugely talented writers longlisted for the first time are Tariq Ashkanani, nominated for The Midnight King¸ a breathtaking thriller exploring the dark legacy of a serial killing author after his death, and Kia Abdullah for What Happens in the Dark, a courtroom drama about nightmare neighbours and how far ordinary people will go to defend loved ones. Also longlisted are We Live here Now by Sarah Pinborough, a twisty, genre-bending take on the haunted house mystery, set on Dartmoor, and Paperboy by Callum McSorley, an inventive, fast-paced and blackly comic slice of Glasgow Noir. They are up against A.A. Dhand’s gangland thriller, The Chemist where a community pharmacist finds himself in the middle of a turf war between two powerful Yorkshire drug cartels, and Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly, a magnetic thriller about marriage and revenge set on a remote Scottish island. 

This year’s longlist showcases an extraordinary range of crime fiction subgenres. Vaseem Khan’s Quantum of Menace, a witty James Bond spin-off where a reimagined Q investigates the suspicious death of a scientist friend after losing his job at MI6, is nominated alongside Paula Hawkins’ atmospheric ‘locked room’ style mystery set on a tidal Scottish island, The Blue Hour. Joining them on the longlist are Abigail Dean’s psychological thriller The Death of Us, exploring trauma, grief and survival though the impact of a horrendous crime on one couple's relationship, and Janice Hallet’s The Examiner, an intricate mystery set in an art college, where a student is killed and suspicion falls on their dysfunctional classmates. 

Completing the 2026 line-up are two historical thrillers set in the Second World War. Gunner by Alan Parks sees a wounded former detective drawn into the case of a mutilated German found in Glasgow's bomb wreckage, and A Schooling in Murder by Andrew Taylor, set in a boarding school haunted by the ghost of a dead teacher whose replacement attempts to unmask the killer. 

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

“We are delighted to announce the 2026 longlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. It’s a pleasure to sponsor this Award and champion such an array of talented crime writers – from established global bestsellers and household names, to rising stars who are all set to become the superstar writers of tomorrow. We’re very much looking forward to finding out who the public vote for to reach the shortlist this year.”

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

“Congratulations to all the hugely talented writers longlisted for this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. We’re excited to see such a compelling and inclusive longlist for this year’s Award. Readers are vitally important to the Award as they help to determine the outcome, and in this National Year of Reading we encourage everyone to go all in and vote for their favourite novel to reach the shortlist.”

The Award is presented by Harrogate International Festivals and sponsored by T&R Theakston Ltd, in partnership with Waterstones and Daily Express, and is open to full-length crime novels published in paperback between 1 May 2025 to 30 April 2026. The public are invited to vote to help create a shortlist of six titles from 8am on Thursday 30 April at www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com 

Voting closes on Thursday 28 May at 23:59, with the shortlist announced on Thursday 18 June. Once the shortlist is announced, readers will have the chance to vote again to help determine the winner. The winner will be revealed on the opening night of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Thursday 23 July, at a special awards ceremony hosted by Steph McGovern. They will receive £3,000 and a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by T&R Theakston Ltd.

100th Anniversary of Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The Folio Society presents newly illustrated edition of Agatha Christie’s The Murder or Roger Ackroyd to celebrate the novel’s 100th anniversary

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd By Agatha Christie

Illustrated by Owen Gent

Secrets, scandal and one of the most iconic twists in crime fiction. Illustrated by Owen Gent, this 100th anniversary edition of Agatha Christie’s classic invites you to enjoy, and then question, every clue alongside Hercule Poirot.

To celebrate the novel's 100th anniversary, The Folio Society presents a newly illustrated edition of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, in their standalone series style, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was published in June 1926, six months before Agatha Christie famously vanished for eleven days.

When Roger Ackroyd is discovered stabbed in his study, the sleepy village of King's Abbot finds itself at the heart of a scandal - one involving blackmail, a suspicious suicide, and a secret worth killing for. Fortunately, Hercule Poirot resides nearby in semi-retirement, devoting himself to marrows and mysteries with equal flair.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is Christie at her very best - a tightly plotted tale of secrets and suspicion, in which every character has something to hide and nothing is quite as it seems. With Monsieur Poirot on the case, the truth cannot remain hidden for long.

Proclaimed by the Crime Writers' Association as 'the finest example of the genre ever penned', The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is consistently voted among Agatha Christie's best novels. It is, famously, the Poirot novel that demands to be read twice: the curious reader cannot resist re-examining what they thought they knew. A tightly plotted tale of secrets and suspicion, in which every character has something to hide and nothing is quite as it seems.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Folio Society

£55.00

5^th May 2026

 

Available exclusively at www.foliosociety.com

Libraro Prize interview with Elly Griffiths

On the 19th January 2026 it was announced that award winning crime writer Elly Griffiths would be one of the judges for the new literary reader lead prize that was announced.  The prize is a partnership between Libraro and Hachette.

In an interview Elly agreed to talk about the prize, why she was delighted to be a judge and what she was looking for in the submissions.

Ayo:           Why did you agree to become a judge?

Elly:           As you know I am a former Editorial Director before I started writing my own novels and I have been very aware of the current barriers and difficulties that one sees within traditional publishing. I agreed to be a judge because not only did it appeal to me, but it is a publishing first.  I also see it as a practical way of getting published and also engaging with writers. The prize is a way of demystifying publishing and a way of finding not only new voices but also underrepresented books.

Ayo:               How important is the fact that it is a reader lead prize?

Elly:               It is very important because writers are also readers and it helps to break down the barriers between authors and readers.

Ayo:               Do such competitions matter?

Elly:               Very much so.  They matter as it is another way of writers getting their books in front of publishers and having a possible chance of being published. It is another way of encouraging writers to finish the books that they have started. Furthermore, not only is the prize democratic as in anyone can enter), but the shortlisted books will also receive support.

Ayo:              Are there any boundaries?

Elly:               No there are not. Everyone is welcome and we are quite open to fresh voices.

Ayo:       What are the key elements that you are looking for from the  submissions?

Elly:           Voice is very important so I am looking for a voice that will surprise me and is unheard.  A very authentic and genuine voice. Anything open, convincing and new. Publishing is a business, so the book also has to be marketable as well and be able to stand on its own merits. The story is important as well; it has to sing and to be warm.

Ayo:               What do you look for in an award-winning book?

Elly:           As already mentioned, voice, a fresh voice, a different voice and point of view. Emotion and or something that makes me laugh and also a book that challenges pre-conceptions.

Ayo:-            What would be your top tip for anyone entering the competition

Elly;            Read the guidelines and follow them carefully. Don’t second guess yourself. Be confident.  Remember that you are the one making the offer so don’t be too humble. Think of how you would sell your book. Think of an ‘elevator pitch’. Believe in your writing.

The winner package includes £50,000 from Libraro (a £30,000 prize and £20,000 towards the marketing of the finished book), and a book deal with Hachette UK. Meanwhile, two Reader Prizes worth £10,000 will be also awarded: one for the reader who refers the winning author to the platform, and the other for the reader who engages most actively with the writers’ submissions.

The shortlist will be announced on Tuesday 21st April 2026, with the overall winner announced on Wednesday 13th May 2026. 

In addition to its partnerships with Hachette UK and LoveReading, The Libraro Prize is supported by a range of organisations that share its aims to democratise reading and writing, and to recognise the importance of building community and connection. They are: Exiled Writers Ink, Frontline, Club, London Writers’ Salon, NAWE, New Writing North, Pen to Print, The Reading Agency, Writers & Artists and Writing West Midlands.

 

 

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.