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.

Forthcoming books from Bonnier Zaffre

 May 2026

House of Two Pharaohs is by Wilbur Smith. Hidden in the shadows, an evil will rise . . .Piay, appointed Nomarch of Memphis by the God-Pharoah Rameses, has transformed his city, rebuilding the famous white walls, feeding the once starving citizens and returning the wealth plundered by the barbarian Hyksos. But when a murdered scribe is found sealed inside the city's newly-constructed vault - with the mark of Anubis, god of death, scrawled next to him in blood - panic tears through the people. Piay calls on the only man in Egypt he knows can discover the truth: his mentor, the great sage Taita. But soon after Taita's arrival in Memphis, the bloody mark of Anubis appears again.Taita and Piay are pitted against a criminal mastermind turned warlord. The pair's adversary has a simple, brutal aim: restore the Red Pretender's kingdom - and obliterate Rameses's forces. Drawn into a desperate battle of wits, can Taita and Piay finally reunite the two kingdoms? Or will the shadow of the Red Pretender tear Egypt apart once again? Who will survive the battle in the house of the two pharaohs?

Dark Horse is by Felix Francis. Imogen Duffy is a young Irish jockey, whose fledgling career is given a huge boost when she wins a prestigious horse race at the Cheltenham Steeplechasing Festival. But all is not well in her life. She has a violent and controlling boyfriend, also a jockey, and he becomes increasingly jealous of her success. As a result, she tries to break off their relationship, but he won't take 'no' for an answer. He attacks her, and claims that he'd rather kill her than allow her to leave him. Imogen flees her home in Ireland, coming to England to get away from him, and to continue her riding career at a racing stable in Lambourn, where she finds increasing success. But the abusive boyfriend follows her across the Irish Sea, stalks her, steals from her, attacks her again, and then tries to ruin both her career and her reputation. Imogen's desperate father turns to Sid Halley for help, and Sid reluctantly agrees to investigate, but then finds that he is also being stalked and threatened. Can Sid find out what the hell is going on, and before it is too late?

1829. Mahikeng Mission Station. Highveld, Southern Africa. The warrior king is dead. Ralph Courtney and Ann Waite have escaped. From the chaos and bloodshed that consumed the Zulu nation after the murder of King Shaka. From Ralph's enemies. From the man who would have enslaved Ann and sold her to the highest bidder. Now Ralph and Ann, and their son Harry, are safe. Rescued by the missionaries at Mahikeng, they can finally dream of a new life. Or can they . . . ? For what awaits them is a journey of unimaginable horrors, that will take Ralph from the bandit outposts on the border of Cape Colony, across oceans, and into the dark heart of the brutal system by which the British Crown imposes obedience on its subjects, while Ann is drawn inexorably back into her old life in Zululand. Can Ralph finally lay to rest the ghosts that haunt him? Can Ann overcome the enemy she believed they'd escaped forever? Can Harry make his peace with the secrets and lies that have shaped his life? On a blood-soaked battlefield, as a new nation is forged in violence and slaughter, all three will be given a choice - to succumb to the past, or to stand and fight for their family's future. Vengeance is by Wilbur Smith and Tom Harper.

June 2026

Never Be Found is by Jo Spain. She helped him disappear. She'll wish she hadn't . . .  There is a chilling phenomenon in Japan known as Johatsu - people who vanish voluntarily from their lives. It's said 100,000 people per year are Johatsu, and an entire industry has sprung up to support those who choose to. Life is hard. For some people, it's just too much. That's what I thought when I brought the concept to England. People will disappear anyway. What if I could help them? So I pack their belongings discreetly, create new identities, forge documents, give directions to the cities and towns where the 'night-mover' can live anonymously. It's just a business. I never saw it as a shameful act. I've helped people flee from abusive relationships, from work pressure, from debt, from unfulfilled lives. People in need. I consider what I do to be honourable. Until now that is. Because I've just learned that I'm not absent of responsibility. That I am capable of doing a terrible thing. That it's not just a business. I helped somebody flee from a crime. From the police. I evaporated a murderer. And if I don't find him, I can't live with what he might do next.

Eight months after helping to prevent a devastating attack on Britain's nuclear deterrent, ex-SAS hero David Hawkins is down on his luck. But when an act of reckless violence costs him his job, Hawkins is recruited by MI6 for a highly sensitive mission. The job: infiltrate a gang of cut-throat mercenaries led by a notorious former Regiment officer. Six believes this team is planning a once-in-a-century heist. Now they want Hawkins to find out who else is involved - and why. But as he gets closer to the target, Hawkins uncovers an even more deadly plot. One that threatens to upend the world order and trigger a terrifying new conflict between East and West . . . Breakout is by Chris Ryan.

Blood Root is by Jill Johnson. Lies are poison . . . but so is the truth. Professor Eustacia Rose has been arrested. Her charge: possession of poisonous plants without the appropriate licence. But behind the scenes, ulterior motives are at play... Locked in a windowless cell, Eustacia begins to uncover memories she didn't know she had. Her father's work on a mysterious academic paper. The night he was arrested, accused of murder. And a woman with long black hair that Eustacia does not recognise. Linking all the memories is Marcus Smith, her father's unscrupulous assistant, a man she thought was long dead. Marcus ruined her father's career, stole his research and vanished after a heated confrontation. But the past never stays buried, as Eustacia knows all too well. With the help of DCI Roberts and determined allies, Eustacia races against time to expose the deceptions of the past and solve a fresh murder before it's too late. This is her only chance to clear her father's name and settle a decades-old score, but the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow...

Jane Hepburn is still recovering from solving the murder at last year's Killer Lines festival when she is dragged into another very bookish murder. When a young editorial assistant is found dead at her friend's launch in a famous Cecil Court bookshop, Jane must use all her knowledge and experience as a writer of crime fiction to solve the mystery. A Killer Plot is by E C Nevin.

A Girl's Girl is by Emma Robertson. You've got everything she ever wanted... At school, Darcy Starr was the girl everyone wanted to be - effortlessly beautiful, confident and most importantly, popular. Two decades later, she still appears to have the perfect life: a devoted husband, a beautiful daughter and a picture-perfect suburban home, until her old school friend Alex Rigby reappears. Newly divorced, post-glow-up and harbouring a mysterious vendetta, Alex is about to turn Darcy's world upside down. On a group holiday to celebrate a friend's wedding, secrets, lies and old rivalries bubble to the surface, threatening to change everything Darcy thought she knew about her past. . . and herself.

Emma Sharp knows the rules of survival. From being raised by a doomsday-fearing father and hardened by the startup world, she has learned how to endure - especially in her marriage to Logan Grant, a charismatic tyrant who keeps her under tight control. To Emma, her marriage is a cage: it keeps you in, but it also keeps you safe. Until it doesn't. When Emma forms an unexpected bond with Logan's former girlfriend, the two women form a plan to help Emma reclaim her life. Destination: the punishing final stretch of the Appalachian Trail. After all, bad things happen in the woods all the time. As the three venture deeper into Maine's backcountry, desire and dread curdle into something unpredictable, dark and deadly. Someone is lying. Someone is watching. And in the remote heart of the forest, someone is about to be lost . . . or found. How to Survive in the Woods is by Kat Rosenfield.

July 2026

The Kill Switch is by Robert Peston. Journalist Gil Peck is back; in therapy, married to Jess - now editor of the Financial Chronicle - and still driven by the need to prove a point that he can't quite identify. Yet all is not well at home. Jess is fed up with Gil's obsession with his job, and she's kicked him out of their home.  But Gil has never let anything get in the way of a scoop. He and Jess have landed the interview of a lifetime with the Prime Minister, Stella Barnsbury, for the podcast they co-host, and Gil has no intention of missing it. During the interview, Barnsbury begins to pale, her coughing intensifying before she finally collapses. Within 48 hours, the Prime Minister is dead. Gil is used to landing the biggest stories. But as the last person to see the PM alive, he's now a main character. And when foul play is confirmed, he's also a prime suspect . . .

It's 1961 and the Queen is planning her state visit to Italy aboard Britannia. But before she goes, an unreliable witness claims to have seen a brutal murder from the royal train. Did it really happen, and could the victim be a missing friend of Princess Margaret's new husband, Tony Armstrong Jones? The Queen and her assistant private secretary, Joan McGraw, get to work on their second joint investigation, little imagining that this time it will take them all the way to Venice in a tale of spies, lies and Cold War skulduggery. The Queen Who Came in From The Cold is by Sophia Bennett.

The Woman Who Wasn't There is by William Hussey. Bestselling crime author Marian Lane is surrounded by adoring readers when she learns that her husband Dane is dead. Marian returns home in shock to discover a stranger on her doorstep. A woman who not only claims she's Marian's biggest fan but says that she comforted Dane in his final moments. At first, this woman, Mary, is a source of comfort. Until she admits Dane confessed a secret. One she can't quite remember; one Marian is desperate to learn. But Mary is a storyteller too. And though Marian knows every twist in the genre, she won't see this one coming . ..

Their dream holiday is about to turn into a nightmare...When upscale travel agent Allegra is offered a complimentary stay for her extended family at a new, high-end woodland retreat, she's delighted to discover it has everything you could ask for: luxury tree house accommodation, activities for the kids, spa treatments, fine dining - what could be more relaxing? But relationships within the group are fraught, and an impromptu family celebration seems only to worsen matters. Frustrated with her family, and taken for granted by her husband for years, Allegra forms an unexpected bond with someone new, and things begin to go wrong... Resentments grow and tensions rise, it seems the family's problems might run deeper than anyone suspected. When the warning signs become dangerous, the family realise they haven't been asking the right questions: how did they really come to be here? And which of them won't be going home? The Family Break is by Ruth Irons

August 2026

Flashpoint is by Wilbur Smith and David Churchill. 1943, America SOE's Saffron Courtney is back in New York, but even as she recovers from her mission to Washington, events on the other side of the Atlantic are making her return to England inevitable. The War Office need someone to extract an asset - a Jewish scientist, Caleb Ezra, a man vital to the war effort - from his hideaway on the besieged island of Leros. But first there is a debt to settle, and the mob do not wait - even for a decorated war hero . . .  1946, Kenya. Back in her beloved homeland, and reunited with her lover-now-husband Gerhard von Meerbach, Saffron thinks that she might finally have found the peace that she craves. The war is over. But when she's paid a visit by an English operative who blackmails her with accusations of Gerhard's involvement in Nazi atrocities, Saffron has no choice but to return to the US at his bidding. With not only her life, but her family at stake, Saffron must track down Ezra once more - before it's too late . . .

October 2026 

It's 1966 and Queen Elizabeth II is touring the Caribbean aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Her schedule is measured in ten-minute increments for five weeks, and nothing can afford to go wrong. But something does. Early in the trip, the Queen's new diary secretary, Pamela Sinclair, is found dead in her cabin. Rumours abound about how she died, but the truth is, nobody really knows. However, this time, suspicion falls on the Queen's longstanding confidante, Joan McGraw. The royal yacht is a busy, working ship, from the admiral at the bridge to the chefs in the galleys and the engineers attending to the turbines. It houses a crew of hundreds. Is one of them a murderer? The Queen and Joan must use every skill and trick to solve the mystery while seeming to glide, unflustered, from one be-hatted engagement to the next, as the multi-island visit unfolds with the whole world watching. Death on the Royal Yacht is by S J Bennett.

Ian Fleming announcement: Charlie Higson Returns with King Zero

 

Ian Fleming are excited to announce King Zero, a blockbuster new adult James Bond novel from multi-million copy bestselling Young Bond creator, Charlie Higson. It will be published in the UK on 24th September 2026 by Penguin Michael Joseph.

Beginning with the murder of an agent in Saudi Arabia by a weapon never before seen by the Secret Service and spanning the globe in an epic race against time to avert global catastrophe, the novel brings the literary Bond squarely into the twenty-first century, where the old world that made him is crumbling and a terrifying new order emerges while a dangerous villain – the most distinctive since Goldfinger – moves in the shadows. Higson explores themes of power, technology, and international tensions over resources in an extraordinarily timely story.

“Having warmed up with my Young Bond series, and the short story, On His Majesty’s Secret Service, I’m beyond excited to be writing my first full blown adult Bond adventure. 20 years after first writing “The name’s Bond, James Bond,” it still sends shivers down my spine every time I type it. I’m having a blast with this new novel, which is absolutely set in the modern world, and I hope will sit comfortably on the airport bookshelves alongside other contemporary thrillers. It embraces the worlds of both the literary Bond and the cinematic Bond, and my bad guy has all the elements we expect from a classic Bond villain, with a twist that’s not been done before.” – Charlie Higson

“We are delighted to be working with Penguin Michael Joseph on the publication of King Zero. Charlie Higson’s return to James Bond follows his outstanding success with On His Majesty’s Secret Service, commissioned for the King’s Coronation, and we are delighted to be working with Charlie again, bringing the next chapter of Bond to fans.” – Amanda Douglas, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.

“There’s no character in all of fiction quite like James Bond, and since Ian Fleming’s passing no-one has captured him quite so distinctively as Charlie Higson. We were swept away by Charlie’s vision for Bond which will delight old fans and new, and we can’t wait to make this the coolest, classiest publication of the year.” – Joel Richardson, Publisher at Michael Joseph

Capital Crime announces full programme

 

CAPITAL CRIME ANNOUNCES FULL PROGRAMME, WITH JEFFREY ARCHER, AA DHAND, JANICE HALLETT, LISA JEWELL AND SABINE DURRANT TO JOIN PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED HEADLINERS JANE HARPER, ARDAL O’HANLON AND ANDREA MARA

 AA Dhand       Andrea Mara     Ardal O'Hanlon,             Elly Griffiths,            Jane Harper

Janice Hallett              Jeffrey Archer         Lisa Jewell,     Liz Nugent          Sabine Durrant 

The 2026 festival to return to the Leonardo Royal Hotel 18th-20th June, with the Fingerprint Awards on 18th June, hosted by Ryan Tubridy

• Newly confirmed authors also include Elly Griffiths, Abir Mukherjee, T.M. Logan, Vaseem Khan, MJ Arlidge, Chris Brookmyre, Catriona Ward and Lucy Foley
• The National Year of Reading and ‘Quick Reads’ to be commemorated by AA Dhand, Leye Adenle, Fiona Cummins and Debbie Hicks MBE
• Jeffrey Archer to celebrate 50 years of writing

Jeffrey Archer, Abir Mukherjee, AA Dhand, Lucy Foley, Lisa Jewell, Sabine Durrant and Janice Hallett are amongst the authors today (27th March) announced to take part in Capital Crime, London’s largest celebration of crime and thriller writing, which returns 18th-20th June. They will be joining the previously announced headliners Jane Harper, Lee and Andrew Child, Claire Douglas, Andrea Mara, Ardal O’Hanlon and Andi Osho for discussions around closed communities, Agatha Christie and courtroom dramas.

Capital Crime co-founder and Goldsboro Book managing director David Headley said:

‘Our vision for Capital Crime was to provide a community that celebrates the love of storytelling, and a welcoming space for all readers and authors. A cornerstone of the festival since it launched in 2019 has been our social outreach initiative which has seen schoolchildren from all around London invited to meet, hear and engage with publishing representatives and authors. Our partnership with The Reading Agency will only strengthen this work in a time when we need stories and connection more than ever. Our programme this year features discussions about courtroom dramas, comic capers and the legacy of Agatha Christie, but also holes in the justice system and societal issues in crime fiction, with some of the best names in the genre – from global superstars like Jane Harper and Lee Child, but also some extremely exciting emerging voices.’

The festival kicks off on Thursday 18th June with a panel of industry professionals navigating the road to publication; followed by experts Professor Anja Shortland, an expert in the field of exhortative crime and ransomware, former probation officer Ruth Dugdall and noted criminologist Christopher Berry-Dee speaking about different approaches to criminality with Doctor Emma Kavanagh, a psychology consultant specialising in human performance in extreme situations; and real-world private investigators Mike and  Chris Jennings exploring the realities of their job, and how crime fiction compares. Thursday’s final panel will see bestselling authors Elly Griffiths and Claire Douglas speaking to Joe Haddow about using the past and memory in their novels, before DHH Literary Agency’s open pitching afternoon and networking event. The day will conclude with the Fingerprint Award Ceremony, hosted by broadcaster and podcaster Ryan Tubridy.

Friday opens with a panel on modern espionage, with James Wolff, Paul Warner, David Goodman and Chris Humphreys in conversation with Jane Thynne; and Leodora Darlington, LM Chilton, Yemi Dipeolu and Tanya Sweeney discussing how messy relationships can take a deadly turn in crime. The day will also feature Abir Mukherjee, Sarah Vaughan, Foluso Agbaje and Elly Vine discussing elites behaving badly; Ajay Chowdhury, Jo Callaghan and Vaseem Khan will explore concerns around AI; and former lawyers Imran Mahmood, Harriet Tyce and Anna Mazzola will speak about the art of the courtroom drama. Lucy Rose, Essie Fox, Laura Purcell and Callie Kazumi will explore what could be behind readers’ appetite for dark gothic fiction; Clare Leslie Hall, Hattie Williams and Jennie Godfrey will speak about stories that will stay with you long after reading; and Jo Spain, Olivier Norek, Madeleine Pelling and Edel Coffey will discuss about how true stories can inspire fiction.

Friday will also see Capital Crime’s National Year of Reading panel, in partnership with The Reading Agency, and chaired by one of its founding members Debbie Hicks MBE, with former Quick Reads authors AA Dhand, Fiona Cummins and Leye Adenle exploring how crime fiction can be the perfect gateway genre into a lifelong love of reading.

The day will close with Lisa Jewell and Sabine Durrant in conversation with Katherine Faulkner about their incredible chart-topping careers writing suspense in the domestic sphere; and global bestsellers Jane Harper and Andrea Mara in conversation with DJ Fee Mak about writing horrible things happening to ordinary people; and the suffering of parenthood in their novels. The final event of the day is the festival’s regular highlight Crime Quiz.

On Saturday 20th June, crime fiction fans will see former police officer turned bestselling novelist Clare Mackintosh reflecting on how her past has influenced her writing; Jeffrey Archer celebrating his 50 year career and Lee and Andrew Child speaking to Stig Abell about building and breaking the rules of crime over 31 Jack Reacher novels. In addition, legendary Irish writers Ardal O’Hanlon, Jane Casey and Liz Nugent will explore with Brian McGilloway what make Irish communities the perfect setting for crime fiction.

In addition, to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Dame Agatha Christie, Sophie Hannah, Hazell Ward, Lucy Foley and Kelly Mullen will explore the enduring appeal and influence of her work.

Other panels on Saturday include Sarah Hilary, Chris Brookmyre, Doug Johnstone and Chris Merritt discussing career longevity; a discussion about justice and revenge with Julie Mae Cohen, D.B. Stephens, Emma Styles and Maz Evans; the illusion of safety with Catriona Ward, Andi Osho, J.P. Delaney and Rosa Silverman; and Rob Parker, Nadine Matheson and T.M. Payne speaking to Lisa Howells about the versatility of the procedural.

There will also be exciting public events throughout the festival: Orenda Books will be hosting a showcase and proofs party; and renowned wine expert Olly Smith will be launching his debut Death by Noir, in conversation with his brother and Emmy-winning Slow Horses screenwriter Will Smith.

Now in its sixth year, Capital Crime is proud to be a part of and contributor to the vibrant culture scene with the city, and has quickly established itself as one of the biggest festivals in the UK, with a reputation for originality, innovation, and a focus on creating an incredible reader experience with creatively curated and inclusive panels. Co-founded by Goldsboro Books MD David Headley, it has welcomed readers from around the country to see British authors such as Robert Harris, Anthony Horowitz and Paula Hawkins, appearing alongside international talent including Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir and US bestsellers Jeffrey Deaver, Karin Slaughter, Linwood Barclay and Michael Connolly.

Headley and his team at Goldsboro Books have helped launch the careers of so many authors since it opened almost 25 years ago, by uniting incredible writing with their loyal, ever-growing community of passionate readers. Renowned for their thoughtful and impactful new initiatives to engage communities of readers, Capital Crime is a brilliant extension of this vision with an outstanding programme of over 40 entertaining, accessible events that explore all corners of the genre, and the opportunity to meet your literary heroes.

 The full programme can be found here.

 

Death Watch Cottage: 'A murdered tourist and a community tearing itself apart was too good to pass up'

Death Watch Cottage is the fourth novel in the CSI Ally Dymond series which is set in North Devon. When I began writing the CSI Ally Dymond series, I always knew I wanted to set it in North Devon.

Having grown up there, I returned to live there a few years ago and I know the area extremely well. I have always felt that North Devon’s blend of coastal communities, market towns, isolated farms and desolate moorlands would give me ample locations for my crime novel and so it has proved to be the case.

When called upon in my stories, North Devon has certainly done its fair share of the heavy lifting. It has provided an authentic backdrop for poor mobile signals, easy getaways down narrow roads that are barely mapped, slow police responses from an emergency service stretched thinly over a huge area and communities that sometimes know a little too much about each other.

But it isn’t just North Devon’s landscape that has provided me with inspiration for my novels. I am also interested in the issues facing the place I call home. 

First and foremost, I write crime novels which means there is a certain contract that I must fulfil with my reader but, beyond that, I also like to play with themes pertinent to the area. 

With my first novel, Breakneck Point, I wanted to look beyond the breath-taking landscape and that classic image of a thatched cottage and roses growing around the door which is why I set it in fictional Bidecombe, a struggling coastal town beset with problems relating to social deprivation. 

My latest novel Death Watch Cottage tackles the other end of the scale. It is set in a former fishing village a little further down the coast called Maidcombe, but, unlike Bidecombe, most of the properties in Maidcombe are holiday homes. 

Second homes and holiday lets are a live issue in North Devon. There are approximately 4,770 holiday rentals listed in the area, according to Airbnb. This has placed the permanent rental market under considerable pressure with local people finding it difficult to find a place that they can afford to live in. 

On the flipside, visitors generate around £600 million for the local economy, supporting in the region of 11,000 jobs. It’s against this backdrop that I wanted to write Death Watch Cottage.

The novel opens with a public meeting where tempers flare over the closure of the local school due to a fall in numbers. 

There are those who believe the fault lies with the increasing proliferation in holiday homes which are pushing up house prices and driving local families out of the area. Others at the meeting argue that many of the restaurants and pubs would not exist without tourists.

The meeting is interrupted by a teenage boy who, on seeing a light on in his father’s holiday, went to check, only to discover the body of a tourist in the shower. The only problem Leo Hawkins is meant to be staying at a different holiday let in the village. Is his death the result of a faulty CO alarm or is something more sinister at play.

As the investigation begins, it becomes clear that some locals resent outsiders enough to wage a campaign against them in an attempt to drive them away. Would they go as far as to murder a tourist?

Alongside the issues surrounding second homes, I am also taken with the idea of community. In North Devon, there are many close-knit communities, similar to the one I grew up in, where families have lived side by side for generations. But what exactly does it mean to belong to a community and what is the best way of protecting these communities? Those were the questions I wanted to try and answer in Death Watch Cottage.

It is often this sense of community that attracts visitors to the area, but there are those in my novel that feel their community is being eroded by the presence of holiday homes that remain empty for large parts of the year. 

On the other hand, there are those who believe communities must adapt to survive and that includes accepting villages can only remain viable if they offer holiday lets.

In reality, North Devon is as welcoming to visitors as it always has been but for a crime writer such as myself, a murdered tourist, along with a community tearing itself apart felt like a potent mix that was just too good to pass up.

Death Watch Cottage by T. Orr Munro (HarperCollins Publishers) Out Now

Assume nothing. The body of Leo Hawkins is found in a Devon holiday cottage, the cause of death carbon monoxide poisoning. Was this a tragic accident or something more sinister? CSI Ally Dymond will follow the evidence wherever it leads. Believe no-one. Leo’s wife gives an account of his final hours, but something isn’t adding up. Graffiti left by an anti-tourist group is discovered nearby. The only consistent thread in the investigation is that no one is telling the truth. Challenge everything When a second body turns up, Ally and the murder team must examine everything they thought they knew, untangling a web of suspects to get to the truth. Is there a single killer? Are there more deaths to come? Ally will need to uncover local loyalties to catch any killer before they strike again…

 T. Orr Munro can be found on Instagram @ t_orr_munro