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.

 

Forthcoming books from Harper Collins

 January 2026

A special new edition of Agatha Christie's Endless Night. Gipsy’s Acre was a truly beautiful upland site with views out to sea – and in Michael Rogers it stirred a child-like fantasy. There, amongst the dark fir trees, he planned to build a house, find a girl and live happily ever after. Yet, as he left the village, a shadow of menace hung over the land. For this was the place where accidents happened. Perhaps Michael should have heeded the locals’ warnings: ‘There’s no luck for them as meddles with Gipsy’s Acre.’ Michael Rogers is a man who is about to learn the true meaning of the old saying ‘In my end is my beginning…’

The Final Score is by Don Winslow. In six all-new short novels written with the trademark literary style, trenchant wit, and incisive characterization that have made Don Winslow “America’s greatest living crime writer” (Providence Journal), this repeat New York Times bestselling author serves up a collection of tales sure to delight Winslow’s most devoted fans and first-time readers. The multi-million-dollar casino heist is impossible—it can’t be done. That’s what makes it irresistible to a legendary robber facing the rest of his life in prison for his “Final Score.” An ambitious, hard-working college-bound teenager has a side job delivering illegal booze to “The Sunday List” until a crooked cop, a seductive customer, and a fake guru threaten to end his dreams. Two wise guys tell each other a “True Story” over breakfast at a diner. It’s all bullshit and laughs until someone else has to pick up the check. An otherwise honest patrolman has to make an excruciating choice between his loyalty to the job and his love for a ne’er-do-well cousin in “The North Wing.” The entitled, substance-addicted movie star that surfer/PI Boone Daniels and his crew are hired to babysit in “The Lunch Break” is a problem. She also has a problem—someone wants her dead. Finally, the one terrible, momentary mistake that a devoted family man makes sends him to prison and on a “Collision” course between the man he wants to be and the killer he’s forced to become to survive.

February 2026

Mrs Sidhu's Just Desserts is by Suk Pannu. It's the most glamorous event of the year. When Mrs Sidhu is hired as the caterer for the opening of Berkshire’s swankiest new art gallery, she can't believe her luck. It's the biggest pay cheque of her career, a glitzy evening, and a chance to take her cooking to the next level in front of the local crème de la crème. But there's trouble on the menu. Then the gallery's star painting is stolen. And worse than that, Mrs Sidhu's best and sweetest waitress – with her whole life ahead of her – is found dead. Mrs Sidhu wants answers. As she casts her eye over Berkshire's art scene – the murderously competitive collectors, critics and creatives – she uncovers a dastardly knot of greed and deception, obsession and revenge. Can she crack the strangest case of her career and unmask the murderer, so they can meet their just desserts?

Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage. There’s a dead body in my living room. I’ve not called the police because it was I who stabbed him. Seven times in all. The truth is, it’s surprisingly difficult to dispatch someone with a vegetable knife. In case you’re wondering, the dead man is not my husband. I do resent our pitiful sex life and his woeful lack of ambition, but I wouldn’t murder him for it. Not yet, anyway. Right now, I have far more pressing concerns: scheming to get my daughter into the perfect school; buying my dream home in Hampstead; and disposing of a corpse. A woman’s work is never done. I’ve created the perfect life – and I’ll kill to keep it.

A priest’s death leads to sinister goings on in an old country pub… To understand the strange goings on at The Pale Horse Inn, Mark Easterbrook knew he had to begin at the beginning. But where exactly was the beginning? Was it the savage blow to the back of Father Gorman’s head? Or was it when the priest’s assailant searched him so roughly he tore the clergyman’s cassock? Or could it have been the priest’s visit, just minutes before, to a woman on her death bed? Or was there a deeper significance to the violent squabble which Mark Easterbrook had himself witnessed earlier? Wherever the beginning lies, Mark and his sidekick, Ginger Corrigan, may soon have cause to wish they’d never found it… The Pale Horse is by Agatha Christie and is a new edition of the classic novel.

How to Kill a Crime Writer is by Sarah Lotz. She wrote for a living.But who wanted her dead? When bestselling author Annie Morrissey is found dead, her daughter Niamh knows in her gut it’s no accident – even if the case needs a good edit. The village is strangely uneventful. The suspects are suspiciously normal. The leads quickly turn into dead ends… But when Annie’s final manuscript lands on the doormat, the pages humming with mystery and suspense, the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur.This can’t be a coincidence. Because if Niamh learnt anything from her mother’s crime fiction, it’s that there’s no such thing. And that village secrets never stay buried for long…

An atmospheric crime mystery featuring DI Georgina Lennox and DI Richard Stewart, set in the Scottish highlands. Deep in the Scottish Highlands, the body of a young woman is found on the cursed road, a narrow track with a bloody history. It initially looks like an accident, but a name scratched on the dead woman’s arm links to an unsolved case from years ago. Glaswegian detectives Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart are sent north to investigate, and they discover a community riven by a centuries’ old blood feud and modern rivalries. As George and Richie attempt to get to the truth behind the dark rumours, a killer is waiting, determined that some secrets are never uncovered. The Cursed Road is by Laura McCluskey.

Deception Island is by R S Burnett. When a rescue team arrives at Deception Island to evacuate scientists from an erupting volcano, they discover everyone has vanished without a trace. Cut off from the outside world and trapped on an island with deadly secrets, Abbie must uncover the truth before the volcano – or something far more sinister – claims her life. Deception Island, a sunken volcano, is about to blow – and the scientists studying it need evacuating. It’s a race against time, and nature. But when they land on the island they find it completely deserted. As they search for signs of life other strange things start to happen: the radio is cut-off and then their boat disappears…Deception Island holds many secrets, but Abbie is worried about just one question: Will she make it off it alive?

You want answers. The house won't give them up. An unexplained death. In stormy West Cornwall, a woman lies dead at the bottom of a waterfall. A year later, her children are possessed by strange visions. A house full of secrets. Forensic psychologist Karenza Bray arrives to work with the children. She discovers a grand ancestral home, full of details that don’t quite make sense. The children sleepwalk into the sea, and claim to speak with dark spectres. An centuries-old mirror shows them impossible things. A family with everything to hide. Someone knows the truth about what happened to Natalie Tyack. Her husband. The housekeeper. The neighbours. But the more Karenza tries to help, the deeper she steps into a mystery, into a haunting. This house has a history that has not been put to rest. Will any of them escape sane, and unscathed? The Wrecker's Girl is by SK Tremayne.

Make You Mine is by Claire Kendall. You can run. You can hide. But you belong to me. It was the case of the decade. A 15-year-old girl on her way to school, vanished without a trace. The world feared the worst – but then, after months, she was discovered in a church crypt, lying alive beside the dead body of her kidnapper. Now, 26 years later, Esmeralda Avelar has worked hard to leave her traumatic past behind. She has forged a new identity, and a new career as a police detective. But the past refuses to stay buried. Because notorious serial killer Jason Thorne has escaped from his secure psychiatric hospital, and he has a new obsession… to find Esmeralda, the girl who got away, and make her his.

March 2026

Essex Wives is by Kimberley Chambers. Don’t get mad, get even… 1999, Essex. Sharon, Jolene, and Evie have one thing in common – they’ve all been burned by one of the Bond boys. Sharon’s seeking retribution after her husband’s affair. Jolene yearns to get her own back on the man that destroyed her life. And Evie is fighting to protect her family from the bad boy her daughter married. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned … As the turn of the millennium rounds the corner, this is one year that will go out with a bang. The Essex wives are back, and they’re out for revenge.

A woman convinced of her partner's infidelity discovers that the situation is even more murky when he turns up dead. He has a secret. She knows he’s lying… You think you know the people you love. Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs. She’s been here before. You think you know who you can trust. When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act. You think you know how the story ends. But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can't explain himself. The house has become a crime scene… Jamie is dead. It's Not What You Think is by Clare Mackintosh.

A Burnt Moor is by Nina Bhadreshwar. A brutal murder. The charred remains of a man are discovered, showing signs of torture. The body was abandoned on the wild moors of the peak district, but he wasn’t killed there. A life gone up in flames. An arson fire in Sheffield reveals the site of another murder, this time of a young woman, and DI Diana Walker finds herself investigating two murders. A dark truth. When the victim’s identities are revealed, Diana begins to dig into Sheffield’s criminal underworld where she uncovers webs of corruption at the city’s heart.

April 2026

Who Can You Trust is by Susan Lewis. A terrible crime. A shocking confession. Do you believe her? Twenty years ago, Nicole’s twins disappeared without a trace. No bodies. No witnesses. Despite her pleas of innocence, Nicole was convicted. Now she’s out. And she’s finally confessed. But for true crime podcast host Cristy Ward, the story doesn’t add up. Having worked on the case as a young reporter, Cristy can’t help but wonder whether Nicole is the villain everyone believes her to be. Why did Nicole confess after so many years … and is the truth still out there, waiting…?

A beautiful summer day. When young nurse Claire Davidson goes missing on the riverbank, the only clues left behind are her phone and shoes. A mystery that sweeps the nation. People disappear all the time, but this case sparks an online frenzy. Amateur investigators descend on the rural idyll. Is Claire Davidson just the story of a swim that went wrong, or could there be truth to the conspiracies? A killer growing bolder. Then another woman is discovered dead in the river. Jake Jackson, a former detective who came to the countryside searching for peace, must investigate before more lives are lost. A Twist in the River is by Stig Abell.

Turn The Dial for Death is by Jeremy Vine. An impossible death. A seaside town on the brink. Stay tuned for murder… Sidmouth is gearing up for summer – but murder is all year round… When a doctor is found dead in the woods, shot through the heart with a crossbow, his wife is the prime suspect, despite an ironclad alibi. Desperate to clear her name, she appeals to radio presenter Edward Temmis for help. But Edward has troubles of his own. With his beloved radio station in crisis and a mysterious motorbike crash on the seafront, the doctor’s death isn’t the only problem he has to face. Edward, Kim and Stevie must reunite on a treacherous path to uncover the truth. Can they solve the case before everything tumbles down?

Honey is by Imani Thompson. The first time, Yrsa doesn’t intend to kill. But the Cambridge professor sitting opposite has manipulated her friend, stolen her research. When she flicks the bee into his Sanpellegrino, she thinks he’ll get a nasty sting. Then he’s dead. And Yrsa, who – let’s face it – has been bored for a while, is alive. It’s a sweet feeling, finally having some control.

Faye's ex-husband is dead, but she is threatened by her father who is still on the run from prison. The man who should be her safety net is her greatest fear. But it's not just Faye that's in danger. Faye also has to protect her loved ones and her life's work, the Revenge company. Faye gathers her circle of women and enlists the help of the only man she trusts to plan the final revenge. But will she succeed, now that her father seems to be working with a criminal network and is more dangerous than ever? Dreams of Bronze is by Camilla Läckberg

You Are Mine is by Alex Lane. Mary Jordan is walking along the street when she spots a sign on a lamppost. If you’re reading this, I’m watching you. You’re now part of my collection. If you’re unlucky, that is what you will remain. But if you’re lucky, you will be chosen, and your life will never be the same again. Mary is shocked. Her skin crawls at the idea she is being watched. She searches the buildings, looking, perhaps, for a face at a window. She is terrified.But only for a moment. There’s nothing to fear. It’s obviously just a harmless prank. She is wrong…

May 2026 

Rebel's Gambit is by S J Parris. England, 1601.Treason threatens the realm. When the body of a Scottish envoy washes up on the banks of the Thames, the Queen’s most powerful spymaster, Robert Cecil, is accused of arranging the murder. Cecil turns to his covert intelligencer Sophia de Wolfe to discreetly discover what the dead man was doing in London, and why he was killed. But this murder is borne of treacherous political currents. As loyalties shift and rebellion foments, as the Earl of Essex makes a dangerous play for power, Sophia is fast drawn into perilous waters. Everyone wants the Queen’s hard-won favour, even as tensions rise and the country begins to look for new answers. And Sophia has her own secrets to hide…

Adventure can be a deadly business. It began in the manner of all the very best adventures: in a coffee house. When one Richard Hannay—intrepid, inquisitive, and on the hunt for intrigue—encounters an old acquaintance in Constantinople, he has an inkling that something thrilling is afoot. Charged with an item of great mystery and import—a washbag, no less!—he soon finds himself in a very dangerous pursuit: from the luxurious confines of the Orient Express to the decks of the Titanic herself, all with the very fate of Europe in his care. Can he slip the net of Count Schwabing, whose long arm stretches from Berlin to the Bosphorus? And what of Madame Zara, the cabaret enchantress—does she play at affection, deception, or something far more deadly? In over his head, often a step—or thirty-nine—behind, but absolutely, resolutely determined to save the day, Hannay is about to embark on an escapade that will test his wits, his courage, and his ability to keep hold of a blasted washbag. A Very Dangerous Pursuit is by Ben Miller.

The return of 007. Agent 003, Joanna Harwood, has finally found James Bond after nearly two years of searching. All she has to do is get him out of Russia alive and convince him he can trust her again. A mission for revenge. But Bond trusts no one. And he wants revenge on Mora, the monstrous figure at the head of Rattenfänger – a terrorist organisation with links to the past. The final showdown MI6’s Double O section is in pieces. Moneypenny is captured. 000 has switched sides. And all of Rattenfänger’s plans for hijacking the cyber-intelligence of the West are finally about to be realised. The remaining Double Os must work together – and figure out which of them are still loyal… Hurricane Room is by Kim Sherwood.

The Killer in Room Five is by Sam Holland. A terrible confession. In an isolated room in Hollowpines, an infamous psychiatric hospital, Joe Sinclair is confessing to a violent murder. An impossible crime. Locked away, Joe couldn't possibly have killed the man, so how does he know so many of the horrifying details? A detective at her limits. Suspended after a colleague was stabbed on her watch, DC Abby Fox has only just returned to work. But at Hollowpines, she must find out what really happened and how exactly Joe is involved. Is he to blame, or the only one who can stop the killer?

June 2026

Three Reasons For Revenge is by Dervla McTiernan. Someone’s been watching. Someone’s been waiting.  Alexis Turner walks into the police station to report an assault. By the end of the day, she is nowhere to be found. Soon after she disappears, three identical packages arrive at three very different doors: a respected psychologist's home, a socialite's mansion, and a struggling single father's run-down apartment. Inside, each gift is perfectly tailored to its recipient — and each will tear apart the life of its intended victim. Detective Sergeant Judith Lee is smart and experienced, but this is no ordinary case. Someone with intimate knowledge of their targets is orchestrating these attacks. Someone who knows exactly how to hurt each victim where they're most vulnerable. And she’s convinced that somehow, it connects back to Alexis Turner. As she races to uncover the connection between four seemingly unrelated people, Judith discovers she's no longer just investigating the game – she's being forced to play.

Everything She Didn't Say is by Jane Casey. Victim? Witness? Killer? A woman is found in bloodstained clothes on the lonely coast of County Mayo. At first, she won’t speak. Then a name comes: Ruth. And a story about her missing friend: Maura. Ruth says she and Maura were staying in a clifftop house together.But there’s no trace of her there. Nothing but a pool of blood. Ruth says Maura was paranoid before she disappeared. But the locals say they only ever saw one woman. Ruth says all she wants is to make sure Maura is safe. But someone is dead, someone is a killer, someone is lying. Ruth says she’s being honest, but are the answers in everything she didn’t say?

Welcome back to North Falls―a small town with big secrets. Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, investigate a brutal attack that shatters their town's fragile peace. But the deeper Emmy digs, the more dangerous it gets… The Secrets We Hide is by Karin Slaughter.

Longlist for Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2025

Festival Dates: 17 – 20 July 2025

Longlist for Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2025  revealed as global bestsellers compete with fresh talent for prestigious award

Thursday 24th April 2025: Harrogate International Festivals announced today the 18 titles longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2025, the UK and Ireland’s most prestigious crime fiction award, now in its twenty-first year. 

The longlist, selected by an academy of journalists, reviewers, booksellers, bloggers & podcasters and representatives from within the industry, showcases innovative, original and entertaining stories, with global bestsellers and exciting new talent competing for the coveted award. Readers are now encouraged to vote for their favourite novels to reach the shortlist, with the winner crowned on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Thursday 17 July. 

3 former winners - 2023 champion M.W. Craven, Chris Whitaker and Chris Brookmyre - feature on the longlist, with fan favourite Elly Griffiths nominated for a tenth time. 

Six talented authors receive their first longlisting, including rising star Marie Tierney nominated for Deadly Animals, which won the inaugural McDermid Debut Award in 2024.

The longlist includes 3 illustrious alumni of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival’s celebrated ‘New Blood’ panel, renowned for championing emerging talent: Abir Mukherjee, Stuart Turton and Stuart Neville. 

The longlist features writers from across the UK, including Newcastle, Birmingham, Sussex, Bath and Oxfordshire, with 3 Scottish authors, Chris Brookmyre, Alan Parks and Abir Mukherjee, and 2 from Ireland, Jane Casey and Stuart Neville. 

Representing the very best in storytelling, the longlist showcases a thrilling range of crime fiction subgenres, from gritty court room dramas and twisty psychological thrillers to enthralling historical mysteries and dystopian chillers. 

The full Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025 longlist (in alphabetical order by surname) is: 

The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre (Little, Brown Book Group, Sphere) 

Our Holiday by Louise Candlish (HarperCollins, HQ Fiction) 

A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey (HarperFiction, Hemlock Press) 

The Mercy Chair by M.W. Craven (Little, Brown Book Group, Constable) 

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas (Penguin Michael Joseph) 

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths (Quercus Books, Quercus Fiction) 

Estella’s Revenge by Barbara Havelocke (Hera Books) 

Redemption by Jack Jordan (Simon & Schuster UK) 

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd (Pan Macmillan, Pan Fiction) 

Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood (Bloomsbury Publishing, Raven Books) 

The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini (Cornerstone, Century) 

The Kill List by Nadine Matheson (HarperCollins, HQ Fiction) 

Hunted by Abir Mukherjee (Vintage; Harvill Secker) 

Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville (Simon & Schuster UK) 

To Die in June by Alan Parks (Canongate) 

Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney (Bonnier Books, Zaffre) 

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton (Bloomsbury Publishing, Raven Books) 

All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (Orion, Orion Fiction) 

The longlist in more detail: 

Three former winners are vying for top honours at this year’s Awards, including 2023 champion M.W. Craven, who is longlisted for The Mercy Chair, the sixth book in his Cumbrian set Poe and Tilly series, alongside Chris Whitaker for All the Colours of the Dark, a million-copy bestseller exploring the aftermath of a childhood kidnapping, and Chris Brookmyre for the highly original thriller, The Cracked Mirror, which sees a hard-bitten homicide detective and an old lady who has solved multiple murders in her sleepy village, crack an impossible case. Highly commended in 2023, Elly Griffiths receives an impressive tenth longlisting for The Last Word, a murder mystery set at a writers' retreat. 

Three alumni of the Festival’s celebrated ‘New Blood’ panel, supporting fresh talent are longlisted this year. Abir Mukherjee is nominated for Hunted, a timely thriller about two parents desperately tracking down their children who are suspected of terrorist atrocities, along with ‘King of Belfast Noir’ Stuart Neville for chilling serial-killer thriller Blood Like Mine and Stuart Turton for The Last Murder at the End of the World, an ingenious dystopian thriller about a murder in an island paradise inhabited by the last humans on earth. They are joined by Marie Tierney who is longlisted for Deadly Animals, which won the inaugural McDermid Debut Award, the Festival’s newest initiative to platform rising stars of the genre, in 2024. 

Along with Tierney, the five other hugely talented writers longlisted for the first time include Claire Douglas, nominated for intricately plotted psychological thriller The Wrong Sister, Barbara Havelocke for Estella’s Revenge, a twisty gothic retelling of ‘Great Expectations’ and Ellery Lloyd for The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby, an ingenious mystery set in the art world. They are up against two writers who are also lawyers, Nadine Matheson, longlisted for her gripping thriller exploring themes of race, class and justice, The Kill List, and Ruth Mancini for The Woman on the Ledge, about a duty solicitor representing a young woman framed for murder. 

Showcasing the dazzling range of crime fiction subgenres, Louise Candlish’s psychological thriller Our Holiday where a feud between second home-owners and locals turns murderous, acclaimed Irish writer Jane Casey’s gripping DS Maeve Kerrigan novel A Stranger in the Family, Imran Mahmood’s powerful court-room drama about how far parents will go for their child in Finding Sophie, Jack Jordan’s propulsive Nevada-set revenge thriller Redemption, and Alan Parks’ gritty Glasgow noir To Die in June, complete the 2025 longlist.

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

“We are delighted to announce the 2025 longlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. The award is a vital platform for recognising and celebrating British crime writing talent both new and established, and once again our Awards Academy have selected another thrilling crop of books for our longlist. Now it’s time for readers to have their say, and we encourage everyone to get involved and vote for their favourites!

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

“Congratulations to all of the extremely talented writers longlisted for this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Anyone who loves riveting storytelling is in for a treat with this year’s longlist, which showcases the incredible depth and range of British crime fiction. Readers are very much at the heart of this award as they help to determine the outcome, and we’re very excited to see who the fans will vote for 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 2024 to 30 April 2025. The public are invited to vote to help create a shortlist of six titles from 8am on Thursday 24 April at www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com 

Voting closes on Thursday 15 May, with the shortlist announced on Thursday 5 June. The winner will be revealed on the opening night of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Thursday 17 July, receiving £3,000 and a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by T&R Theakston Ltd.

Capital Crime Full Lineup Revealed

The wait is over! The full Capital Crime 2025 programme has landed, and it’s our biggest, boldest lineup yet.

Join us in London on 12th-13th June for an unforgettable festival packed with thrilling conversations, exclusive events, and the chance to meet your literary heroes.

Expect bestselling authors, award-winning storytellers, and crime fiction’s biggest names, including:

Michael Connelly, Steph McGovern, Jeremy Vine, Vaseem Khan, Linwood Barclay, Karin Slaughter, Richard Armitage, Ruth Ware, Lisa Jewell, Clare Mackintosh, Andrew Child and many many more.

Plus, we’ve just announced the Fingerprint Awards shortlists - will your favourite take the prize?

Whether you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, gripping spy fiction, or classic crime stories, there’s something for everyone. 

Weekend & day tickets are selling fast - secure yours now to avoid disappointment.

With an electrifying mix of bestselling authors, expert panels, and thrilling discussions, this year’s festival is set to be truly unforgettable.

Here’s just a taste of what’s in store over two packed days:

FRIDAY:

Thrillers That Go Bump in the Night with Linwood Barclay and Andrew Child & Nadine Matheson

Criminal Minds Throughout History with Conn Iggulden, Kate Williams & Hallie Rubenhold

Espionage for the Modern Reader: Ava Glass, Charles Cumming and Nick Harkaway & Vaseem Khan

The One You Least Suspect: Dilemmas and Decisions with David Goodman, S. M. Govett and Remi Kone & Brian McGilloway

Deception in Crime Fiction - Mark Edwards, Nicci French, Erin Kelly & Claire McGowan 

Found in Translation: Jón Atli Jónasson, Lex Noteboom, Johana Gustawsson, Thomas Enger & Quentin Bates

Terror on and off the page: social injustices in horror and high concept thrillers:  Chris Carter, Erin E. Adams, Jessie Elland & Andrea Carter

Masters of Mystery: a panel of crime writing experts: Dr Duncan Harding (forensic psychologist), Graham Bartlett (police) and Nicola Williams (practising Judge)  in conversation with criminal defence lawyer Ruth Mancini 

Crime to cool you down this summer: Will Dean, Heidi Amsinck, R. O. Thorp & Ed James

SATURDAY: 

Crime Writing Masters discussing craft and creativity: Michael Connelly in conversation with M. W. Craven 

The Appeal of Unlikeable Characters with Richard Armitage, Lisa Jewell and Steph McGovern & Jon Coates

25 Years in the Making: Mark Billingham and Karin Slaughter in conversation with Louise Minchin

Exploring the Human Mind One Thriller at a Time: with Dorothy Koomson, Ruth Ware & Anna Sharpe

From Page to Screen: Bringing crime thrillers to life: with Jane Casey, Michael Connelly andRagnar Jonasson, interviewed by Lisa Howells

Agatha Christie for the ‘Knives Out’ Generation: Kelly Mullen, Ram Murali, Jeremy Vine & Rob Rinder

Silver Anniversary Stories: celebrate 25 books with Adele Parks in conversation with David Headley

Not-so Domestic Bliss: toxic families and friendships with Andrea Mara, Asia Mackay, Claire Douglas, Caz Frear & Heidi Perks 

‘C’ is for creating communities in Crime Fiction: Suk Pannu, Rev Richard Coles, Blake Mara & Tim Sullivan

Making your mark: the different routes to telling your thriller: Barnaby Martin, Jo Callaghan and Dominic Nolan & C. B. Everett

And so much more! With over 30 incredible events, the Fingerprint Awards, surprises throughout the weekend, and the chance to meet your favourite authors, this is one festival you don’t want to miss.

The full schedule can be found here and tickets can be found here.

Forthcoming Books from HarperCollins

 January 2025

Murder, jealousy, and deceit underscore three interlocking mysteries as Holmes and Watson take on a high profile case at Windsor Castle, a boy drowned in the Serpentine, and a crusading women’s rights activist who suspects a traitor in her organization. The cases send them into danger into locales as varied as the Palace itself, a dockland cannery, an arts and crafts atelier, and a Gypsy encampment. But is there peril underfoot as well – right at 221B Baker Street? The twisting, breathlessly plotted conjoined mysteries that Bonnie MacBird is known for provide a thrill ride that will delight Sherlockians worldwide. The Serpent Under is by Bonnie Macbird.

February 2025

Don't miss this award winning debut crime thriller set in Sheffield introducing DI Diana Walker: A grizzly murder has Diana questioning everything she knows, and secrets come to light that threaten to tear her world apart. Silence protects the victims… And the killer. When the dismembered body of a headmaster is found on the derelict site of a former school in Sheffield, DI Diana Walker finds herself chasing shadows. Faced with missing teachers, unreported crimes and silent witnesses, Diana is running out of leads. Her colleagues insist this is just another instance of gang violence, but Diana knows there’s something more. Something everyone’s too scared to talk about. With her reputation on the line, Diana is determined to find the truth. Her search for answers leads to Sheffield’s neglected underbelly, where she finds distrust, horrifying secrets and a whole new understanding of justice. The Day of The Roaring is by Nina Bhadreshwar.

Making a Killing is by Cara Hunter. In 2016, eight-year-old Daisy Mason vanished from her Oxford home. Her disappearance made the national press and the final culprit shocked everyone. DCI Adam Fawley remembers the case well, he arrested Daisy’s mother for murder himself. But her body was never found. Now, forensic evidence at a current murder scene calls the whole case into question. DCI Adam Fawley and the team are brought back in to investigate. And they all have one question on their minds. What really happened to Daisy Mason?

On an Island full of secrets. The truth lies in the dark. A gripping and atmospheric debut crime thriller set on an isolated Scottish island… A mysterious death On a small island off the coast of Scotland, an isolated community is grieving. Eighteen-year-old Alan Ferguson was found at the foot of the lighthouse – an apparent suicide. Two detectives trapped on an island. DIs Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart are sent to investigate. But a raging storm keeps them trapped on the island for four days. And the locals don’t take kindly to mainlanders. A village full of suspects. As George and Ritchie question the island’s inhabitants, they discover a village filled with superstition and shrouded in secrets. But someone wants those secrets to stay buried. At any cost. The Wolf Tree is by Laura McCluskey.

March 2025

It’s the story everyone wants to hear.That spring night in South London, when Isabel and Edward’s lives were torn apart. The night Isabel learned that the worst things wait, just outside the door. The night Edward learned that he was powerless to stop them. The night they never talk about.When their attacker is caught, it's finally time to tell the story of that night. Not to the world. Or to the man who did it. But to each other. This is a story of murder. This is a story of survival. But most of all, this is a story of love. The Death of Us is by Abigail Dean. 

The bigger the star, the harder they fall. Johnny Klein, fallen ‘80s pop icon, thinks life is finally on the up. He’s basking in the luxury of the French Riviera – hoping his worst days are behind him. But when a man falls from a window to his death in London, Jonny is forced to confront the darkest corners of his fame. Thrust into a dangerous game of lies and betrayal, Jonny must uncover a deadly secret, before somebody else dies… The Fall is by Martin Kemp. 

April 2025

The Maid's Secret is by Nita Prose. Molly the maid is no stranger to secrets… She sees everything behind closed doors at the Regency Grand hotel: wiping away the dust and grime of guests passing through. But one secret lies much closer to home. An old trinket – a faux Fabergé egg – is revealed to be a precious antique during an appraisal at the hotel, making Molly a rags-to-riches sensation. But no sooner has the egg shown its value than it’s stolen: vanishing without a trace. Determined to crack the case of the missing Fabergé, Molly begins dusting for clues – uncovering a mystery that stretches deep into the past. For in the pages of a long-forgotten diary, written by her late gran, lie the secrets that could unlock all others – and only Molly holds the key…

The Burial is by Stig Abell. A beautiful landscape… It began as the project of a lifetime – a group of archaeologists, uncovering the remains of a Roman settlement on a beautiful hill in the glorious English countryside. A looming threat… But, the idyll is shattered when they begin receiving threatening letters. Former city detective Jake Jackson, now enjoying a quieter life in the local village, is pulled in to investigate. A killer closing in… Soon, threatening letters are the least of their problems, when a murderer strikes. And now the race is on for Jake to find them, before they kill again…

They raised me. Nurtured me. And lied about everything. Sadie’s childhood has always been shrouded in mystery. But there are three things she knows. She was raised by two aunts. She never knew her parents. She is convinced she was stolen. Cristy Ward, podcast host, is gripped by Sadie’s story. It’s perfect for her next true-crime investigation. Yet Sadie's aunt claims it’s all a fantasy.As the evidence begins to stack up, and the lies fall apart, they all could be in a lot more danger than they thought… Don't Believe A Word is by Susan Lewis. 

The Penthouse is by Catherine Cooper. Beneath the glamour dark secrets lurk. World famous singer Enola had it all – fame, fortune, and a breathtaking penthouse view. Then she vanished without a trace, leaving the band’s careers in ruins. Fifteen years on, the remaining members are reuniting for a series of concerts in Las Vegas. But when mysterious accidents plague them, some start to wonder if Enola is back for revenge. What happened all those years ago – and who really knows the truth?

There's a killer on the airwaves … and they're calling for you. Darkness looms over sunny Sidmouth, when an unsolved murder comes to the attention of late-night radio talk show host Edward Temmis. Recently sacked from his beloved job after a devastating tragedy, Edward is cast adrift – until he meets Stevie, whose grandmother, a devoted listener, died in a suspicious fire last year. Well, nobody hurts his listeners and helping Stevie might just give him the purpose he needs. Joined by his old fling, Kim, they discover Stevie's grandmother wasn't the only one of his listeners targeted – this is just the tip of the iceberg. But who is pursuing his ageing audience and why? And can Edward, Stevie and Kim get to the bottom of this mystery before it’s too late? Murder on Line One is by Jeremy Vine.

The Secret Room is by Jane Casey. A closed door. An impossible murder. 2:32 p.m. Wealthy, privileged Ilaria Cavendish checks into a luxury London hotel and orders a bottle of champagne. Within the hour, her lover discovers her submerged in a bath of scalding water, dead. At first glance it looks like an accident. No one went in with her. No one came out. But all the signs point to murder. For DS Maeve Kerrigan, the case is a welcome distraction. But when shock news hits close to home, affecting her partner, DI Josh Derwent, she faces the toughest challenge of her career. And if she fails her world will never be the same again…

'Hello Niklas Sockenberg. We hope you have been satisfied with our services during this time, which has now reached its end. You have 14 days, 1 hour and 12 minutes left to live' It is December in Stockholm and Sweden's Minister of Justice is under threat. An anonymous note has told him he has four days left to live. At the same time, a human skeleton is found in the Stockholm subway, belonging to a high-ranking financier. Police inspector Mina Dabiri's team, still recovering from the traumatic incident last summer that ended in the death of a colleague, calls in mentalist Vincent Walder to help with the case. For Vincent, it feels as if the world is increasingly closing in on him. When another pile of bones is found underground, the group is once again put to the test – what is going on in the tunnels deep under Stockholm? And who taunting the minister? Mirage is by Camilla Läckberg and Henrik Fexeus.

May 2025

South of Nowhere is by Jeffery Deaver. A small town in Northern California is at risk of being destroyed by a failing levee, and Colter Shaw has been hired to locate a family swept away by the raging water, with just mere hours to survive.But is the levee at risk of failing from natural causes or is someone sabotaging it? With the help of his sister, Dorion, the duo must save the citizens before the old town washes out at the hands of a secret conspirer.

England, 1598. Queen Elizabeth’s successor remains unnamed. The country teeters on a knife edge. When a young heiress is found murdered at the theatre, the Queen’s spymaster Robert Cecil calls upon former agent Sophia de Wolfe to investigate. A cryptic note found on the dead girl’s body connects to Sophia’s previous life as a spy, and her quest soon takes her into dangerous waters. Powerful enemies emerge, among them the Earl of Essex: the Queen’s favourite courtier and a man of ruthless ambition. This is a murder that reaches directly into the heart of the court. And Sophia is concealing a deep-buried secret of her own. She must uncover the truth before her past threatens to destroy her. Traitor's Legacy is by S J Parris

June 2025

A brutal murder. When a headless corpse washes up on the bank of the Thames, DCI Tannahill Khan knows this wasn’t accidental – the killer wanted the body found. This is just the beginning. A deadly warning The post mortem reveals a shocking discovery. Written on the dead man’s arm is Forensic Criminologist Dr Laughton Rees’ home address. A fatal game With her life in danger and more bodies washing up along the river, Laughton and Tannahill are in a race against time to stop the killer before Laughton’s own name reaches the top of his list. Dead Water is by Simon Toyne.

A Schooling in Murder is by Andrew Taylor. The isolated Monkshill Park boarding school seems a world away from the violence that has engulfed Europe. Yet its eerie ground have witnessed a murder. Annabel Warnock, a teacher with a checkered past, disappeared during the holidays. The teachers and girls assume she has left the school, but the truth is quite different. Her body is lying at the bottom of the Maiden’s Leap, along the dangerous and overgrown Gothic Walk. Annabel’s ghost is trapped at Monkshill, unable to move on whilst the mystery of hear death remains unsolved. Haunting the grounds and school, she discovers a hidden world – both students and staff are riven with deadly rivalries and dangerous tensions. Among them is her killer.

A Murder in Paris is by Matthew Blake. Then. On a dark night in 1945, the Hotel Lutetia in Paris was witness to a murder. Two women walked into the hotel, but only one left alive. The crime was forgotten to time; locked away in Room 11. Now. A confession reawakens a mystery with long, dangerous shadows. What really happened in the corridors of the Hotel Lutetia? It all comes back to Room 11 – and the people who would kill to keep its secrets…

Welcome to North Falls—a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think. Until the night of the fireworks. When two teenage girls vanish, and the town ignites. For Officer Emmy Clifton, it’s personal. She turned away when her best friend's daughter needed help—and now she must bring her home. But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them. Nobody did. Every teenage girl has secrets. But who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding? We are all Guilty Here is by Karin Slaughter.

The Countdown Killer is by Sam Holland. He's tracking people down one by oneAnd you're next on the list…A man murdered live on camera.When a DVD is delivered in the dead of night, DCI Cara Elliott hits play on a horrifying showreel of violence… This is death, on demand. A killer counter down. Avid viewers are paying for the killings, with twisted specifications. A request, an abduction, a murder. And always in a forty-eight-hour pattern. A missing detective. But when the killer finds out they’re being investigated, they reveal their next target. In forty-eight hours, a police officer will be the one in front of the camera. The hunters have become the hunted, and the clock is ticking…

Carnivore is by K. Anis. Ahmed. In New York’s high-end restaurant scene one chef will do anything, and cook anything, to come out on top. Kash owes a lot of money. His restaurant, specialising in exotic meats and catering to New York’s elite, was doing well. Then business dried up, and now Boris the loan shark wants his investment back. But Kash has a plan. There’s a rumour of a dinner club, hosted in turns by billionaires. Lots of ego, and lots of money. If Kash can get the gig, it would pay off Boris and then some. He will need to offer something new, something that five of the richest men on the planet will have never tasted before. Something entirely unprecedented … But Boris is done waiting. He kidnaps Kash, takes him to a warehouse and cuts off his finger. And this gives Kash an idea.