Big names join biggest Bloody Scotland line-up
Stirling is set for another bumper Bloody Scotland, as the crime writing festival returns for a fourth year.
Scotland’s top talent and authors from across the world will travel to the city on the weekend of September 11, for a host of events: from traditional talks by authors to a ‘lockin’ at a city pub.
The festival showcases the best of national and international crime writing, and festival manager Dom Hastings said he is delighted at the strength of the programme for this year’s event.
“I think this is our biggest year yet,” he told the Observer. “We have got some fanastic authors signed up, including Martina Cole and Linwood Barclay, and have managed to get the big names and top Scottish authors as well.
“Martina Cole has sold 14 million books in the UK, she is a massive deal and rarely does public appearances. She lives in Spain now, but is coming over just to do the festival.”
Alongside Martina Cole and Canadian bestseller Linwood Barclay, are fellow award winners Arne Dahl, godfather of Scottish noir Ian Rankin, the creator of Roman detective Falco Lindsey Davis and Philip Kerr.
The festival also coincides with the 125th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s birth, with homage being paid to the legendary author. Sophie Hannah, who revived the characater of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot last year, is returning to Bloody Scotland and The Poisons of Agatha Christie, where the 13 substances used in her books will be examined, takes place at the Stirling Highland Hotel.
Author Alex Grey, who was one of the co-founders of Bloody Scotland, said that she had been heavily influenced by Christie.
“I read all her books when I was a young woman,” she said. “I loved the whole idea of a series of events, and trying to work out who was responsible for the crime.
Alex, who will be appearing with Ann Cleeves at the Albert Halls and presenting some of the best new books at the Highland Hotel, said she is looking forward to seeing old friends and discovering new talents.
Author Christopher Brookmyre, who will be discussing his latest Jack Parlabane novel at the Albert Halls and improvising at Whose Crime is it Anyway?, said he is looking forward to returning to Bloody Scotland.
“This is the fourth year now, which is incredible,” he said. “On the one hand it feels like it has always been going on, and on another it seems like it just started.’’