Killer line-up revealed for top crime-writing festival
Harrogate International Festivals has revealed the line-up for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
Festival programming chairman, Rebus author Ian Rankin, has curated a stellar line-up featuring producer and presenter Richard Osman with the second instalment in his record-breaking cosy crime caper The Thursday Murder Club series; espionage expert Mick Herron, author of the highly acclaimed Slough House series.
Also appearing are mystery maestro Elly Griffiths with her latest Ruth Galloway whodunnit, fans’ favourite Vera and Shetland author Ann Cleeves, masterful Mark Billingham with his Tom Thorne prequel Cry Baby and ‘Queen of Crime’ Val McDermid.
The event returns to Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel from Thursday July 22 to Sunday July 25.
The festivities will continue with four days of talks and panels from crime writing royalty – such as the queens of domestic noir Clare Mackintosh and CL Taylor in conversation – alongside the most exciting new voices including McDermid’s highly anticipated New Blood panel, showcasing the most dynamic debuts. Weekend break packages are now on sale.
Ian Rankin said: “After a year of once-in-a-lifetime challenges, I couldn’t be more excited to stage this celebration of all things crime!
“With the announcement of our special guests, the countdown is officially on to this year’s festival and I’m looking forward to unveiling what else we have in store,” he added.
Chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals Sharon Canavar, said: 2The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is a lynch-pin in the publishing calendar – an annual pilgrimage for crime fiction aficionados – and we are thrilled to reveal the first taste of this year’s unmissable programme.
“Harrogate International Festivals has long pioneered innovative and unique cultural experiences, and over
the course of the past year we have shown great flexibility and creativity to continue with this mission.
“The team will, of course, carefully monitor developments to government rules and regulations as we look forward to our return to the legendary Old Swan Hotel in July.”
Simon Theakston, executive director of Theakston, said: “We are always so proud to support the biggest and best crime writing festival in the world.
“We’re very much looking forward to welcoming the best of best in crime – along with their enthusiastic fans – to Harrogate this summer, to hear from world-renowned storytellers with a glass of Old Peculier in hand.”
The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival forms part of the diverse year-round portfolio curated by the charitable organisation Harrogate International Festivals, delivered with the mission to bring immersive cultural experiences to as many people as possible.
The longlist forTheakston Old PeculierCrime Novel of the Year has also been revealed.
It transports readers around the world from California to Sweden and Calcutta to a remote Irish island and explores every sub-genre from Scandi noir to murderous families.
The line-up is led by Ian Rankin for his A Song for The Dark Times, Mark Billingham for Cry Baby and Steve Cavanagh for Fifty Fifty.
The winner will be announced on the Thursday of the festival.
For information about how Harrogate International Festivals will deliver a safe Festival visit www.harrogateinternationalfestivals. com site.