National Crime Reading Month
Returns this June
This June, readers are being
encouraged to #PickUpAPageTurner and delve into the nation’s favourite genre:
crime fiction – and feel better about life.
National Crime Reading Month
(NCRM)
is a month-long festival of reading hosted by the Crime Writers’
Association (CWA)
in partnership with the national charity, The Reading Agency.
Research from The Reading Agency,
the national charity who work across the UK to empower people of all ages to
read, shows that just 30 minutes of reading a week helps adults to report
greater life satisfaction.
Karen Napier, CEO, The Reading
Agency said: “Through our adult reading work, we know how important crime
writing is both for lifelong reading lovers and for those who are just starting
out on their reading journey. We’re delighted to be taking part in NCRM once
more this year and help new readers discover great reads.”
Karen added: “Research shows that
readers of crime fiction report that the strong narratives and structured plots
are engaging and comforting, with the distance from events helping give the
reader a sense of refuge from the world. So, reading crime fiction can actually
be good for your wellbeing.”
Throughout June, a host of author
events will take place across the UK. NCRM is designed to celebrate the UK’s
most popular genre and get the nation reading. Last year saw 150 author events.
National Crime Reading Month
(NCRM)
will launch at the crime writing festival,
Capital Crime in London on 1
June at 6.30pm
with the NCRM Reading Ambassador, book blogger, Stu Cummins,
who
will interview authors CL Taylor and TM Logan.
Jess Faraday, Communications
Manager at the CWA, said: “There are author talks up and down the country in
local libraries, or online. It’s a truly gateway genre as the most popular
genre in the UK, and our ambition is to inspire everyone to pick up a page
turner this June.”
A highlight for the month is from
Cambridge University Library with a brand-new exhibition, Murder by the Book, celebrating 20th century British crime
fiction, curated by the award-winning novelist, Nicola Upson. Supported by Arts
Council England, the exhibition features rare books, and audio-visual
recordings exploring the genre from its origins, with Wilkie Collins and
Charles Dickens to contemporary bestsellers, such as Val McDermid and Ian
Rankin.
There will also be a series of
free online events, accessible to all.
On 4 June an online panel
discussion, Murderous Inspirations, Crime Novels that Inspire Crime Writers,
features writers Fiona Veitch Smith, Abir Mukherjee and Nadine Matheson, who
will discuss seminal crime novels, chaired by crime critic and broadcaster
Barry Forshaw.
There are also live author events
in libraries across the country, such as a session on Reading Crime Fiction at
Evesham Library with local authors,
Linda Mather, and Jacqui Rogers.
Ruislip Manor Library present an
Evening with Will Dean; the bestselling author will be visiting from his home
in Sweden to talk about his latest novel, The Chamber.
Wirral libraries also bring a
series of author talks, including
CWA Diamond Dagger winner, Martin Edwards,
who was described by Richard Osman as a ‘true master of British crime writing.’
In the South-west, readers can
meet two electrifying crime authors,
Sarah Hilary and Jane Casey, who will give
a talk on their creative process at Lydney Library in Gloucestershire.
On 13 June, Waterstones Piccadilly will celebrate NCRM with an
event featuring psychological thriller authors Andrea Mara and Kia Abdullah,
hosted by blogger Stu Cummings.
Cambridge University Libraries
will also host their online ‘Really Popular Book Club’ with a free online event
on 18 June.
In Scotland, Blackwell’s of
Edinburgh will host a book launch of Dead Man Driving by Lesley Kelly on 19
June.
And on the 20 June in the
North-west, Leigh Library hosts a panel featuring authors Caroline England,
Paul Finch, Antony Johnston, and Norman Wells, with a fish and chip supper
included in the ticket price.
Historical crime author Lindsey
Davis, who has written more than 30 novels, will be offering Coffee and Crime,
with a talk about her latest novel, Murder on the Tiber, at Manor Farm Library
in Ruislip on 21 June.
Readers are asked to keep an eye
on the website www.crimereading.com as new events are added throughout the
month.
National Crime Reading Month also
features the Essex Book Festival’s Criminally Good Day Out on 29 June, with
multiple author talks, including the bestselling Nicci French, and a film
screening at Electric Palace.
For a full programme of events
for National Crime Reading Month, go to www.crimereading.com and follow the
conversation online #PickUpAPageTurner @The_CWA