The full programme for the final
CrimeFest in Bristol, which takes place 15 – 18 May at Bristol’s Mercure Grand
Hotel has been announced.
2025’s featured guest is icon of
the genre, Lee Child, who will be in conversation with his brother and
co-writer of the Reacher series, Andrew Child.
One of the UK’s leading crime
fiction conventions supported by title sponsor, Specsavers, CrimeFest announced
2025 will be its final event after 16 years. Organisers have said they are
putting all their energy into making the final event one to remember.
New authors announced for the
final line-up include journalist, broadcaster, author and cultural historian
and Doctor Who fan, Matthew Sweet. He’ll be joined by the actor,
novelist, and screenwriter Mark Gattis to discuss Bookish, the upcoming TV
series created by Gatiss. Set in post-WWII London Bookish follows a
bookseller who uses books to help crack crime cases. A novelisation by Sweet is
published by Quercus in July.
Gatiss is best known for his
acting work and co-creating shows including The League of Gentleman and Sherlock,
as well as writing for Doctor Who.
Also announced is TV writer Chris
Chibnall, best known as the creator and writer of the award-winning TV
drama, Broadchurch. He brings to CrimeFest his crime-writing debut Death
at the White Hart, a whodunnit set in a small village with dark secrets.
A highlight of the event is the
Ghost of Honour panel, which this year celebrates John le Carré, featuring his
two sons, Simon Cornwell and Nick Harkaway.
A film producer, Simon Cornwell
is behind adaptations of his father’s work, including The Night
Manager for the BBC starring Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman. Author Nick
Harkaway recently brought back his father’s famous literary creation - George
Smiley - with his acclaimed novel, Karla’s Choice. His new book, Sleeper
Beach, is out 10 April.
Adrian Muller, co-host and
founder of CrimeFest, said:
“Programming CrimeFest for the
past 16 years has been a labour of love. We’ve had the privilege of bringing
together some of the best crime writers in the world, and the sense of
community we’ve built is something truly special. While we’re saddened that
this will be the final convention, we’re determined to make it one to
remember—with an outstanding lineup of authors and panels to ensure CrimeFest
goes out with a bang.”
As part of the celebrations the
first 450 registered delegates will be gifted an advance copy of CrimeFest,
Leaving the Scene, an anthology with 20 newly commissioned short stories from
past (and present) attending authors. Contributors include Jeffery Deaver,
Lindsey Davis,
Simon Brett and many more.
The celebratory finale features a
record number of Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Diamond Dagger recipients in
attendance. Alongside Lee Child, fellow Diamond Dagger recipients include
Lindsey Davis, Martin Edwards, and John Harvey. Harvey has written over 100
books, including his series of jazz-influenced Charlie Resnick novels. They’ll
appear on the panel: A Cluster of Diamonds: Diamond Dagger Winners in
Conversation.
The CWA chair, author Vaseem
Khan, will also feature as Toastmaster at the CrimeFest Awards night.
Panels include a focus on the
adaption of crime fiction to film and TV, moderated by Lee Child with the
award-winning Barbara Nadel, author of the much-loved Inspector Cetin Ikmen
series, adapted for the BBC as The Turkish Detective starring Haluk
Bilginer. The panel also welcomes Barry Ryan - managing director and creative
director of TV production company Free@LastTV, best known for its flagship
series for Sky TV, Agatha Raisin.
Free@LastTV is currently adapting
the Cait Morgan Mysteries by Welsh Canadian author Cathy Ace, starring the
Welsh actress, Eve Myles. Cathy returns to CrimeFest on a number of panels,
including a discussion on mental health for writers: Keeping Yourself Sane
in a Toxic World alongside the author, playwright and radio producer,
Simon Brett, and author, Zoë Sharp.
Topics up for discussion
include Evil Crimes in Foreign Climes with the author famed for his
love of Greece,
Jeffrey Siger, Michael Ridpath (writer of the Magnus Iceland
Mysteries), the Danish-born author and journalist Heidi Amsinck, and
Singapore’s acclaimed author,
Ovidia Yu.
The Icelandic author known as the
Queen of Nordic thrillers, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, takes part on numerous panel
discussions exploring topics such as writing violence in crime fiction. She’ll
also take part in 2008 Revisited with authors who attended the very
first CrimeFest who are now taking part in the last, alongside authors Kevin
Wignall and
Steve Mosby. Mosby writes under the pen name Alex North. His
book The Whisperer Man, is being filmed for Netflix starring Robert De
Niro, Michelle Monaghan,
and Adam Scott.
Author Donna Moore, co-host and
founder of CrimeFest, said:
“It has been an absolute joy to
organise CrimeFest over the years, and we are so grateful to everyone—authors,
readers, and panellists—who have made it such a vibrant and welcoming event.
While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, we couldn’t be prouder of this final
year’s programme, which promises to be one of our best yet. We’re going out in
true CrimeFest style—with unforgettable discussions, brilliant talent, and
plenty of surprises along the way.”
Other topics book lovers can
delve include panels on historical fiction and high society, comedy in crime
fiction, Brit Grit, and the evolving role of traditional publishing.
It also features regular
favourites, including the Criminal Challenge Quiz, moderated by the author and
publishing polyglot, Maxim Jakubowski, with the chance to win a pair of passes
to 2025’s Iceland Noir.
CrimeFest was created following
the hugely successful one-off visit to Bristol in 2006 of the American Left
Coast Crime convention, and CrimeFest runs on the US model. The first CrimeFest
was organised in June 2008.
Unlike other major crime fiction
events in the UK, any commercially published author who signs up can feature on
a panel. In this way, CrimeFest has provided many authors with a platform they
would not have been offered elsewhere in the UK.
The convention also continues
its Community Outreach Programme. In partnership with the independent
Max Minerva’s Bookshop and participating publishers, CrimeFest gifts thousands
of pounds of crime fiction books for children and young adults to school
libraries.
With thanks to sponsor
Specsavers, librarians, students, and those on benefits are offered
significantly discounted tickets.
Full passes are now available,
and individual entry is open on the door dependant on availability:
https://www.crimefest.com/