‘Dark Shadow’ by Simon Dinsdale

Published by Sharpe Books,
1 December 2023.  
ISBN: 979-887041399-0 (PB)

The opening of this story is set on a bitter cold night in Northern Island at the time of The Troubles. An undercover agent code name ‘Alpha’ is following orders against his better judgment which results in him nearly losing his life, and the death of a young man. 

Twenty-five years later we meet Detective Superintendent Christian Dane, an ex-army man who is now a police detective. Dane has an ex-wife who has whisked his 8-year-old daughter to another country, and he is unable to visit her. The fact that he writes to her regularly but keeps the letters in a file, I found rather endearing. He also has elderly parents. But his father who is a retired vicar barely speaks to him.   

Although an experienced officer, when he is called to the brutal slaying of three petty criminals, it is the most vicious crime scene he has come across. Two of the victims are identified as the Corper twins Billy and Benny, of B&B Holdings. Known as unpleasant bits of work.  Both had been shot in their legs and heads. 

He calls in Detective Constable Hayley Cross, a talented young officer, to assist him.  But whoever the killer is he/she has left little to explain why these three were murdered. With very little forensic evidence to go on Dane is puzzled. 

As the investigation proceeds two more bodies are discovered, and a French fisherman is shot on a Dorset beach. Also, with same MO a cocaine dealer in Cambridge. Putting it slowly together Dane realises, that whoever is orchestrating this is no ordinary drug dealer. None of the people who buy their drugs from him can identify him. 

Dane is under increasing pressure to apprehend the killer. When he finally realises who the killer is he turns to his old Army commander, General Smith, for help. 

Cleverly plotted this is an intriguing mystery that I could not put down.  There is also a surprise ending I certainly didn’t see coming.  I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett 

Simon Dinsdale served twelve years with the British army in the 1970’s before joining Essex police in 1980. He spent 30 years in the police eventually achieving the rank of Detective Superintendent. Over his career he led over a hundred major investigations. He now writes, travels and speaks about his experiences. He lives in Essex.

'The Edge of Darkness' by Vaseem Kahn

Published by Hodder and Stoughton,
22 January 2026.
ISBN 978 1 399 74785 1 (HB)

Like The City of Destruction, the previous book in this superb Malabar House series, The Edge of Darkness is set in India in 1951.  The setting is however completely different, moving from the seething metropolis of Bombay to the mountainous, jungle region of the Naga Hills District, an area in the north-east bordering with Burma (now Myanmar). Tensions are running high throughout India and the army, commanded by Colonel Shroff, has already been sent to quell resistance in the Naga area where insurgents are continuing their longstanding fight for independence. 

Inspector Persis Wadia is India’s first female detective. Highly intelligent and independently minded, her tactless approach to those in authority and ability to upset the male dominated police force by being outstandingly good at solving crimes, Persis has finally met her comeuppance.  She has been posted to the small and isolated Kohima police station in the Naga district which is a week’s journey from Bombay. On arrival Persis is billeted in the luxurious Hotel Victoria. She has only been there for a few weeks when the headless body of Mohan Sinha, the area’s governor, is discovered in his room. 

Tight security at the hotel dictates that the crime had to have been committed by somebody inside the building. Apart from Persis and Apeni Ao, the hotel’s female owner, and a couple of hotel staff, that left only the five guests staying in the hotel: Sinha’s aide John Templeton, American husband and wife missionaries Florence and Christopher Danvers, Italian journalist Maria Fontanelli, and businessman Oran Rake. 

The local, demoralized police chief, Roshan Seth, who used to be Persis’s boss in Bombay, has also been shunted off into the wilderness. He puts Persis in charge of the investigation. Apart from a keen young sub-inspector, James Angami, she has little other help.  Persis soon finds reasons to suspect all the guests. Some are not whom they profess to be, whilst others, including the murdered man, have previous history both with each other and the area and its troubles. So, was this killing politically motivated, a product of the modern, local insurgency as Colonel Shroff insists? Is the insurgency being encouraged and supported by outside agencies like the Americans and the Chinese who are following their own agendas? Or, is the killing more personal?  Are modern grievances, some possibly with roots extending back to earlier cruelties and crimes being settled? As the intrepid Persis tries to separate personal and local issues from the national picture, she manages to survive several hair-raising, life-threatening situations. 

In The Edge of Darkness Vaseem Kahn combines history, humour and criminal misdemeanors with an attractive range of individual characters in a delightfully easy to read and fascinating story. Apart from the odd flutter of attraction between James and herself, Persis struggles to manage her feelings for Archie Blackfinch, an Englishman she met in Bombay. Archie had been in a coma since he was shot months previously. However, he regained consciousness just before the end of the story when he rings Persis and asks her to come back to him. Will she? Won’t she?  Can one of the most attractive and interesting female characters in today’s crime genre get herself reinstated back to Bombay? Hopefully we will find out in the next installment - book no 7 - from Malabar House.
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Reviewer Angela Crowther 

Vaseem Khan was born in London in 1973. He studied finance at the London School of Economics. He first saw an elephant lumbering down the middle of the road in 1997 when he arrived in the city of Mumbai, India to work as a management consultant. This surreal sight inspired his Baby Ganesh Agency series of 'gritty cosy crime' novels. His aim with the series is to take readers on a journey to the heart of modern India. He returned to the UK in 2006 and has since worked at University College London for the Department of Security and Crime Science. Elephants are third on his list of passions, first and second being great literature and cricket, not always in that order. His first book The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra was a Times Bestseller and an Amazon Best Debut. The are five books in the series. In his Malabar House series, there are six books. His most recent series is Q Mystery, There are two book in this this series. 

http://vaseemkhan.com 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VaseemKhanUKFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/VaseemKhanOfficial/

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.

‘See How They Fall’ by Rachel Paris

Published by Hachette New Zealand,
12 March 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-86971867-1 (PB)

It's a truth universally acknowledged, at least in fiction, that a naïve young woman who marries into a wealthy family will eventually come a cropper. 

Ten years ago when Skye's eyes met Duncan Turner's across a crowded art gallery, she thought her ship had come in. That was before she met his autocratic father and realized that her life would never again be in her   own very talented hands. Now Sir Campbell Turner is dead, and his three sons are vying for control of the Turner millions. 

It all begins to go pear-shaped during an autumn weekend at the Turner estate. Skye wakes with the worst kind of throwing-up hangover despite not having drunk much. Then her small daughter Tilly is taken ill, rapidly deteriorates and is rushed into Intensive Care. She subsequently learns that Nina, her sister-in-law, has died after exhibiting similar symptoms. When arsenic poisoning is revealed as the cause, Skye and Duncan come under suspicion and are not allowed to see Tilly. That's when Duncan begins to behave oddly. Skye develops suspicions of her own, and enlists the help of Detective Senior Sergeant Mei O'Connor, who is in charge of the investigation into Nina's death and Tilly's poisoning. 

Mei's boss, Detective Chief Superintendent Wilson, is keen to wrap up the case as soon as possible. Soon a suspect is under arrest – but Mei is far from sure the evidence supports her guilt. From that point onwards, it's a case of two beleaguered women against the might of a powerful family and a senior policeman in line for promotion. 

Maybe it's just coincidence that the bad guys are all men, and nearly all the good ones are women, maybe not. To her credit, Rachel Paris has created a cast of widely varying characters. The three Turner brothers are quite different from each other: authoritarian Jamie, feckless Hugo, wavering Duncan.  Mei's colleague Macca is easily led, and Wilson is far too impressed by power and money. Skye is trusting at first but soon shows her core of steel against considerable odds. Mei is determined, and a firm believer in justice, even against similar odds. Ana, the only friend Skye trusts, is caring and motherly. 

The setting is Australia, alien territory to many readers, though not to the author. Place names and distances are unfamiliar, but locations like status-symbol houses, soulless police headquarters and hospitals with endless corridors are universal and well portrayed. 

It's a debut novel, but you wouldn't know it. There's variety of pace, domestic detail to leaven the tightly wrought plot, plenty of emotional undertow, and eventually the kind of spiralling into disaster that characterizes the denouement of the best crime fiction. Rachel Paris is one to watch.
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Reviewer: Lynne Patrick

Rachel Paris won the Phoenix Prize for the best manuscript in her Masters at Auckland University. She came to writing after a highly successful 20-year law career, specialising in fintech. She gained her Masters in Law at Harvard University. See How They Fall is her debut novel.

Lynne Patrick has been a writer ever since she could pick up a pen, and has enjoyed success with short stories, reviews and feature journalism, but never, alas, with a novel. She crossed to the dark side to become a publisher for a few years and is proud to have launched several careers which are now burgeoning. She lives in Oxfordshire in a house groaning with books, about half of them crime fiction.

‘Lucien by J. R. Thornton’.

Published by Magpie Books,
19 March 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-83643-257-9 (PB)

Christopher Novotny’s father died when he was two and his mother raised him in relatively poor circumstances.  However, he had a particular aptitude for art, spending much of his childhood drawing and painting and, by the age of 10, he had won a city-wide competition despite being underage.  He was disqualified but one of the judges, Marcus, who took an interest in him and, over the next 5 years, his progress.  Then Marcus got a job at Harvard and with his assistance Christopher was able to take a place there.

Christopher arrives at Harvard and meets his room-mate, Lucien Orsini-Conti, already a member of this world of privilege.  Lucien, for reasons which are not apparent, includes the slightly-bewildered Christopher in his group, renaming him Atlas.  Atlas is drawn into a world of parties, the urgency of belonging to the right clubs, and very, very wealthy new ‘friends’.  Atlas, unsurprisingly, finds this way of life very expensive and, indeed, finds it difficult to keep up with his college work as well.  Lucien comes up with a solution that relies on Atlas’s artistic skills.  Although Atlas is not keen, he finds it difficult to stand up to Lucien and honestly, a bit of him is interested – he is of course a talented artist and a bit of him might wonder if he could really pull the scheme off.

This is a well-told story that holds the interest.  It feels familiar – a variation on the coming of age novel.  The central friendship is based on the charismatic Lucien, who is at once attractive and slightly sinister.  He’s well-established at Harvard, but what does anyone really know about him?  The story does provide one more twist for Christopher as it reaches its somewhat melancholic end.
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Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood
Other books by this author:  Beautiful Country

J. R. Thornton was born in London. He graduated from Harvard College in 2014 where he studied history, English, and Chinese. An internationally ranked junior tennis player, he competed for Harvard and on the professional circuit. He was a member of the inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars, obtaining an M.A. from Tsinghua University in Beijing. He now lives in Italy, working for AC Milan. Lucien is his second novel.

Jo Hesslewood.  Crime fiction has been my favourite reading material since as a teenager I first spotted Agatha Christie on the library bookshelves.  For twenty-five years the commute to and from London provided plenty of reading time.  I am fortunate to live in Cambridge, where my local crime fiction book club, Crimecrackers, meets at Heffers Bookshop .  I enjoy attending crime fiction events and currently organise events for the Margery Allingham Society.

‘The Sirens Sang of Murder’ by Sarah Caudwell

Published by Robinson,
2002.
ISBN: 978-1-84119-575-8 (PB)

Professor Hilary Tamar who lives in Oxford makes use of the flat in Middle Temple of her former pupil Timothy Shepherd, when a part of research requires frequent visits to the Public Record Office. 

Hilary has long enjoyed a friendship with the young members of Timothy’s Chambers, Selenna Jarden, Desmond Ragwort, Michael Cantrip, in 62 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn.  And in the Revenue chambers next door, Julia Larwood permanently to be found peacefully studying the latest Finance bill. 

Our story opens with Cantrip and Julia collaborating in the composition of a novel based on their experiences of life at the bar, to be titled ‘Chancery’. Cantrip is writing the first instalment. 

There are two important matters in this the third book in the series, firstly Michael Cantrip is asked to visit Jersey in the Channel Islands to advise on 'the Daffodil Settlement.' Cantrip is delighted to be in Jersey when he should be attending Court in London. 

And the second notable event was following long months of debate, negotiation and intrigue on the part of its supporters and opponents for the installation of a Telex machine.  Having discovered the delights of the Telex machine, Cantrip decides to message everyone in the office.  Unfortunately, all his messages are read by everyone in the office before they reach the correct recipient. The most amusing of Cantrip messages is the one sent to Henrry, the senior clerk, Marked, absolutely, Private, and Tremendously confidential.  Something about his two wives and starving children. Oops! 

Cantrip is a lovely character and while in Jersey, he discovers that one of those involved with the Trust, the Countess Gabriella, is afraid she is being spied on, and he determines to her look after her.  But there are problems afoot. Members of the Trust seem to be dying before their time.  Paperwork mislaid, and there is a lot on money involved and Cantrip needs to find it. I may not have mentioned Judge Arthur Welladay better known as ‘Welliboots, but he also turns up in Jersey, mudding the waters somewhat. 

But help is at hand with the arrival and help of amateur investigator Hilary Tamar. Can Hilary solve the problem to enable the inmates of 62 New Square to attend their favourite wine bar, The Corkscrew. And will Cantrip, find a safe passage back to the Lincoln's Inn Chambers. 

This book is a delight. Wonderful characters.  A nice intriguing, convoluted mystery.  Not to be missed.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Sarah Caudwell (1939-2000) was the pseudonym of Sarah Cockburn. She studied law at St Anne's College, Oxford and, practised as a barrister for several years in Lincoln's Inn. She later specialised in international tax planning at a major London bank. She is best known for a series of four murder stories written between 1980 and 1999, centred on the lives of a group of young barristers practicing in Lincoln's Inn and narrated by Hilary Tamar, a professor of medieval law. She died in January 2000.

‘The Second Traitor’ by Alex Gerlis.

Published by Canelo,
12 March 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-80436 378-2 (PB)

It’s September 1940 and German forces have swept through Europe and are now in France and looking towards the shores of England.  The Nazis are making plans to invade Great Britain and the decision has been made to use a flotilla of barges to convey thousands of troops and material.  The invasion needs to be made at a specific time to ensure that weather conditions and tides are favourable for such a huge endeavour, and September is the month. 

The British intelligence agencies are, of course, aware of this plan and have established the Invasion Warning Sub-Committee to counter the threat.  The existence of the sinister organisation, The Group, is of concern – it’s a collection of British and Irish Nazi collaborators, aiming to pave the way for the invasion forces.  The spy chiefs are also searching for a double agent, ‘Archie’, a Soviet spy/British traitor.  They are confident that he works in MI6 and an elaborate scheme is set up to try to narrow down the list of suspects.  However, to make matters more confused, they are now sure that there is a second traitor, ‘Bertie’, at work.  With suspicions at paranoia pitch, MI6 needs to find the spies. 

This is a complicated novel, with a large cast, many of whom have multiple identities, names and masters – a list of characters is provided.  Further complexity is introduced by the number of countries involved, as the story moves between England, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Russia. 

This is the second of a four-novel series, The Double Agent  adroitly handles the combination of double agents operating in Europe in a constantly tense and threatening atmosphere.  As such, this is perhaps one of those instances in which the reader might prefer to read the first instalment, in order to fully appreciate this continuation, which sets the scene for the next episode.
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Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood
Other books by this author:  The Double Agent series:  Spy Masters, and The Richard Prince Thrillers. 

Alex Gerlis was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. He graduated from Hull University with a degree in Law and Politics and after a variety of jobs in political research and journalism joined the BBC in 1984 on a three month contract and ending up staying for over twenty-seven years. His BBC career began as a researcher on Panorama and he then worked as a Producer on a number of programmes, including The Money Programme. In 1990 he became an Assistant Editor on Breakfast News, covering major stories such as the first Gulf War and the fall of Margaret Thatcher. 

Jo Hesslewood.  Crime fiction has been my favourite reading material since as a teenager I first spotted Agatha Christie on the library bookshelves.  For twenty-five years the commute to and from London provided plenty of reading time.  I am fortunate to live in Cambridge, where my local crime fiction book club, Crimecrackers, meets at Heffers Bookshop .  I enjoy attending crime fiction events and currently organise events for the Margery Allingham Society. 

‘The Devil’s Smile’ by Daniel Sellers

Published by Allison & Busby,
21 August 2025.
ISBN: 978-0-7490-3276-0 (HB)

It is October 1995 and Adrian Brown and Sheila Hargreaves have moved on since their involvement with the infamous Lollipop Man murders.  Sheila is working on a new TV show, Yorkshire Crime Time, and has also written a book about the murders.  Adrian Brown, now a second-year student at Leeds University, is trying to get life back to normal.  Their unusual relationship means that Sheila has become fond of Adrian and she is currently waiting for his contribution to the book.  

Adrian goes out for the evening, but a violent encounter with a man he met in a club sobers him up and he knows that he has had a close call.  He watches Sheila’s programme and she reports on the murder of a young man, elements of which sound familiar to him, but it takes him a while to phone the police.  A few weeks later Sheila’s co-presenter, Tony Tranter, goes missing.  When his body is found, Sheila presents the appeal programme.  As information about Tony’s private life becomes available and rumours abound, shocking his family and friends, Adrian and Sheila find themselves working together again. 

The plot holds the attention as the different strands interweave and unravel.  Sheila and Adrian are of course, central to the story and hold their own against other strong characters from the police, press and family.  The pace of the story changes throughout, but the tension remains, encouraging the reader to try just one more chapter.  The ending is neat and surprising.  The book is the second in the series but works well as a stand-alone. 
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Review: Jo Hesslewood 

Daniel Sellers grew up in Yorkshire. He has lived and worked in Liverpool, Glasgow, Dublin, and Vaasa in Finland. Daniel loves crime fiction, old and new, particularly the work of Margaret Murphy, Mo Hayder, Ruth Rendell, P. D. James and Josephine Tey. He is a huge (if not obsessive!) fan of Agatha Christie. Daniel's detective thrillers are pacy and dark, with as much interest in whydunit as who. He now lives in Argyll with his partner. 

Jo Hesslewood.  Crime fiction has been my favourite reading material since as a teenager I first spotted Agatha Christie on the library bookshelves.  For twenty-five years the commute to and from London provided plenty of reading time.  I am fortunate to live in Cambridge, where my local crime fiction book club, Crimecrackers, meets at Heffers Bookshop .  I enjoy attending crime fiction events and currently organise events for the Margery Allingham Society.

The Reading Agency.

launches landmark prison reading campaign celebrating 20 years of Quick Reads during the National Year of Reading

The Reading Agency today announces a landmark UK prison reading campaign, made possible with the generous support of The Henry Smith Foundation during the government-backed National Year of Reading.

The Reading Agency today announces a landmark UK prison reading campaign, made possible with the generous support of The Henry Smith Foundation during the government-backed National Year of Reading.

Marking the 20th anniversary of its flagship Quick Reads programme, The Reading Agency will work in collaboration with prison partners to deliver 480,000 books into prisons across the UK, ensuring that every person in prison has access to high-quality, accessible reading. The prison campaign forms part of The Reading Agency’s wider ambition to gift one million Quick Reads titles during its 20th anniversary year, ensuring accessible books reach communities and readers who face the greatest barriers to reading.

Thanks to funding from The Henry Smith Foundation, this ambitious campaign will bring Quick Reads directly onto prison wings and into cells, embed reading within education and rehabilitation programmes, and create sustainable reading pathways that continue beyond release.

The campaign comes at a pivotal time. The UK is facing a challenging reading landscape, with reading enjoyment and confidence in decline across all age groups.  Research consistently shows that reading for pleasure plays a powerful role in shaping life outcomes. Studies link regular reading with improved literacy, stronger educational attainment, better mental wellbeing and increased social mobility.  People in the criminal justice system are particularly affected by reading challenges: Ministry of Justice data shows that 65% of adult prisoners struggle to read unfamiliar text, with significant numbers requiring support to improve literacy and work-related skills.

Inspection bodies have repeatedly highlighted the vital role reading plays in rehabilitation - enabling prisoners to build confidence, develop skills, strengthen family relationships, and prepare for employment.

Launched in 2006, Quick Reads publishes short, compelling books by brilliant (bestselling and emerging) authors, specifically designed for adults who find reading challenging or who struggle with concentration. Over the past two decades, the programme has published 147 titles, sold or gifted more than 5.6 million copies, and generated nearly 6.4 million library loans - providing a vital gateway into reading for people who might otherwise be excluded.

Launching in the autumn, the project will:
Distribute nearly half a million Quick Reads titles across the prison estate.
Deliver reading packs to people entering and leaving prison to support continuity beyond the prison gates.

Embed Quick Reads within existing prison education and supported reading programmes

Provide activation toolkits and engagement materials.

Deliver author visits and ambassador events in prisons.

Work with prison leaders and education teams to champion reading for pleasure.

The programme aligns with inspectorate recommendations on strengthening reading provision in prisons. A key feature of the campaign will be co-production with people in prison, ensuring that the titles made available reflect their interests, experiences and reading needs, and helping to shape future commissioning.

To mark the 20th anniversary of Quick Reads, The Reading Agency will expand its author ambassador programme in prisons, working with leading writers to inspire reading engagement in prisons. The campaign will also be championed by Lee Child, internationally bestselling author and the UK’s first Prison Reading Laureate, who will support the initiative and contribute a new Quick Read to the programme’s collection, helping bring accessible stories to readers across the prison estate.

Lee Child, author and Prison Reading Laureate said: “Reading matters in prison. It offers escape, but it also offers something more powerful: focus, confidence and the sense of achievement that comes from finishing a book. Quick Reads are an ideal bridge for people who may have lost the habit of reading or never had the chance to develop it. Short, compelling stories can spark a renewed interest in books — and that spark can lead anywhere. Making sure that every prisoner has access to engaging, well-written books during the National Year of Reading is not just symbolic. It’s practical, purposeful and potentially life-changing.”

Karen Napier MBE, CEO of The Reading Agency, said: “As we celebrate 20 years of Quick Reads, we are proud to place some of the UK’s most marginalised readers at the heart of the National Year of Reading. Reading is a powerful tool for rehabilitation, wellbeing and opportunity. By bringing books onto wings and into cells, and by working in partnership across the prison system, we aim to spark new reading journeys that continue far beyond the prison gates.”

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL 2026

Simon Theakston and Lisa Jewell © Gerard Binks

 

Festival Dates: 23 – 26 July 2026

www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

#TheakstonsCrime

Tuesday 14th April: Harrogate International Festivals today revealed the full programme for the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival at a special reception at Hachette, Carmelite House in London.

This year’s programme has been curated by bestselling psychological thriller writer Lisa Jewell and features over 140 crime and thriller writers, making it the biggest event ever in the Festival’s illustrious twenty-three-year history. An all-star line-up of bestselling authors and crime fiction names including
Richard Armitage, Ardal O’Hanlon, Andi Osho, Denise Mina, Adam Kay, Abir Mukherjee, Elly Griffiths, Vaseem Khan, Val McDermid and M.W. Craven join Special Guest headliners Ann Cleeves and Brenda Blethyn, Anthony Horowitz, Holly Jackson, Chris Brookmyre, Chris Whitaker, Jane Harper, LJ Ross, Nadine Matheson, Gillian McAllister, Steve Cavanagh, Alice Feeney, and US crime superstar David Baldacci, on the packed programme.

Taking place at Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel from 23-26 July, this year’s Festival offers crime fiction fans even more opportunities to hear from superstar writers and discover new talent with the launch of the Swift Half Stage. This innovative new space championing brilliant storytellers, rising stars and boundary-pushing creatives in a series of bite-size events, features authors including Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, Mick Herron, Ahana Virdi, Will Carver, Clare McGowan, Kia Abdullah and Traitor’s star Harriet Tyce. 

Festival highlights include the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards Ceremony and the much-anticipated Critics’ New Blood panel showcasing four extraordinary debut novelists, Anna Maloney, Leodora Darlington, M.K. Oliver and Mel Pennant, selected by leading crime fiction critics. For aspiring writers, Creative Thursday offers an immersive day of workshops and talks led by industry experts and bestselling writers including
A.A Dhand, GR Halliday and Julie Mae Cohen, with the rare opportunity to pitch work in the ‘Dragon’s Pen.’  

From dark domestic noir to the impact of technology on the criminal mind and a celebration of Agatha Christie’s enduring influence on the genre fifty years after her death, there is plenty to thrill everyone on this year’s programme. Evenings offer exclusive opportunities for fans to engage with authors at relaxed events, include the hilarious Interview Bingo and the hotly contested Late Night Quiz, compèred by Val McDermid and Mark Billingham. Two Author Dinners will see readers join forces with crime writers K.T. Nguyen, Sean Watkins, Emma Christie, Rupa Mahadevan, William Hussey and many others to solve a fiendishly twisty murder mystery, hosted by Mel Pennant.  

Lisa Jewell, bestselling author and 2026 Festival Programming Chair said:

“This year marks Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival’s twenty-third year. Every year it gets a bit better, a bit bigger, more polished and more exciting, and 2026 promises to be the best Festival yet. We were spoiled for choice when we compiled this year’s programme; never before have there been as many rich pickings in the fields of crime, thrillers and debuts, and this year’s programme is overflowing with new voices, old voices, literary legends and Festival favourites. So, here’s to 2026; let the sun shine, the drinks flow and a bounty of brilliant writers cast their spells as we gather together to enjoy an unmissable year at the best crime-writing Festival in the world.” 

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

“We are extremely proud to support this world class event for an incredible twenty-third year and welcome over 140 writers for what promises to be our biggest and boldest Festival ever. Lisa Jewell and the committee have delivered an outstanding programme packed with legends of the genre, massive internationally bestselling authors, rising stars, thrilling panels and exclusive events. We look forward to an unforgettable Festival as we celebrate the very best in global crime writing this summer.” 

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

“We are thrilled to reveal the full programme for this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, curated by Lisa Jewell and the Programming Committee. As we celebrate the 60^th anniversary of Harrogate International Festivals, we are excited to expand the Festival by introducing the Swift Half Stage to offer even more for our community of crime fiction fans to discover and enjoy this year. Whether you are a reader or a writer – and whether you’ve been coming to the Festival for twenty-three years or this will be your first time - we look forward to welcoming you to Harrogate in July.” 

Weekend and Day Rover tickets on sale from 16 April, with individual events on sale from 13 May. To book tickets, please call +44(0)1423 562 303 or email info@harrogate-festival.org.uk. More information about tickets and packages can be found here.   

‘The Faces of the Dead’ by Chris Nickson

Published by Severn House,
7 April 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-4483-1630-4 (HB)

 It is 1944 and the war with Germany is going more positively for Britain and her allies, because America has entered the war. In Leeds, Police Sergeant Cathy Marsden is still finding that her secondment to the Special Investigation Branch (the SIB) is a satisfying way to serve her country during wartime. Cathy was seconded to the SIB because of her extensive knowledge of the Leeds community, including the criminal elements, and she has consistently provided valuable information to assist investigations. After a slightly awkward start when she first joined SIB, she has been fully accepted as a worthy member of the team by her male colleagues. Cathy has been allowed a week’s leave because her boyfriend, Tom, has just returned after a long tour of service abroad, and her happiness increases when Tom asks her to marry him. 

Unfortunately, Cathy’s leave is cut short because she is summoned back by her boss, Sergeant Adam Faulkner. Cathy is surprised that the urgent crime that has curtailed her leave is the death of a minor villain. Eric Carr, and his girlfriend, Nina Cordell, have been killed in a car crash, and even if foul play was suspected, this would be a case for the regular police force, not SIB. 

However, all becomes clear when Faulkner explains that, in the boot of the car, there was a large amount of food stolen from the NAAFI, and also chocolate and cigarettes that must have been stolen from the American military stores. This American involvement means that an American military investigator is sent to temporarily join the team. Warrant Officer Frank Graves gets off to a bad start with Cathy when he assumes that she is an office assistant who is there merely to type, file and make drinks. Graves is slightly embarrassed when it is made clear that Cathy is a sergeant, the same rank as the boss of the SIB, but Cathy is unimpressed by his initial attitude, and this makes her feel wary when she is asked to work with Graves. Cathy’s task is to talk to all her contacts and find out all she can about the two accident victims in an attempt to discover how they acquired the stolen goods. She finds this very stressful, especially because she had known Nina, who had worked as a prostitute when Cathy had been a police officer, and viewing the accident scene and Nina’s body had been distressing even for a seasoned policewoman. 

With the help of the SIB, Graves manages to identify the American soldier who was responsible for the thefts from the military stores, but the man has deserted and gone on the run. While Graves is determined to hunt down the American thief, the SIB team have a serious situation developing, which threatens to overwhelm law and order in their city. It appears that a minor villain has decided to become a criminal overlord who will rule Leeds, even though this involves eliminating the potential opposition of other small-time criminals. The team are surprised that any of the men they know of are clever enough to run such an operation, and they struggle to identify the villain who has emerged from the ranks. They attempt to prevent brutal murders in the criminal fraternity, even though the criminal always seems to be one step ahead of them. Tension in the local community rises as people lose trust in the police and SIB’s ability to control the situation. Life on the streets becomes increasingly dangerous and Cathy finds herself thrust into taking more responsibility than she had ever expected. 

The Faces of the Dead is the second book in the series featuring Cathy Marsden. It has a multilayered, beautifully constructed plot and an engaging protagonist who is part of a diverse and likeable team. The historical background is superb, embracing the weariness and pain of Britain in the last stages of the Second World War, and the strong, determined, female protagonist reveals the challenges facing a working-class woman trying to make her way in a male dominated world. The Faces of the Dead is a fascinating read, a page turner, which I wholeheartedly recommend.
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Reviewer: Carol Westron

 

Chris Nickson was born and raised in Leeds. He is the author of historical mysteries set in Leeds. The Richard Nottingham books are set in the 1730’s. The books are about more than murder. They're about the people of Leeds and the way life was - which mean full of grinding poverty for all but the wealthy. They're also about families, Nottingham and his and Sedgwick, and the way relationships grow and change, as well as the politics, when there was one law for the rich, and another, much more brutal, for everyone else. Chris has penned a further six series, and to date has published 37 books. For full details visit his web site. In addition to this Chris is also a music journalist, reviewing for magazines and online outlets

http://chrisnickson.co.uk/ 

Carol Westron is a Golden Age expert who has written many articles on the subject and given papers at several conferences. She is the author of several series: contemporary detective stories and police procedurals, comedy crime and Victorian Murder Mysteries. Her most recent publications are Paddling in the Dead Sea and Delivering Lazarus, books 2 and 3 of the Galmouth Mysteries, which began with
The Fragility of Poppies. 

www.carolwestron.com

‘The Importance of Being Murdered’ by Debbie Young

Published by Boldwood Books,
26 March 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-83518581-O (PB)

The chances of persuading a well-known actor to take part in a production by a village dramatic society are remote to say the least – but Bertram Manchester retired (or possibly was retired) from his long-running TV show some time ago, and work has been thin on the ground ever since. So, when he's offered the opportunity to play the lead in the Bunbury Players' production of The Importance of Being Ernest, he can't resist, even though he's pushing seventy and the character is a young late-Victorian blade. 

The rest of the cast aren't exactly ecstatic. Evan Bevan the gamekeeper, usually the leading man, resents being demoted to the role of butler. Rose Truffle isn't looking forward to being Bertram's love interest. Geoffrey Bunch the director nurses bitter memories of past encounters. Even Millicent Peach the wardrobe mistress and village shopkeeper is disappointed that his groceries are delivered from Fortnum and Mason instead of boosting her ailing bank balance.   

When Bertram's body is found in his dressing room shortly before curtain-up on the first night, Detective Inspector Whistler and his subordinate (his word) DC Windermere are presented with a stage full of suspects, all with solid alibis and ample motive. The question is, who hated Bertram enough to do the dastardly deed?  

This is cosy crime at its cosiest: a Marple-esque village replete with quirky characters, an old-school detective who can't even remember the suspects' names, his bright young sidekick keen to make her mark. Geoffrey Bunch is an old pro fallen on hard times; the Truffle sisters are giggly and flighty; Tristram Shaw the vicar carries a torch for the oblivious shopkeeper; the gamekeeper and the vet are in a constant state of good-natured feuding.  

In the end, of course, the murderer could be anyone. So, will DC Windermere solve the crime before exasperation with her comically dimwitted boss drives someone to make a confession? Will the play go ahead without its new star? Would he have been up to the job in any case? And most important of all, will the shop, the centre of village life, survive to tell the tale? That would be telling!
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Reviewer: Lynne Patrick 

 

Debbie Young was born and raised in Sidcup, Kent. When she was 14, her family relocated to Germany for her father’s job. Debbie spent four years at Frankfurt International School, broadening her outlook as well as gaining the then brand new IB (International Baccalaureate). She returned to the UK to earn her BA (Hons) in English and Related Literature at the University of York, then lived and worked for a while in London and the West of England as a journalist and PR consultant.  In 1991 she moved to the Cotswolds. In 2002, she married a Scot named Gordon whom she met in Swindon – and not, as village rumour once had it, a Swede named Scottie.  She has written four series. Her most recent one is Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries. Death at the Village Christmas Fair, is the fifth book in this series. 

https://authordebbieyoung.com  

Lynne Patrick has been a writer ever since she could pick up a pen, and has enjoyed success with short stories, reviews and feature journalism, but never, alas, with a novel. She crossed to the dark side to become a publisher for a few years and is proud to have launched several careers which are now burgeoning. She lives in Oxfordshire in a house groaning with books, about half of them crime fiction.