It would be a crime to miss it

Get ready for the crime wave of the year

Harrogate: twee tearooms, genteel gardens, healing spas. Believe us, you’ll need them. For one long weekend in July, the world of crime writing will descend again on this sleepy Yorkshire town. The body count is set to soar as hordes of authors, publishers, agents and fans decamp for the biggest and very best crime writing festival.

The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate is a not to be missed event.  Let’s examine the evidence: George Pelecanos, Val McDermid, Laura Lippman: a roll call of cool. Hang on for your life as many of the biggest authors in crime fiction gather for Europe’s most gripping crime writing festival.

The scene is set: July 23rd 2009: the Crown Hotel. The days are hot, the nights sultry. You’re at the hotel bar, pint of Theakstons in one hand, a novel by your favourite crime writer in t’other.  And stood next to you - Simon Kernick, Mark Billingham, Lee Child… Witness some of the finest ‘criminal minds’ knocking heads in a series of debates, seminars and on-stage interviews. And don’t miss the notorious late night crime quiz and prestigious award ceremony for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year.

Unlike other literary festivals, the Festival Programming Committee is made up of authors, agents and publishers. And presiding over this year’s murderous mayhem will be the esteemed crime author, Laura Wilson.

This will be an event packed with passion, pace and pump-action prose, propelling you through an unforgettable weekend. It will be murder all round!  Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a bumpy ride: 2009’s Festival is set to kick up some delicious and evil twists and turns.