Ann Cleeves, Andrew Child, Martin Edwards and Robert Goddard feature at one of Europe’s biggest crime fiction conventions this spring.
CrimeFest, sponsored by Specsavers, is hosted from 12 to 15 May at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel. It returns after a two-year hiatus from Covid.
Up to 150 authors will descend on Bristol appearing in over 50 panels.
The convention, which began in 2008, is based on the American convention model and is considered the most democratic and accessible crime fiction event in the UK.
As well as drawing readers and fans, it attracts editors, publishers and reviewers, thanks to its reputation as a hotbed for crime writing talent.
2022 Featured Guests include Ann Cleeves, the author behind Vera and Shetland, both adapted to TV with fans worldwide. ITV also recently dramatised The Long Call – the first in her Two Rivers series, featuring Detective Inspector Matthew Venn, filmed in part on location in Bristol.
Andrew Child makes his first UK appearance at CrimeFest since taking over the helm of the Jack Reacher series. An author in his own right as Andrew Grant, the younger brother of Lee Child has been hugely successful as the continuation author, dominating the bestseller lists. The books have also been dramatised for Amazon Prime series; Reacher was recently commissioned for a second series.
Also featuring are the past two winners of the Crime Writers’ Association’s highest accolade – the CWA Diamond Dagger. Robert Goddard was awarded the Dagger in 2019 and Martin Edwards in 2020.
Goddard’s books captivate readers worldwide – translated into over thirty languages – with their edge-of-the-seat pace and their labyrinthine plotting. As well as a prolific award-winning novelist, Martin Edwards is a renowned editor, reviewer, columnist and versatile writer of non-fiction, and a leading authority on crime fiction.
Director and co-founder of CrimeFest, Adrian Muller, said: “We pride ourselves on being open to all authors, which makes it a diverse and democratic celebration of the genre. Behind the scenes there is a team of passionate readers and volunteers, so there’s a friendly and inclusive energy at CrimeFest. Bristol is known for its vibrant, creative and independent spirit, and CrimeFest offers an exciting opportunity for writers and readers alike to meet and mingle.”
Panels delve into diverse topics from division in society today to historical crime, and locked room mysteries to police procedurals.
A ‘from page to screen’ panel includes the number one bestselling Icelandic writer, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and the ‘queen of twists’, Sarah Pinborough – author behind the Netflix hit, Behind Her Eyes.
A wealth of crime authors in attendance have had books recently snapped up for TV or film, including Cathy Ace, whose Cait Morgan Mysteries have been optioned by Free@Last TV, behind the hit Agatha Raisin series.
Other acclaimed authors attending include Holly Watt, Matt Wesolowski, Lynne Truss, Barry Forshaw, Simon Brett, Vaseem Khan, Helen FitzGerald, Ruth Dudley Edwards and Michael Ridpath.
This year’s Ghost of Honour, commemorates Dick Francis, and highlights include the Gala Dinner with Toastrix Zoë Sharp, creator of the Charlie Fox series of crime thrillers, and the annual CrimeFest Awards, featuring the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award.
Real life contends with fiction too, with authors such as Vicki Bradley – a detective constable in the Met police, former lawyer Steve Cavanagh and thriller writer, Simon Conway – a former British Army officer and international aid worker, who has cleared landmines in wars across the world.
CrimeFest is at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel from 12-15 May, 2022. For the full list of authors and to book, go to: https://www.crimefest.com/
