2022 | Festival Programme | at a glance Thursday 21st July 9-5.30pm Creative Thursday: Crime Fiction Writing Workshop 8.00pm Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel Awards Friday 22nd July 9.00am Special Guest Paula Hawkins 10.30am It’s a Long Walk, Not a Short Hop 12.00pm Too Good to Write Off 2.00pm Mo Hayder, Queen of Chill 3.30pm Pride and Prejudice 5.00pm Special Guest Tess Gerritsen 6.15pm Author Dinner No.1 8.30pm Special Guest Michael Connelly 10.00pm All Thriller, No Filler Saturday 23rd July 9.00am In Conversation: C.L. Taylor & Lucy Foley 10.30am The Country is Another Country 12.00pm New Blood with Val McDermid 2.00pm Chortling Experts 3.30pm Police Procedurals in a Changing World 5.00pm Special Guest John Connolly 6.15pm Author Dinner No.2 6.30pm Poe Did It 8.30pm Special Guest Kathy Reichs 10.00pm Late Night Quiz Sunday 24th July 9.00am Special Guest Lynda La Plante 10.30am Moments in Crime 12.00pm Special Guest Charlie Higson Key: event included in Weekend Rover ticket event included in Friday Rover ticket event included in Saturday Rover ticket All events take place at The Old Swan Hotel, Swan Road, Harrogate. A site pass is required to enter Festival grounds on any day you do not have an event ticket. Site passes can be purchased online or at the box office.
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@Harrogatefest #theakstonscrime Harrogateinternationalfestivals
Welcome to the Festival Denise Mina
2022 Festival Programming Chair We are delighted and excited to welcome everyone back to Harrogate again this year for what promises to be an outstanding Festival. We hope that our special guests and old friends, our long-established traditions and new events, will make this return to the full Festival after the Covid hiatus a real celebration of crime writing in its many iterations. Personally, I feel very fortunate to be part of the programming committee in a year when we have been able to bring so many outstanding writers together. We want everyone to have a great weekend and hope that you will enjoy every moment of it as much as we do!
Simon Theakston
Executive Director T&R Theakston A very warm welcome to Harrogate,
the warmest of welcomes!
The challenges facing us all over the last two years have taught us all the importance of communication and the need for people to be together. And as we draw strength from the company of each other so it is with the greatest of anticipatory pleasure that we will all once again be together in Harrogate for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, to which may I extend to you
I’m sure you will be just as excited as I am at seeing yet another fantastic line-up of the world’s biggest selling authors, with our 2022 Programming Chair, the multi-award winning Denise Mina at the helm. Denise and her Programming Committee have produced another wickedly good programme which will transport us, temporarily at least, into a world free of war and tempest. As ever the Festival highlights span the giants of the genre whilst keeping a careful eye on ones to watch under the watchful eye of Val McDermid’s New Blood. This year we’re welcoming over 80 authors to the stage and are delighted to be welcoming back so many of our audiences. We have authors from all over the world once again and it is especially good to welcome back international visitors. Friends of our Festival will know how I’ve struggled for many years to compare the allure of a pint of Old Peculier with a great crime novel. I can tell you there’s nowhere it tastes better than in Harrogate when all our partners in crime gather in the grounds of the Old Swan Hotel. Which may explain our Festival’s reputation for conviviality and longevity! My best wishes to you all for a wonderful four days!
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Welcome Welcome Back to Harrogate After a long old time without large-scale events, we are thrilled to be back in style for 2022 with the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. We love this event here at Harrogate International Festivals. From the clamour of people wanting to get their rooms booked for the next year, to creating the programme through entertaining and passionate discussions with our fantastic Programming Committee. With parcels of books arriving at the office every week, working with publishers and authors, and welcoming audiences from across the world, it’s fair to say this merry weekend in summer is an absolute highlight. This year, I have to say a very big thank you to Denise Mina for taking on the role of Programming Chair, the Programming Committee members for their commitment to the programme, and of course to our title sponsor T&R Theakston who continues to support our work with generosity and passion for every moment of the event. You’ll see that we learnt a lot at last year’s Festival. On site, the additional tents have made a return, from the Theakston Old Peculier Stage in the event tent to creating new spaces for hospitality across the site. We hope the new and improved layout make for a more enjoyable event for everyone. We hope you enjoy the return of this wonderful Festival to the full. It is a packed programme of events on stage, on site and of course in the bar – where better to raise a pint of Theakston Old Peculier.
Have a great weekend,
Sharon Canavar | Chief Executive
Plotted by HIF
Harrogate International Festivals welcomes you to Harrogate for a weekend of thrilling crime fiction. As we return to programming post pandemic, our events across the year are starting to emerge once again. Creatively plotted across the year, we bring leading global artists and immersive experiences to Harrogate. January – April Harrogate International Sunday Series Chamber music concerts and coffee in the magnificent surroundings of the Old Swan Hotel. May – July Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards A host of online and digital activity celebrating the best of UK and Irish fiction with a celebration of the most coveted award in crime fiction held in July. 30 June – 9 July Spiegeltent Landing in the centre of Harrogate this iconic pop-up venue hosts a huge variety of cabaret, music and entertainment for the whole family. July Harrogate Music Festival Featuring the best of international musical talent spanning classical, jazz and folk, as well as hosting the prestigious Young Musicians Series. 21 – 24 July Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival World class, award-winning programme of events celebrating the very best in crime fiction.
30 July Carnival A celebration of music, food, and crafts from around the world, featuring parades and street theatre for all the family. 20 - 23 October Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival Bringing bestselling authors, influential politicians, and stars of the stage to share their stories. All Year Round Berwins Salon North A yearly programme of inspired talks exploring stimulating ideas in art, science, and psychology. HIF @ Home Our digital platform hosting online events, talks and concerts, as well as our online crime festival You’re Booked and Book of the Month. As we start to grow our Festival again, other events will return including iconic installations, library tours and outreach programmes. To keep up to date with our year-round programme, please visit: harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
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21 JULY 2022
| 9am - 5.30pm £100
£100 Your day includes refreshments during the breaks and a two-course lunch
CREATIVE THURSDAY They say every day is a school day, but if your favourite lesson is learning how to write a bestselling crime novel, then no day beats Creative Thursday. Wherever you are in your writing journey, whether on the first chapter or the final draft, you’re guaranteed to pick up pointers which will help polish your prose and perfect your plot. Leading authors and industry professionals are on hand to share their secrets and arm you with everything you need to take that great idea and make it into a great book. It’s a full day, packed with information, help, encouragement, and diabolically golden advice. Creative Thursday is immersive and unique, and is designed to give you the best chance of getting that publishing deal you dream of.
JOIN THE CREATIVE THURSDAY ALUMNI It’s a bit daunting, right? The prospect of spending a day with other aspiring authors rather than the safety of your kitchen table and your laptop. So, to ease you in gently – and to show you just what this can lead to – we’re going to kick off in the company of those who went before. Meet four successful authors whose path to publication began when they took the plunge to sign up for Creative Thursday. One day soon, you might be where they are now. Hear from our alumni as they talk about their writing journey – the pitfalls to avoid and the secrets of their success – as they reveal all to Natasha Cooper (NJ Cooper), herself the author of over 30 novels. The session will be topped off with a quick-fire guide to presenting and presentation from Natasha - from pitching your novel to appearing at events, and from eye contact to how to present yourself behind the scenes on social media.
Box Office: 01423 562 303 Booking fees apply
Creative Thursday THE OTHER SIDE Vaseem Khan – How To Write Outside Your Own Cultural Background Cultural appropriation. Stereotyping. Diversity. All issues that the publishing industry and today’s authors are grappling with. In this session, CWA Historical Dagger-winning author Vaseem Khan will examine the debate over who has the right to write which stories and how to write across cultural boundaries, offering thoughts from key industry stakeholders and recommendations for best practice together with examples from the crime fiction world. Vaseem recently led an Arts Council-funded project examining these issues. The aim of the project was simple: to provide authors and industry professionals with advice and tools for tackling the issue of writing diversity into literature in a way that minimises the chances of causing offence. Each attendee of this session will also receive a PDF with the complete guidance from the project.
JUST WRITE Greg Mosse – A Novel in Two Hours A dynamic, collaborative story development workshop, weaving a compelling outline for an unwritten crime novel from ideas produced by the people in the space, mirroring the approach of the TV writer's room. Greg Mosse, 'writer & encourager of writers', has 20 years' professional experience working with novelists, playwrights and screenwriters, and will be supported by best-selling author, and wife, Kate Mosse. Greg’s future-thriller, The Coming Darkness, will be published in November.
DRAGON’S PEN Okay, you’ve done the hard work (and it’s been fun!). Now let’s put what you’ve learned to the test. And wow, what a terrifying test it is… In front of you are four brilliant publishing professionals. In the chair is number one bestseller Mark Billingham. In the audience are your fellow writers. You have two minutes to convince them that your synopsis and first chapter are worth reading. Are you ready? You’d better be. This is our literary version of the popular TV show, Dragons’ Den, and it’s most definitely not for the faint-hearted. Step up, show them what you’ve got and sell it. The potential prize is everything. Ask us about our bursaries: harrogateinternationalfestivals.com In Partnership with Amazon Literary Grant
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Brewery Tap
& Gift Shop
A very warm welcome awaits you at the Black Bull in Paradise Visitor Centre! Join a guided tour of the famous Masham Brewery, enjoy a pint (or two) of legendary ale in the Brewery Tap and pick up a ‘Peculier’ souvenir in the Gift Shop 01765 680000 bookings@theakstons.co.uk www.theakstons.co.uk
Theakston Brewery Theakston1827 theakstonbrewery
21 JULY 2022 | Thursday
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards and Party
£20
Crime writing’s most wanted accolade, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award returns to highlight the cream of the crop of crime novels published by British and Irish authors over the last year. Who will take the title? Six shortlisted authors will put their game face on as host Mark Lawson presents the murderously good line-up. The coveted Novel of the Year Award, dubbed the crime writing fraternity’s equivalent of the Oscars, with a pint of Yorkshire’s finest thrown in, kicks off the 2022 Festival in style. An icon of the genre will also be honoured with the Outstanding Contribution accolade. Celebrations continue with the official Festival opening party. Vote now! The longlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2022 has been revealed with debut authors and literary icons vying for the UK and Ireland’s most coveted crime fiction writing award. Vote for your favourite at harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com by 26th May. Title sponsor
In Partnership with
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Weekend Break Packages The perfect getaway Don’t miss a minute of the drama with our exclusive Weekend Break packages. For one long, sultry, summer weekend the temperature in Harrogate rises whatever the weather as the world’s hottest celebration of crime writing swings into town. Treat yourself to a weekend at the crime hot spot of the summer by booking a combined ticket and accommodation package. Stay in one of our specially selected Festival hotels (subject to availability) and join over 100 of the world’s most celebrated crime authors in conversation, in action and at the bar! If you’re not sure which option will best suit your needs, the Festival team will be happy to help and advise. Weekend Break Packages include: 3-night accommodation arriving Thursday 21st July, Bed & Breakfast in a Festival hotel of your choice* Essential Weekend Rover ticket (see below for full details) Access to the site including bars, bookshop and signings First opportunity to access tickets to exclusive on-site publisher events Theakston Old Peculier Crime Festival goody bag
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Prices start from just £643 per person. Tailor-made packages for 1, 2 or 4 night stays are also available. Rooms are always in demand during the Festival Weekend: don’t miss out!
Indulge your criminal tendencies and get great value for money with a Festival Rover ticket: Weekend Rover
Friday Rover
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Access to all Festival events** throughout the whole weekend, with the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Awards being the first event at 8.00pm, and the last event on Sunday due to finish at 1.00pm. Look out for the Weekend Rover symbol next to the events included in your Weekend Rover ticket Access to the site including bars, bookshop and signings A complimentary Festival
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(22 July)
Be up close to the action with access and a guaranteed seat to all Festival events taking place in the Live Event Tent on your chosen day. Look out for the Friday Rover denoting which events are included in your day rover ticket Access to the site for the whole day including bars, bookshop and signings A complimentary Festival goody bag
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Saturday Rover
(23 July)
Be up close to the action with access and a guaranteed seat to all Festival events taking place in the Live Event Tent on your chosen day. Look out for the Saturday Rover denoting which events are included in your day rover ticket Access to the site for the whole day including bars, bookshop and signings A complimentary Festival goody bag
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goody bag Price: £239 per person (21 events in total)
Price: £105 per person (8 events)
Price: £115 per person (9 events)
How to Book: Box Office tel. 01423 562 303 | Book online: harrogateinternationalfestivals.com *Subject to availability at time of booking. **Rover tickets DO NOT include the following: Creative Thursday (21 July), Author Dinners & on-site publisher events. These events must be booked separately – please check event listings for details.
22 JULY 2022
| Friday 9am
Special Guest: Paula Hawkins It is impossible to write about Paula Hawkins without reference to the book that started it all. The Girl on the Train was, and remains, a phenomenon. It has sold an estimated 23 million copies worldwide and became the template for every psychological thriller that followed it. Yet this is clearly no one-book wonder. Hawkins came roaring back with two more Sunday Times number one bestsellers in Into the Water and A Slow Fire Burning, both published to critical and public acclaim. Her new novel, the muchanticipated Blind Spot, reaffirms her mastery of twists and intrigue. Paula Hawkins will be interviewed by author NJ Cooper.
£16
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22 JULY 2022
| Friday
It’s A Long Walk, Not A Short Hop
Martin Edwards
Mick Herron
Adele Parks
Andrew Taylor
10.30am
Denise Mina
The race to the top of the bestseller charts can be a sprint, but it can also be a marathon. These four authors are old hands rather than flash in the pans, proving that quality endures. From his first novel in 1991, Martin Edwards has maintained the high standard that led to his winning of the CWA Diamond Dagger; Mick Herron became an overnight success after years of trying, and the outstanding Slough House series means he’s no longer crime fiction’s best kept secret; Adele Parks decided at age seven to be an author and with 24 bestselling novels and over four million books sold, it’s been an inspired decision; it’s 40 years since Andrew Taylor’s debut won the John Creasey Memorial Award, and 40 books later he’s still at the top of his game. Spring chicken Denise Mina is in the chair.
£13
Sponsored by
HARROGATE MUSIC FESTIVAL
JULY 2022 VARIOUS VENUES
PART OF THE
HAR ROG ATE 13
Tel: 01423 530630 www.mccormicks-solicitors.com
22 JULY 2022
|
Friday
Too Good To Write Off?
Bonnie MacBird
Sophie Hannah
Elly Griffiths
12pm
Tom Harper
SJ Parris
Old crime fiction characters never die, they just lose the plot. Meet four writers who’ve taken on the daunting task of breathing new life into some of the genre’s most loved figures. American author Bonnie MacBird has resurrected the world’s greatest detective in four new Sherlock Holmes novels, the latest of which is The Three Locks; Sophie Hannah has used her little grey cells to channel her inner Christie and has written four acclaimed new Hercule Poirot mysteries; Elly Griffiths has brought Christie’s legendary detective Jane Marple back to life and in sparkling form in Marple: Twelve New Stories; Tom Harper co-authored two enthralling novels with Wilbur Smith and has now taken on Smiths mantle after the legendary adventure writer’s death. The original SJ Parris will chair. Sponsored by
HIF @ Home gives you access to all the fun of the Festivals - without stepping outside your home.
£13
We’re providing a host of content and talent - and your home, phone or laptop is the venue.
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22 JULY 2022
|
Friday
Mo Hayder, Queen of Chill
Chris Carter
Fiona Cummins
Lars Kepler
2pm
Catriona Ward
Alex North
It’s a year since the sad death of the incredibly talented Mo Hayder, leaving us with a series of chilling crime fiction blending domestic noir and horror. To mark Mo’s passing, we have four authors who similarly target those tender spots of primordial terror. Chris Carter digs deep into the darkest recesses of the human psyche in his electrifying and bestselling Robert Hunter series; Fiona Cummins can effortlessly conjure up nightmares and the riveting Into the Dark is her latest keep-the-light on thriller; Lars Kepler’s latest bestseller is the nerve-shredding The Mirror Man, treading the line between crime and horror in true Kepler style. Catriona Ward had firmly established her fright credentials even before the dizzying success of the brilliant The Last House on Needless Street. In charge is horror master Alex North.
£13
Pride and Prejudice
DV Bishop
Alex Dahl
3.30pm
Louise Welsh
Nicola White
Paul Burston
July 2022 marks 50 years since the first Pride March in England, a landmark moment for LGBTQ history and culture. We ask four authors for their very personal views on how representation has changed in crime fiction. Renaissance Florence is the setting for DV Bishop’s thrilling Cesare Aldo series, the latest of which is the atmospheric The Darkest Sin; American-Norwegian star Alex Dahl continues her mastery of the psychological thriller in the darkly glamorous After She’d Gone; Twenty years on from her stunning debut The Cutting Room, Louise Welsh reprises the iconic gay auctioneer Rilke in The Second Cut; Nicola White’s mesmerising new novel The Burning Boy sees the naked body of a murdered policeman found in Dublin’s gay cruising ground. Crime writer and activist Paul Burston leads the discussion.
£13
Box Office: 01423 562 303 Booking fees apply
22 JULY 2022
| 5pm
Special Guest: Tess Gerritsen When Dr Tess Gerritsen was on maternity leave from her job as a physician in Hawaii, she took the chance to try to fulfil a lifelong dream to become a writer. It was something she achieved with spectacular success. Over 40 million copies of her novels have been sold in 40 countries. As well as writing a number of stunning standalones, she is the creator of the Rizzoli and Isles series which was made into a hit US TV series. The hugely popular pairing of homicide detective and medical examiner is back this July and in top form in what is sure to be Gerritsen’s latest bestseller, the riveting Listen To Me. Tess Gerritsen will be interviewed by author SJ Watson.
£16
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is proud to be official bookseller at
This year, once again we look forward to welcoming you to our bookshop at The Old Swan Hotel There you will find a range of new and classic titles by the guest authors.
AUTHOR DINNER No.1 | Friday 22 Whodunnit? That’s the question on everyone’s lips at the author dinner – along with good food, wine and conversation. Your table will be hosted by a leading crime writer who will lend their insight, experience and skill – or failing that, their best guess – to identify the perpetrator of the dastardly crime in the murder mystery that will be acted out for your delight, delectation and diversion.
Knives, forks and sharp wits at the ready, let’s eat.
6.15pm | £45 Crack the case as authors Rachael Blok, A.K. Turner, Ajay Chowdhury, Andrew Hunter Murray, David Fennell, Douglas Skelton, Holly Seddon, Katerina Diamond, Margie Orford, Sharon Bolton, Simon Brett, Syd Moore, Tony McHale and Victoria Selman apply their criminal minds, alongside their napkins. Dinner includes a welcome glass of wine, 2-course murder mystery dinner and teas & coffees, as well as a copy of your host’s latest book.
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CRIME DOESN’T COME BETTER THAN CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF BOSCH
THE NEW BALLARD AND BOSCH THRILLER
DESERT STAR Coming November 2022
Discover the world of one of our greatest crime writers
@ConnellyBooks MichaelConnellyBooks @michaelconnellybooks
22 JULY 2022
| 8.30pm
Special Guest: Michael Connelly A writing career can’t be judged in numbers alone, but Michael Connelly’s certainly tell a story. He has written 36 novels, which have sold over 80 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages. His books have won leading literary prizes and been adapted into major movies and a hit TV series. Beyond the numbers, he is a hugely talented writer, commanding the respect of his peers and the love of his worldwide army of fans. He is, of course, the creator of the iconic LA detective Harry Bosch, a character guaranteed his place in the crime fiction hall of fame. Michael Connelly will be interviewed by bestseller Mark Billingham.
£16 Sponsored by
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It can be
Murder at
The
Dates for your diary 2022 Who would believe that this elegant and romantic hotel in the heart of
Harrogate could be the scene of such treachery and dark goings-on! But with its links to Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime, it’s no surprise really that The Old Swan is the perfect place for an intriguing Murder Mystery event.
Look at the facts, check the alibis, and solve the crime at one of our special dinners or weekends. Bring friends and join in the fun.
www.classiclodges.co.uk/oldswan
Events to die for 2022... Friday 13th May
Friday 11th November
Murder not your poison?
Friday 24th June
Friday 2nd December
Murder Without A Hitch
A Midwinter Murder
A gift voucher makes a killer gift.
Friday 15th July
Thursday 15th December
Murder at the Masked Ball
Murder & Mischief
Friday 5th August
Murder & The Millionairess
The Art Of Murder
A Killing Among The Carols
Murder On The Menu
Get into the mood and come dressed in character
Friday 28th October
(optional of course!)
Friday 16th September Murder Is Frightful Call us on
Stay for an extra night and receive a 10% discount on your accommodation DINNER from: £51 per person
DINNER, B&B from: £120 * per person *Accommodation rates are based on two people sharing a twin or double room.
01423 500055 or email: murder.oldswan@classiclodges.co.uk Scan the QR Code with your mobile phone camera for full details of plots and menus or see our website classiclodges. co.uk/the-old-swan/murdermystery-events/
In association with
THE OLD SWAN HO T E L
Harrogate
22 JULY 2022
| Friday
All Thriller, No Filler
Frankie Boyle
Lisa Jewell
10pm
Catherine Ryan Howard
Saima Mir
Luca Veste
Meet four crime and thriller writers who share an enviable ability to maintain a rattling pace throughout their novels, grabbing readers by the throat on page one and refusing to let them go until the shattering conclusion. The inimitable Frankie Boyle has swapped comedy for crime to great effect with his exhilarating debut Meantime set in his native Glasgow; multi-million seller Lisa Jewell always delivers and her latest, the enthralling The Family Remains, shows her at her dazzling best; Catherine Ryan Howard is collecting awards and readers at a rate of knots thanks to five gripping high-concept thrillers. Saima Mir’s stunning debut, the powerful and pacy The Khan, has firmly established her as an author on the rise. The panel is chaired by leading thriller writer Luca Veste.
£13
Back for summer 2022 cabaret, music & dance 30 June - 9 July 2022
23 JULY 2022
| Saturday 9am
In Conversation: L u c y F o l e y a n d C.L. T a y l o r Two of the fastest rising stars in crime fiction go head-to-head to discuss their books, themselves and anything else that takes their fancy. Lucy Foley rocketed to the top of the bestseller charts with her astonishing crime debut The Hunting Party which was followed by another huge pageturning hit The Guest List. Her new novel The Paris Apartment is a classy thriller that’s certain to keep you up all night.
C.L. Taylor is the author of nine gripping psychological thrillers, eight of which have been Sunday Times bestsellers. She has an enviable ability to reel in readers and leave them gasping for air at twists they don’t see coming. Her latest novel, The Guilty Couple, is a masterpiece of suspense.
£16 Box Office: 01423 562 303 Booking fees apply
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23 JULY 2022
| Saturday
The Country is Another Country
Ann Cleeves
Rev Richard Coles
Tony Kent
Rosemary Shrager
10.30am
Will Dean
Crime – and crime fiction – isn’t the preserve of the concrete jungle, the countryside also has its fair share of corpses and corruption. Meet four authors who set murders among the meadows. Ann Cleeves is the undisputed queen of rural crime. The creator of Vera, Shetland and the Three Rivers series, she’s amongst the very best in the business; The Reverend Richard Coles has made the transition from pop to pulpit to paperback and his pastoral debut Murder Before Evensong is a delight; Tony Kent’s explosive and page-turning new thriller No Way To Die brings terror to the usually laid-back idyll of Key West; chef Rosemary Shrager has cooked up a tasty treat in the shape of The Last Supper, a delicious Costwolds-based mystery. Bestseller Will Dean will take the reins.
£13
Raworths Harrogate
literature festival 20-23 OCTOBER 2022 Crown Hotel | Harrogate Line-up to be announced from June. Join the mailing list at harrogateinternationalfestivals.com 25
N O T W I ST S I N T H E TA L E F R O M U S , J U ST E X P E RT AC C O U N T I N G HW Fisher is a top 25 chartered accountancy firm based in London. Our specialist Authors and Journalists group are passionate about the publishing industry and helping authors to succeed, whether they be on their first or 50th novel. We have been advising authors and journalists for many years, helping them to manage their finances. Hear from some of the authors we work with at hwfisher.co.uk/authorstories For more information, please contact Andrew Subramaniam: ASubramaniam@hwfisher.co.uk +44 (0)20 7380 4947 @HWFWriters
23 JULY 2022 | Saturday
12pm
NEW BLOOD with Val McDermid Always a sell-out, the New Blood panel is dedicated to providing a showcase for some of the year’s most outstanding debut novelists. Val McDermid has once again personally selected four brilliant first novels to discuss with their authors. This panel is a festival highlight and gives today’s readers a unique opportunity to discover the stars of tomorrow. Stacy Willingham’s breathtaking debut A Flicker in the Dark, about a serial killer’s daughter, is soon to be a major TV series developed by Emma Stone. How to Kill Your Family, the darkly twisted first novel by Bella Mackie, was a Sunday Times bestseller. New Zealander Michael Bennett is the author of the acclaimed Better The Blood featuring Maori detective Hana Westerman. The gritty roadtrip thriller No Country For Girls by Emma Styles is a hotlyanticipated summer read.
£13
Stacy Willingham
Bella Mackie
Michael Bennett
Emma Styles
Sponsored by
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Friends of the Festival
Enhance your experience with the Friends of the Festival Whether you want to get more involved with our arts charity, or if you’re simply looking to enjoy the benefits, join the Friends of the Festivals today for as little as £30. With benefits including;
• • • •
priority access (before the crowds) at unreserved events so that you can choose your favourite seat. access to the Friends Lounge onsite at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. a Festival Newsletter to keep you up to speed with the Festival in the winter months and priority booking for selected Festivals in the portfolio
Joining the Friends really is the best way to enjoy your Festival experience to the full. Join today by calling 01423 562 303 or visit our website.
Box Office: 01423 562 303 Booking fees apply
23 JULY 2022
| Saturday
Chortling Experts
Graham Bartlett
Sue Black
2pm
Dr Emma Kavanagh
Carla Valentine
Simon Mayo
There are few things forensic scientists enjoy more than the opportunity to explain the legion of things crime writers get wrong. Hear the experts chortle while the watching authors squirm. Graham Bartlett is a police procedural advisor to crime writers and TV dramas and made his fiction debut with the enthralling Bad for Good; Sue Black is a world-renowned forensic anthropologist and anatomist, and the author of Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind; psychologist Dr Emma Kavanagh provided training for police forces and the military, and is the author of five crime novels; Carla Valentine is a mortician, technical curator of a Victorian pathology museum, and author of Murder Isn’t Easy: The Forensics of Agatha Christie. Radio presenter and author Simon Mayo is in the chair.
£13
Police Procedurals in a Changing World
Parker Bilal
Jane Casey
AA Dhand
Adam LeBor
3.30pm
Gerry Foley
Good cop/Bad cop has long been a staple of crime fiction but in the wake of the murders of George Floyd and Sarah Everard, have the bad cops taken over from the good? Four leading crime writers debate whether real-world events have changed the police procedural forever. International bestseller Parker Bilal is the author of eight outstanding crime novels and is a master of the procedural; Jane Casey’s DC Maeve Kerrigan is a standout character in the genre and the series now numbers 13 exceptional books; AA Dhand is the creator of the unorthodox DCI Harry Virdee who patrols the streets of Bradford in four thrilling novels; Adam LeBor’s Detective Balthazar Kovacs works in the Budapest murder squad and Dohany Street is the electrifying final instalment of his Danube Blues trilogy. Journalist and broadcaster Gerry Foley leads the discussion.
£13
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The 20th Charlie Parker Thriller!
by
‘This man’s so good it’s terrifying’
The Times
Coming 4th August 2022 Pick up an exclusive early copy at Harrogate!
23 JULY 2022
| 5pm
Special Guest: John Connolly No one combines crime fiction, the gothic and the supernatural quite like John Connolly. He is the master of his trade, a scalpel in one hand and a bludgeon in the other, writing beautiful prose and brutal people. As well as several blistering standalones, Connolly’s much-loved Charlie Parker series now runs to 19 novels, each more terrifying than the one before. His latest, The Nameless Ones, has a breathless international chase at its centre, starting with three butchered bodies arranged around the crucified remains of a fourth. John Connolly will be interviewed by journalist, broadcaster and author Mark Lawson.
£16
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AUTHOR DINNER No.2 | Saturday 23 Whodunnit? That’s the question on everyone’s lips at the author dinner – along with good food, wine and conversation. Your table will be hosted by a leading crime writer who will lend their insight, experience and skill – or failing that, their best guess – to identify the perpetrator of the dastardly crime in the murder mystery that will be acted out for your delight, delectation and diversion.
Knives, forks and sharp wits at the ready, let’s eat.
6.15pm | £45
Crack the case as authors Alan Johnson, Antti Tuomainen, Craig Robertson, Charlotte Northedge, Fiona Erskine, Melanie Blake, Kate Rhodes, Lilja Sigurðardóttir, Matt Wesolowski, Patricia Gibney, Sam Blake, Susi Holliday, Tim Glister, Will Carver and Zoe Sharp apply their criminal minds, alongside their napkins. Dinner includes a welcome glass of wine, 2-course murder mystery dinner and teas & coffees, as well as a copy of your host’s latest book.
Box Office: 01423 562 303 Booking fees apply
23 JULY 2022
| Saturday
Poe Did It
Sam Holland
6.30pm
Winnie M Li
Brian McGilloway
Nadine Matheson
Claire McGowan
Edgar Allan Poe’s The Mystery of Marie Rogêt was the second crime fiction story ever written and the first based on a real crime. Today, there is an explosion in true crime novels and this panel explores the ethics in the fine margins between truth and fiction. In Sam Holland’s terrifying debut The Echo Man, the title character emulates notorious serial killers in a string of murders across England; Winnie M Li’s Complicit shines a spotlight on misogyny and abuse in the film industry; Brian McGilloway’s much acclaimed The Last Crossing has its roots in The Troubles and the spiralling consequences which continue today; Nadine Matheson’s celebrated debut The Jigsaw Man took its inspiration from the real-life murder of Jeffrey Howe. Claire McGowan, who’s written both fiction and true crime, is in the chair.
£13
Voted #6 in the ‘Top 100 Things To Do in the World’ by GQ magazine. Sponsored by
Berwins Salon North TED-style talks at the forefront of arts, science and psychology. The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
PART OF THE
HAR ROG ATE 33
23 JULY 2022
| 8.30pm
Special Guest: Kathy Reichs Kathy Reichs, one of the most popular and biggest selling crime writers of the 21st century, is the creator of the Temperance Brennan series, which now numbers 22 books and has been translated into over 30 languages. A professor of forensic anthropology, Dr Reichs has taught FBI agents how to detect human remains, travelled to Rwanda to testify at the UN tribunal on genocide, helped exhume a mass grave in Guatemala, and helped recover body parts at the World Trade Center after 9/11. This incredible wealth of experience has made her the queen of forensic crime. Kathy Reichs will be interviewed by journalist, broadcaster and author Mark Lawson.
£16 Sponsored by
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Little, Brown Book Group
23 JULY 2022
| Saturday
Late Night Quiz
10pm
£13
He sends one of your questions to the hospital, you send one of his answers to the morgue. It’s the Harrogate way. Join a team, grab a table, and take part in the legendary late-night quiz where new scores are added up and old scores are settled as teams of authors and readers go head-to-head in a battle of crime fiction wits. Quizmasters extraordinaire Val McDermid and Mark Billingham are at the helm of what is always a fun event. The most terrifying pair of inquisitors since Sooty and Sweep, they are armed with trivia, titles and tricks as they test your knowledge of your favourite genre. In Loving memory of Thalia Proctor Sponsored by:
THALIA PROCTOR (1970-2022) Along with everyone else in the crime fiction community, I was stunned and heartbroken at the tragically early death of Thalia Proctor in April. I knew Thal for twenty-five years, was lucky enough to work closely with her for much of that time and, like all those who loved her (which was everyone who knew her), I now find it almost impossible to think of a festival, a book bash and most especially a quiz, without her being there. Any such event will be the poorer for Thal’s absence. That smile, that laugh, the ‘la la la’s’. Hilarious, whip-smart and unfailingly cheerful, Thalia was the heart of the crime-fiction family and her own heart was as big as they come. There was plenty of room in there for her great many friends, as well as for her beloved Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch, obvs), Glee, wombats, the Muppets, peanut butter and cheese sandwiches, tattoos, Barnet FC and, above all, crime writing of every variety. As a friend and colleague, she is simply irreplaceable and to say that she will be missed is beyond understatement. Every moment spent in the company of this unique and very special woman was an unalloyed pleasure and it is unbearable to think that there will be no more of them. Dearest Thal: ‘Perfect as a dog!’
Mark Billingham
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24 JULY 2022
| 9am
Special Guest: Lynda La Plante A living legend of crime writing will take to the Theakston’s stage this July as Lynda La Plante talks about her extraordinary life and writing career. After graduating as an actor from RADA alongside Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt and Ian McShane, she carved out a successful career on stage and the small screen. It was while filming The Gentle Touch that she turned her hand to writing with phenomenal results. The result was Widows, a huge TV hit in the early 80s. She then turned her hand to novels, writing international bestsellers, before creating a show for ITV, the iconic and ground-breaking Prime Suspect. It set a path for unparalleled success in books and TV. Lynda La Plante will be interviewed by programme chair Denise Mina.
£16
Box Office: 01423 562 303 Booking fees apply
24 JULY 2022
| Sunday 10.30pm 10.30am
Moments in Crime
Ambrose Parry
Vaseem Khan
Robbie Morrison
Leonora Nattrass
Abir Mukherjee
Historical crime fiction has never been more popular and authors of the genre have found great success mining the rich seam of history to plunder scandalous liaisons, murders, and revolutions to help shape their work. Ambrose Parry’s extraordinary series set in Victorian Edinburgh is a masterpiece and the latest, Corruption of Blood, is no exception; Set in Bombay in 1950, Vaseem Khan’s gripping The Dying Day plays out in a changing India and an era of darkness. Robbie Morrison’s award-winning Edge of the Grave is an irresistible trip to the gangland underworld of 1930s Glasgow; Black Drop, the stunning debut by Leonora Nattrass is set in 1794 with revolution in the air and the gallows only one slip away. Historical master Abir Mukherjee takes charge.
£13
Save the date 20-23 July 2023 The Old Swan Hotel Celebrating 20 years It would be a crime to miss it…
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£16
Box Office: 01423 562 303 Booking fees apply
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About Us Harrogate International Festivals is the flagship arts Festival for the North of England. A charitable organisation, our passion and ambition maintains our position as an arts organisation delivering Festivals of national importance and dramatically increasing the cultural opportunities for Harrogate and the wider region.
Patron
Board of Trustees
HRH The Prince of Wales
Fiona Movley, Chairman
Theakston Old Peculier Programming Committee
Matthew Osbourne, Treasurer Honorary President
Denise Mina 2022 Programming Chair
John Bywater
Peter Blackburn CBE
Mark Billingham
Jenny Harris
NJ Cooper
Vice Presidents
Lucy Hind Iain Jenkins
Jane Gregory Vaseem Khan
Craig Ratcliffe
Steve Mosby
Susan Rumfitt
Julia Wisdom Sharon Canavar Clemence Roux Marc Dunleavy
Mrs Frainy Ardeshir Lesley Garrett CBE Malcolm Neesam David Haxby
Observer
David Salter
Stanley Lumley Councillor,
Christine Woods
Harrogate Borough Council
Support Services Marc Dunleavy | Conrad Davies Creative | Dot & Diode | Tim Garbutt Events | Karen Sweeney Thanks With special thanks to all our volunteers, without whom the Festival could not happen.
Festival Events will begin punctually at the time stated. The use of mobile phones, cameras and audio/visual recorders is strictly prohibited. The management reserves the right to refuse admission and change or cancel the advertised programme. Harrogate International Festival Ltd | 32 Cheltenham Parade | Harrogate | HG1 1DB
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2022 FAQs | Site Info By Phone: 01423 562 303 Online:
harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
In Person: Harrogate International Festivals, 32 Cheltenham Parade, HG1 1DB Opening Times: 10am - 5pm Monday - Friday Payment: Harrogate International Festivals accept all major credit/debit cards (except American Express), as well as cash. Booking Fee: Harrogate International Festivals charges a £1.75 transaction fee per booking. Ticket sales alone do not cover the costs of our Box Office and booking fees are vital to the development, maintenance and running of our in-house Box Office. For more information and for full Terms and Conditions please visit our website: harrogateinternationalfestivals.com Information correct at time of printing. Tickets on the door: Tickets may be available to purchase on the door subject to availability. Be aware events can sell out in advance. Early booking is recommended. Bag Searches: Please note there may be random bag searches. Tickets: Tickets purchased for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival are to be collected at the Old Swan Hotel’s Box Office from Thursday 21st July. No tickets can be collected/sent prior to the Festival. You will be issued appropriate access passes upon your arrival at the Box Office. You will be required to purchase a ticket in order to gain access to the Festival’s ground. Site Passes will be available from our website if you are not booking tickets for events. Returned Tickets: The Box Office cannot refund money or exchange tickets, except in the case of a cancelled performance. We are happy to try and re-sell returned tickets for sold-out events for a small charge. Concessions: Concessions are available for under 18s, students in full time education and those receiving unemployment benefits. Appropriate identification must be provided. May not be used in conjunction with any other offers.
Seating, Queuing and Departing: We are using a large tented auditorium this year. Additional information about entry and exit of the tent will be available in the run up to the event, including the potential for designated seating and/or reserved seats. Parking: There is no parking available on site at the Old Swan Hotel. Lost Property: Will be removed from the main auditorium and taken to the Old Swan Hotel reception desk. Visitors with Additional Access Requirements: The Old Swan Hotel is wheelchair accessible. We offer free tickets for carers and special provisions can be arranged for visitors with Additional Access Requirements. Please call the Festival Office on tel: 01423 562303 or visit the Festival Box Office tent onsite at The Old Swan Hotel to obtain a blue badge to allow priority entry to unreserved events. Photography & Recording: The use of photographic, video or audio equipment is strictly prohibited. Festival Bookstore: Waterstones will provide the Festival bookstore at The Old Swan Hotel and will host book signings after each event. You will need to show a ticket for each event to have your book signed. Limit of 3 books per person per event. Friends’ Lounge: The Festival Friends’ Lounge is now part of the Definitely Digital ticket package and is located in the Ballroom of the hotel. A screen and a live link will be available across all the events. Valid tickets or membership cards must be shown in order to access the lounge. All information in the guide is correct at the time of going to press and we reserve the right to make such alterations as may become necessary. Changes to the programme will be communicated in advance where possible and clearly signposted on site.
A large print version of the event guide can be ordered by calling 01423 562 303. Harrogate International Festivals is a registered charity no. 244861.
Box Office: 01423 562 303 Booking fees apply
Sponsors of the Festival Title Sponsor
Crime Novel of the Year Partners:
Major Funder & Community Partner
Major Supporter
Regular Funder
Honorary Solicitors
Crime Event Sponsors:
Premier Partners:
Festival Bookseller:
Special Projects
Corporate Partners:
Media Partners
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#theakstonscrime