Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2019 - Event Guide

HAR R OG ATE

Theakston Old Peculier

crime festival 18-21 JULY 2019

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER

crime writing festival

AT A GLANCE | 2019 | OLD SWAN HOTEL Thursday 18 July 9am – 5.30pm

Creative Thursday: Crime Fiction Writing Workshop p5 8pm Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards p7

Friday 19 July

9am Special Guest: James Patterson 10.30am Emerald Noir 12pm A Class Act 2pm Pace 3.30pm Antipodean Noir 5pm Special Guest: Jo Nesbo 6pm Dead Good Reader Awards 6.15pm Author Dinner: Cooking Up a Murder 8.30pm Special Guests: M.C. Beaton and Stuart MacBride 10pm Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers’ Gig

p9 p11 p11 p11 p13 p15 p17 p17 p19 p21

Saturday 20 July

9am Special Guest: Jeffery Deaver p23 10.30am The Underworld p25 12pm New Blood p25 1pm Readers’ Book Group with Mari Hannah p28 2pm Make ‘Em Laugh Make ‘Em Cry p27 3.30pm Blood, Guts & Gratuitous Violence p27 5pm Special Guests: Belinda Bauer, Eva Dolan, Erin Kelly p29 6.15pm Author Dinner: The Key Question p31 8.30pm Special Guests: Harlan Coben and Ian Rankin p33 10pm Late Night Quiz p34

Sunday 21 July

9am The Big Issues 10.30am Special Guests: Val McDermid

in conversation with Nicola Sturgeon 12pm Special Guest: Jed Mercurio

Key: event included in Weekend Rover ticket,

event included in Friday Rover ticket,

event included in Saturday Rover ticket.

p34 p35 p36

Join the conversation online: @harrogatefest #theakstonscrime

Harrogateinternationalfestivals

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

plotted

by HIF Harrogate International Festivals welcomes you to Harrogate for a weekend of thrilling crime fiction.

It’s one of the many Harrogate International Festival events creatively plotted throughout the year, bringing 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

The Big Write: Presented in association with Ashville College, this is an exciting opportunity for young writers across the Harrogate District to participate in a giant day of writing at the iconic Royal Hall, working with literacy partners Pobble.

June

The Big Read: Encouraging as many people as possible to read a classic work of crime fiction, increasing links across the region between libraries and reading groups, and inspiring new readers.

Long Table Dinner: An evening of exquisite culinary cuisine service under the stars.

1940’s Day: A free community event attracting over 30,000 people to a spectacle of vintage entertainment, activities and food stalls.

July

Harrogate Music Festival: Featuring the best of international musical talent spanning classical, jazz and folk and including the prestigious Young Musicians Series.

July

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival: World class, award-winning programme of events celebrating the very best in crime fiction.

October

Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival: Bringing bestselling authors, influential politicians and stars of the stage to share their stories.

HIF+ Year Round

Berwins Salon North: A yearly programme of inspired talks and Q&A’s exploring stimulating ideas in art, science and psychology, presented in a relaxed setting.

Musical Mums: Free weekly music-making sessions where young parents and their babies can learn together, developing skills, confidence and positive bonds. Presented in partnership with NYMAZ.

To see our full year-round programme and be kept up-to-date, please visit harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

welcome festival AT A GLANCE | 2019

Mari Hannah | Welcome!

My first visit to the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival was as a reader and aspiring writer, a dream that would never have been realised had I not been encouraged to attend by an established author a decade ago. I’m now a self-confessed addict. On this weekend in July, The Old Swan in Harrogate is my second home, the location of the most unique, exciting and fun-filled crime fiction party in the world.

This year we come together to celebrate some very special guests, big-hitters from across the globe, as well as the crème de la crème of New Blood whose brilliant books will thrill us for years to come. Writer or reader, whatever your taste in crime fiction, this event is for you, an exploration of all things dark in the convivial surroundings of North Yorkshire’s favourite spa town. Don’t miss it!

Mari Hannah | 2019 Festival Programming Chair Simon Theakston | A very warm welcome, I say it every year, how can we build further on last year’s success? Well, we’ve done it again!

It is a huge privilege to welcome one of the world’s biggest selling authors, James Patterson. What is truly special is that this giant of the genre is a remarkable advocate for reading. He has donated millions to reading initiatives in schools, colleges and libraries.

No matter how big the festival gets, or how big an author is, they know who really counts – the reader. From Norway, Australia and America - authors have travelled to Harrogate from all over the world. You’re the reason they come.

It is apt that the festival’s Reader-in-Residence, Mari Hannah, is also our Programming Chair this year. She and the Programming Committee have delivered a line-up that shares all the elements of the ultimate bestseller: pace, action, politics and intrigue, and I’m not just talking about the bar!

Friends of our festival will know I’ve long compared the allure of a pint of Old Peculier with a great crime novel. 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 being such a jovial one.

As we host our 17th festival, it’s a pleasure to welcome you, old friends and new.

Simon Theakston | Executive Director T&R Theakson

creative thursday

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THURSDAY 18 JULY | 9am-5.30pm | £100 JOIN THE CREATIVE THURSDAY ALUMNI

Hear from four successful authors who took the plunge to attend Creative Thursday and subsequently found themselves on the path to publication! Who knows, one day that could be you! Hear from this year’s Programming Chair Mari Hannah (from alumna to chair!), Lesley Thomson, J.S. Monroe and Chris Ewan on their journeys to publication and beyond, as they reveal all to Natasha Cooper. The session will be topped off with a quickfire guide to pitching with Natasha Cooper.

JUST BLOODY WRITE

Isabel Ashdown and Kate Rhodes – Creating Chilling Characters Queen of the quickfire exercise, creative writing tutor and award-winning author Isabel Ashdown will help you to get beneath the skin of two characters: your killer and your protagonist. In this workshop, Isabel will encourage you to write fast and instinctively, to unlock strong, authentic characters who will drive your narrative forward. What makes your protagonist tick? What makes your villain truly dangerous? How do they operate under pressure – when in danger, when in private, when in love? By the end of the session, you will take away two new characters, fleshed-out and ready to do battle on the page! Combine this with help from award-winning crime novelist and poet Kate Rhodes who will help you truly find your voice. Kate will explore some of the best ways to make your crime novel unique and distinctive, by creating a compelling voice. Join us to learn successful forms of narration through discussion and a range of short, enjoyable creative tasks.

GET IT RIGHT…FIRST TIME

Simon Brett and David Mark - Getting your Plot in the Right Order How to get it right in 5 steps…

Inspiration - How to turn everyday situations, weak characters and half-formed ideas into an outline for a killer novel.

Plot/Structure/Style - You may have a great idea for a story but there are still dozens of different ways to tell it.

Character - An in-depth look at ensuring the characters who drive your story are believable, interesting and above all, worth the reader’s time.

Fine tuning - A look at all those tricky aspects of novel-writing, such as how and when to research, what to cut and what to save and how to keep going when inspiration dries up.

The next step - At a time when there have never been so many possible outlets for your writing, what precisely should you do with your finished work?

The Dragons’ Pen

Four brilliant publishing professionals. Two minutes to convince them that your synopsis and first chapter are worth reading. One audience full of your fellow would-be writers.

Our literary version of the popular TV show, Dragons’ Den, hosted by Mark Billingham is not for the faint-hearted.

Featuring: Mark Billingham, Jane Gregory (David Higham), Ruth Tross (Hodder), Tom Witcomb (Blake Friedmann), Ben Willis (Orion)

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Weekend Break Packages 2019 - the perfect getaway 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 in 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 nights bed and breakfast accommodation (18, 19 & 20 July)

Weekend Rover ticket (see below for full details)

• •

Prices start from just £439 per person.

Tailor-made packages for 1, 2 or 4 nights stay are also available.

Rooms are always in demand during the Festival Weekend; don’t miss out!

To book or talk through options, call the Festivals Office on tel: 01423 562 303 or email: crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk

Indulge your criminal tendencies and get great value for money with a Festival Rover Ticket Friday Rover

Saturday Rover

Weekend Rover

Access to all Festival events* throughout the day, Friday 19 July. Look out for the Friday Rover symbol denoting which events are included in your day rover ticket.

Access to all Festival events* throughout the day, Saturday 20 July. Look out for the Saturday Rover symbol denoting which events are included in your day rover ticket.

Access to all Festival events* from 8pm on Thursday 18 July to 1pm on Sunday 21 July. Look out for the Weekend Rover symbol denoting which events are included in your weekend rover ticket.

A delicious lunch at The Old Swan Hotel

A delicious lunch at The Old Swan Hotel

A delicious lunch at The Old Swan Hotel

A complimentary Festival goody bag

A complimentary Festival goody bag

A complimentary Festival goody bag

£93 per person

£105 per person

£236 per person

(8 events in total)

(20 events in total)

*Excludes Dead Good Readers Award (Fri 19 July), Author Dinner (Fri 19 July), Incident Room Events (Fri 19 July)

*Excludes Author Dinner (Sat 20 July)

*Excludes Creative Thursday (Thurs 18 July), Dead Good Reader Awards (Fri 19 July), Author Dinners (Fri 19, Sat 20 July), Incident Room Events (Fri 19 July)

(7 events in total)

Reduced Rovers will be available which also exclude catering. £78 per person

£90 per person

£206 per person

*Subject to change How To Book Rover Tickets and Individual Tickets Box Office, tel: 01423 562 303 | Book Online: harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

| THURSDAY 18 JULY Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards 2019

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Harrogate International Festivals in partnership with T&R Theakson is proud to present the coveted Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.

Longlist Announcement The name of the 18 longlist titles will be announced on 14 April at: harrogateinternationalfestivals.com and through our social media.

Who do you think will be on the list?

Shortlist Announcement The name of the six shortlisted titles will be announced on 19 May and YOU – the readers – will be able to help decide which of the six short-listed authors will take home the most coveted title in crime fiction, a prize of £3,000 and a hand carved Theakston’s cask, by casting your vote online at: www.theakstons.co.uk Voting open 1-14 July.

The result of the online vote will be counted alongside the votes of the expert judging panel in order to determine the 2019 winner who will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 18 July. Book your ticket now.

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards & Festival Opening Party 8pm | Tickets: £18 (Opening Party from 9am)

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 to the Oscars, with a pint of Yorkshire’s finest thrown in, kicks off 2019’s 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. in partnership with

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Come and meet your favourite authors for book signings, special offers and a great range of crime novels.

Please visit the WHSmith Bookshop located in the Papakata tents at The Old Swan Hotel.

| FRIDAY 19 JULY

Special Guest: James Patterson 9am | Tickets £15 James Patterson is a brand in himself. An ad-man turned author, he outsells them all. The philanthropist and publishing powerhouse currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers and he’s been the most-borrowed author of adult fiction in UK libraries for the past 11 years in a row.

He is the only writer who has created a thriller about a US president with an actual president (Bill Clinton), and he is credited with creating a template for the modern blockbuster author. Since his breakout novel, Along Came a Spider (1993), Patterson has sold more than 375 million books worldwide.

Patterson will be interviewed by Mark Lawson.

Sponsored by

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

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booking fees apply

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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.

It can be

Murder at

The

Are you an amateur sleuth?

Can you solve the crime and spot the culprit?

Test your skills at one of our famous Murder Mystery Events.

Friday 9th August - Carry On Murdering Friday 6th September - The Crash Friday 18th October - The Haunting Friday 15th November - Murder on the Dancefloor Friday 6th December - A Christmas Sleighing Friday 27th December - Who saw Someone Killing Santa Claus?

DINNER: £51 per person DINNER, B&B: £110 per person Call us on

01423 500055

or email: murder.oldswan@classiclodges.co.uk See our website for full details of plots and menus.

Accommodation based on two people sharing a twin or double room.

In association with

THE OLD SWAN HO T E L

Harrog ate

Swan Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2SR | classiclodges.co.uk | events.oldswan@classiclodges.co.uk

| FRIDAY 19 JULY

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Emerald Noir 10.30am | Tickets £12 Mistrust, bloody-mindedness, division, and resentment.

There’s no escaping the B-word. Ireland is no stranger to borders, and now Brexit is a new frontier. Irish grandparents became the most prized possession in England and Northern Ireland because they give access to an EU passport.

Bordering divisions are Jane Casey, author of the Maeve Kerrigan Series, Olivia Kiernan, with her Dublin debut Too Close to Breathe. Gerald Brennan brings Disorder with his black Belfast humour and the New York Times bestselling author Brian McGilloway from Derry joins Sinead Crowley, the Dublin crime author and Arts and Media Correspondent for RTE, who attempts to unify proceedings as Chair.

A Class Act

Pace

12pm | Tickets £12

2pm | Tickets £12

RENEE KNIGHT

‘Queen of Gangland Crime’ Kimberley Chambers has been a street trader and a Sunday Times bestseller, Renee Knight explores power and money in The Secretary, William Shaw’s Breen and Tozer books are praised as an ‘elegy for an entire neglected generation’, and the thrillers of Stuart Neville are set around the intersection of class and politics in Northern Ireland. Natasha Cooper bridges the class divide as Chair.

Clear! Kick start hearts from the flatline of fiction as authors ramp up the tension.

Breathlessly racing against the clock are the #1 Amazon bestselling author, Rachel Abbott, Steve Cavanagh, the man behind the propulsive narrative drive of Thirteen. Author of the unputdownable, The Couple Next Door, Shari Lapena, keeps us on the edge of our seats as we rush headlong into a savage climax with the Forget My Name thriller writer, JS Monroe.

Mark Lawson bites his nails and puts his foot to the floor as Chair for the thrilling ride.

STEVE CAVANAGH

Doff your cap. Watch your airs and graces. From the upper-class parlour game (the butler did it) to Get Carter’s working class hero, what does crime fiction tell us about class today?

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

Brewery Tap & Gift Shop, Masham, HG4 4YD T: 01765 680000 E: bookings@theakstons.co.uk W: theakstons.co.uk

| FRIDAY 19 JULY

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Antipodean Noir 3.30pm | Tickets £12 Slap on the sunscreen. You’ll need it for the glare of the hottest crime wave. Down Under authors are on top of the world, marching to a different beat under midday heat.

Take a long-haul flight with writer and theatre-maker, Stella Duffy, torchbearer of the legendary Ngaio Marsh.

Jane Harper makes mouths dry with anticipation, a force of nature on the bestseller lists. Vanda Symon is behind the #1 New Zealand bestselling Sam Shephard series. Christian White is the dynamo from down under with his award-winning debut, The Nowhere Child.

Kiwi Journalist Craig Sisterson keeps it cool as Chair.

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 562303 or visit our website.

| harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

‘I’VE BEEN BRUTAL TO HARRY BEFORE BUT NEVER THIS BRUTAL’ JO NESBO HARRY HOLE FACES HIS DARKEST CASE YET • 11 JULY 2019

| FRIDAY 19 JULY

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Special Guest: Jo Nesbo 5pm | Tickets £15

Have you a Harry-shaped Hole in your life? Form a disorderly queue. He’s back!

When the queue last snaked outside the Old Swan for Nesbo, it prompted a journalist to dub the audience as ‘Nesbomaniacs.’ Selling 40 million books in 50 languages, he’s got us hooked on Hole, Oslo’s troubled alcoholic detective. Two of the books have been adapted for the big screen: The Snowman, starring Michael Fassbender, and Headhunters.

The twelfth instalment in Jo Nesbo’s series, Knife, is described by Jo as his darkest Harry Hole novel yet. Rock climber, rock star and former professional football player - Nesbo even re-imagined Shakespeare, with a bold and bloody upgrade of Macbeth. Is there anything he can’t do? The multiple award-winning Denise Mina, one of the most prominent voices in contemporary noir, finds out.

Sponsored by

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

Casino Royale in Concert Thursday 30 May | 7pm Harrogate Convention Centre with the Hallé Orchestra

Tickets: From £45

Conductor: Ben Palmer Film Concerts Live! proudly presents Casino Royale in Concert, produced in association with EON Productions and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM).

For the first time ever, audiences will experience Bond on the big screen accompanied by the full force of the Hallé orchestra performing composer David Arnold’s thrilling musical score live to picture!

Directed by Martin Campbell, Casino Royale brings us Bond at the start of his career, having just earned 00 status and his licence to kill, and introduces us to the next James Bond – Daniel Craig.

CASINO ROYALE LICENSED BY MGM. CASINO ROYALE © 2006 DANJAQ, UNITED ARTISTS. Tickets: AND RELATED JAMES BOND TRADEMARKS, TM DANJAQ. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Ballroom: £21, Garden Room: £19

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

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Fees Apply

| FRIDAY 19 JULY Dead Good Reader Awards | 6pm | Tickets £14 Join Dead Good for drinks as they present the Reader Awards as voted for by you. Six awards will be up for grabs with attendees walking away with a bag full of crime goodies.

Don’t forget to head over to www.deadgoodbooks.co.uk this April when nominations open!

Sponsored

Author Dinner: Cooking Up A Murder 6.15pm | Tickets £42 Five university friends meet up 25 years after they graduated. Four have gone into politics and one is a chef. They are all taking part in a reality TV cookery show when one is murdered and the other four become the police’s prime suspects.

Mark Billingham, Jane Gregory, Mari Hannah and Val McDermid star as the suspects. Martyn Waites is the Senior Investigating Officer....

Table Hosts include David Jackson, Phoebe Locke, Winnie M. Li, Liz Nugent, Alan Parks, Caro Ramsay, Kate Rhodes, Mel Sherratt, Adam Southward, Peter Swanson, Lesley Thomson, Stuart Turton, Ruth Ware and Tom Wood.

Tickets include a two-course meal, a glass of wine and a copy of your table host’s book.

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

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booking fees apply

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From the publisher of award-winning books such as…

Come your next big reads…

@BloomsburyRaven | bloomsbury.com/raven

| FRIDAY 19 JULY

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Special Guests: M.C. Beaton and Stuart MacBride 8.30pm | Tickets ÂŁ15 Glasgow-born M.C. Beaton is the creator of Agatha Raisin, the bouncy public relations maven turned amateur sleuth with a lovable streak. A veteran of Fleet Street, Marion worked in New York as a journalist before returning to Scotland (where she created Hamish Macbeth). A move to the Cotswolds inspired the brilliant Agatha, now charming viewers on Sky TV starring Ashley Jensen.

Stuart MacBride may have an even more eclectic CV than his fellow Scot. Life before crime writing, included stints as an actor, graphic designer and undertaker. The bestselling author of the Logan McRae series, set in Aberdeen, advises we all sit down with a beer and bag of chips and a good book; his latest The Blood Road, was acclaimed as his best work yet.

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

the big write in association with Ashville College

Monday 20 May | 9.45 - 11.45am or 1 - 3pm

Book your free places now!

The Royal Hall | Harrogate Join us at this free writing workshop for Year 4 and 5 children. Led by world-class educators Pobble, and joined by a special guest author, children are inspired by the power of writing.

To reserve your space email:

mary@harrogate-festival.org.uk

| harrogateinternationalfestivals.com Harrogate International Festivals is a registered charity no. 244861.

| FRIDAY 19 JULY

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Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers’ Gig 10pm | Tickets £12 Psycho Killer. I Fought The Law. Folsom Prison Blues…guessing the playlist is half the fun. Prepare for some killer tunes and get ready to dance as, fresh from their recent performance at the Glastonbury festival, crime writing pals Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Chris Brookmyre, Luca Veste, Stuart Neville and Doug Johnstone, rock out.

Raworths Harrogate

literature festival 17 - 20 OCTOBER 2019 Crown Hotel | Harrogate Line-up to be announced in July.

Join the mailing list at harrogateinternationalfestivals.com for author and event announcements.

WE’RE UNLOCKING

AT HARROGATE THIS YEAR Join us on Saturday 20th July in the Bramham Suite at the Swan Hotel for exclusive competitions, giveaways, author signings, audio book listening pods and much more.

www.thecrimevault.com Facebook.com/TheCrimeVault Little, Brown Book Group

@TheCrimeVault

| SATURDAY 20 JULY

Special Guest: Jeffery Deaver 9am | Tickets ÂŁ15

Loved for his chutzpah plotting and pageturning panache, Jeffery Deaver, like his novels, is full of surprising twists. A breeder of prize-winning briards, a former folk singer, journalist and attorney, he prepares his plots as tightly as a legal brief, and has now sold 50 million books worldwide. His first thriller featuring investigator Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was adapted for the big screen and starred Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Now he introduces a new series with The Never Game, which takes place in the cut throat billion-dollar video gaming industry in the dark heart of Silicon Valley.

Programming Chair, Mari Hannah, ex-probation officer, puts former attorney Deaver under scrutiny. Best known for her Kate Daniels series, in development for TV by Sprout Pictures, Mari won the 2017 CWA Dagger in the Library for her body of work.

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

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No twists in the tale from us, just expert accounting

HW Fisher’s Authors and Journalists group is dedicated to writers.

We have a thorough understanding of the relevant tax regulations and many years’ experience in helping clients minimise their tax liability and manage their finances effectively. We also specialise in forensic accounting, including royalty audits for both authors and agents.

Managing your finances is time-consuming, we can take care of all your accounting, leaving you free to concentrate on your plot twists.

HW Fisher is a top 25 UK chartered accountancy firm with offices in London and Watford.

Please contact Andrew Subramaniam for a free consultation.

T 020 7380 4947 E asubs@hwfisher.co.uk hwfisher.co.uk @HWFWriters

| SATURDAY 20 JULY

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New Blood 12pm | Tickets £12 The Queen of Crime, Val McDermid, handpicks four hot new talents.

A.A. DHAND

Gytha Lodge is a multi-award winning playwright who studied creative writing at UEA. Her debut, She Lies in Wait, is dubbed as the biggest debut of 2019. Contending that title is investigative journalist, Holly Watt, her first novel To the Lions received acclaim as a ‘breathholding rollercoaster of a read’.

The Underworld

From Down Under, Scrublands is the powerful compulsive thriller from journalist and foreign correspondent, Chris Hammer. And freelance writer and editor, Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut, My Sister the Serial Killer, mixes crime, sisterly love and murder, hailed by the New York Times as ‘pulpy, peppery and sinister.’

10.30am | Tickets £12 Grab your raincoat. Walk down a dark alley. Things are about to get murky with the criminal underbelly, a subculture steeped in violence, mobs, and greed.

Witness the riveting rising stars of the genre in the most anticipated panel of the Festival.

Sponsored by

VAL MCDERMID

A.A. Dhand brings CI Harry Virdee to the mean streets of Bradford in tense neo-noir novels. ‘Queen of the Underworld’, Jessie Keane ran away aged 15 to Soho, meeting the characters who inspired her Annie Carter novels. Joseph Knox was the bookseller with a broken heart who poured his darkness into his debut, Sirens. His razor-sharp urban noir returns in The Sleepwalker. Robert Crais’ novels include the bestselling Cole and Pike series, plunging readers into a shadowy underworld of highstakes, double-crosses, and murder.

Henry Sutton, no stranger to Great Yarmouth’s murky underworld, keeps the torch on as Chair.

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

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booking fees apply

| SATURDAY 20 JULY

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Make ‘Em Laugh Make ‘Em Cry | 2pm | Tickets £12 Readers have a good cry and a great laugh.

These authors bring it all. Elly Griffiths created one of the most engaging characters in Ruth Galloway. Her latest, The Stone Circle went straight into the Sunday Times Bestseller list. Vaseem Khan takes us to India with the charming Inspector Chopra, who tackles corruption alongside his heartwarming sidekick, a baby elephant.

MARK BILLINGHAM

Lisa Jewell is a literary sensation. Her #1 thrillers are hailed for their emotionally engrossing characters who grip to the heart-wrenching end. Witty, but angry too and heartbreaking, Mick Herron’s Jackson Lamb series brings the rollicking dramas of Slough House to vivid life. ITV presenter Ian Payne, keeps emotions in check as Chair.

Blood, Guts and Gratuitous Violence | 3.30pm | Tickets £12 Strong stomachs and smelling salts at the ready. Authors on both sides of the bloody fence tackle the icky questions that splits readers like a butcher cleaving a carcass.

How far is too far? Are crime writers really dizzy with bloodlust? Why do women suffer horrific violence on the page when statistics show men are the biggest victims of violent crime? Looking at the evidence and assessing the body count are the creator of Tom Thorne Mark Billingham, Helen Fitzgerald the writer behind the BBC hit, The Cry, author of the Marnie Rome series Sarah Hilary, and whisper it, Alex North. Journalist turned author, Fiona Cummins, mops up the mess as Chair.

Box Office:harrogatefestivals.com/crime 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

big read 3-14 JUNE 2019 | FREE TICKETS | FREE BOOK The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival will go back on tour this Summer with the 11th Big Read!

Mari Hannah, author, Programming Chair, and Reader in Residence will hit the road to host the North’s biggest book club, discussing thriller The Black Echo by Michael Connelly.

Free copies of the book are available from all participating libraries and the Harrogate Festival office. If you would like to attend one of the Big Read events, you can book by contacting the library directly, or the Festival offices on 01423 562303.

Blaydon Library, Gateshead Mon 3 June Ashington Library, Northumberland Tues 4 June Northallerton Library Weds 5 June Ripon Library Weds 5 June Sheffield Library Fri 7 June Riverside Library, Rotherham Fri 7 June Batley Library Sat 8 June Wakefield Library Mon 10 June Barnsley (Dodworth) Library Weds 12 June Acklam Library, Middlesbrough Fri 14 June Hartlepool Library Fri 14 June

| 6pm | 4pm | 11am | 3pm | 10am | 1pm | 2pm | 11am | 6pm | 10am | 2pm

Join in at the Festivalat our Readers Book Group on

Saturday 20 July | 1pm

| harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Special Guests: Belinda Bauer, Eva Dolan, Erin Kelly 5pm | Tickets £15 Be bowled over by this trio of powerhouse authors.

Belinda Bauer worked as a journalist and screenwriter before she gave novel writing a try; last year she rocked the literary world when she was longlisted for the Booker for Snap.

Eva Dolan was shortlisted for the CWA Dagger (for unpublished authors) as a teenager. Her Zigic and Ferreira series – addictive and socially aware - are a magnet for acclaim. Her first standalone This is How it Ends propels her onto the A-list.

Journalist and author Erin Kelly’s first novel, The Poison Tree, became a major ITV drama. He Said She Said sat on the Sunday Times bestseller list for 12 weeks, with Gillian Flynn declaring it ‘unforgettable’. Her stunning new psychological suspense novel, Stone Mothers, is irresistible.

harrogatefestivals.com/crime harrogateinternationalfestivals.com | booking fees apply

ERIN KELLY

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EVA DOLAN

BELINDA BAUER

| SATURDAY 20 JULY

| SATURDAY 20 JULY

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Author Dinner: The Key Question 6.15pm | Tickets £42 A prisoner dies in suspicious circumstances within HMP Failing. There are only four suspects. None of them are inmates. Natasha Cooper, Steve Cavanagh, Luca Veste and Elly Griffiths take on the roles of the four suspects.

Table Hosts include Chris Brookmyre, Mike Craven, Merilyn Davies, Chris Ewan, Nicola Ford, Caz Frear, Johana Gustawsson, Elizabeth Haynes, Alex Marwood, Anna Mazzola, Kate Medina, RN Morris, James Oswald, Rod Reynolds, Craig Robertson, Catherine Ryan Howard, Robert Scragg, Victoria Selman, Lilja Sigurdardottir and Jo Spain.

Tickets include a two-course meal, a glass of wine and a copy of your table host’s book.

Sponsored by

HARROGATE FESTIVALS

long table dinner THUR 13 JUNE 2019 | VALLEY GARDENS | HARROGATE Our Long Table Dinner returns for 2019 A unique experience of exquisite cuisine enjoyed under the stars on one long table, created by celebrity chef, Stephanie Moon.

Box Office: 01423 562 303

Ticket includes: Arrival Cocktail, Canapes, and a bespoke Three Course Meal

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| SATURDAY 20 JULY

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Special Guests: Harlan Coben in conversation with Ian Rankin

HARLAN COBEN

8.30pm | Tickets £15

Master of the suburban thriller, Harlan Coben makes readers fall in love with Myron Bolitar, a hapless former basketball star who solves mysteries. His twisty standalones cemented his status in bestsellerdom. With over 70 million books in print worldwide, Harlan is the perennial #1 New York Times author of 30 novels. He’s also shaping the streaming schedules with Netflix’s Safe. His next Netflix collaboration will star Hobbit actor Richard Armitage in The Stranger.

Coben’s latest standalone, Run Away, is acclaimed as a ‘bombshell-laden thriller’.

IAN RANKIN

Ian Rankin created the iconic John Rebus, one of the genre’s most enduring detectives, just over 30 years ago. With two series on TV (starring John Hannah and Ken Stott), his latest Rebus novel (the 22nd), In a House of Lies, entered the bestseller charts at #1. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and received an OBE for services to literature.

Sponsored by

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| SATURDAY 20 JULY

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Late Night Quiz 10pm | Tickets £12 Mark Billingham and Val McDermid have aced every TV quiz show going. Between them, they have triumphed on Pointless Celebrities, won Celebrity Mastermind and beaten The Eggheads. Mark has taken on The Chase, and Val has conquered University Challenge. The dream team are the perfect hosts for THE most legendary crime-fiction trivia test of all – the Late Night Quiz.

Remember, it’s the winning that counts!

| SUNDAY 21 JULY The Big Issues 9am | Tickets £12

IMRAN MAHMOOD

Fake news! As Donald says. As the press are slammed as enemies of the people, how about taking the president down in fiction? Guardian journalist Jonathan Freedland (aka Sam Bourne) is the author behind morally crusading thrillers including To Kill The President, and To Kill the Truth. Denise Mina successfully injects social issues into her gripping novels’. The Long Drop was her award-winning foray into true crime.

Martyn Waites’ The Old Religion is praised for its masterful plot. His elevator pitch?

Brexit Noir crossed with The Wicker Man (in Cornwall).’ Criminal defence barrister Imran Mahmood. Did he turn to crime (fiction) with his bestselling You Don’t Know Me, to seek justice? Mel McGrath – who drew from true events for Give Me The Child - fires the heated debate as Chair.

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

| SUNDAY 21 JULY

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Special Guests: Val McDermid in conversation with Nicola Sturgeon 10.30am | Tickets £15 Who better to put the world to rights on a Sunday morning than two Scottish Supernovas?

Val McDermid has been publishing acclaimed crime fiction for over 30 years. An international bestseller, her books have been translated into 40 different languages and sold over 16 million copies worldwide. She’s won many accolades, including the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction. She’s written four award-winning series, including the Tony Hill & Carol Jordan novels, adapted for TV as Wire In the Blood. Other work includes non-fiction, short stories, a children’s picture book, writing dramas for radio and the stage, and captaining a winning University Challenge team. My Scotland is an account of the places in her homeland she has chosen to write about in her books, and what they mean to her.

Nicola Sturgeon joined the SNP at 16. Five years later she became Scotland’s youngest parliamentary candidate and in 2014 was elected SNP Leader.

She is the first female First Minister of Scotland. A dynamic campaigner, this year she was appointed as the first global advocate for the UN’s #HeForShe campaign, advancing gender equality. An enthusiastic reader, Nicola views books as one of life’s great pleasures. She regularly shares her recommendations on social media on a Saturday night and is an avid supporter of libraries. She’s also become a regular interviewer of writers at book festivals. She has contributed the foreword to My Scotland.

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| SUNDAY 21 JULY

Special Guest: Jed Mercurio 12pm | Tickets £15

Palms sweating? Make way for the mercurial Mercurio, who cemented his reputation as the most successful writer working in TV today with Bodyguard.

The son of Italian immigrants, Jed worked as a junior doctor and served briefly with the RAF. His early work, Cardiac Arrest, set in an NHS hospital, reflected his own experiences and a fascination with how members of institutions close ranks. Bodyguard shared DNA with Line of Duty’s jawdropping twists, labyrinthine plots, and themes of internal corruption.

Mercurio brought the nation to its knees in minutes as PTSD-sufferer and ex-squaddie turned police protection officer, David Budd (Richard Madden) prevented a suicide bombing on a packed train. A role that led to a Golden Globe and put Madden into the Bond rumour mill. With viewing figures exceeding 10 million, Bodyguard returned us to a time when a TV show could be a national event.

Jed will be interviewed by the BBC’s Steph McGovern.

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

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sponsors | supporters Title Sponsor

Major Supporter

Crime Novel of the Year Partners:

Community Partners

Regular Funder

Sponsors:

Premier Partners:

Special Projects

Media Partners

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| ABOUT US

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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 HRH The Prince of Wales Honorary President Dame Fanny Waterman DBE Vice Presidents Lady Solti Mrs Frainy Ardeshir Lesley Garrett CBE Malcolm Neesam Peter Blackburn CBE David Haxby Christine Woods

Programming Committee Mari Hannah, | 2019 Programming Chair Mark Billingham NJ Cooper Jane Gregory Val McDermid Steve Mosby Julia Wisdom Festival Staff Team Sharon Canavar | Chief Executive Helen Donkin | Literature Festivals Manager Lizzie Brewster | Development Manager Charlotte Woods | Music & Education Manager Mary Mulloy | Music and Education Co-ordinator Beth Walker | Marketing and Communications

Co-ordinator

Board of Trustees Fiona Movley, Chairman Matthew Osbourne, Treasurer John Bywater Sofia Cann Jenny Harris Craig Ratcliffe Susan Rumfitt David Salter Kate Spencer Observer: Stanley Lumley Councillor, Harrogate Borough Council

Support Services Cause UK Conrad Davies Creative Solutions Kate Robey Consultancy Tim Garbutt Events 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.

Please note the auditorium can become very warm due to the number of customers and the weather. Due to the Victorian nature of the property and to ensure the event is not disturbed by sound we are unable to have air-conditioning running throughout the events. We do ensure we cool the room as much as possible between events. Please dress appropriately.

The management reserves the right to refuse admission and change or cancel the advertised programme.

Harrogate International Festival Ltd | 32 Cheltenham Parade I Harrogate I North Yorkshire I HG1 1DB 01423 562303 | Harrogateinternationalfestivals.com | Registered Charity No. 244861. | Company Registration: 858029

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

| FAQ’s | SITE INFO

By Phone: Online: In Person:

Opening Times:

01423 562 303 harrogateinternationalfestivals.com Harrogate International Festivals, 32 Cheltenham Parade, HG1 1DB 10am - 5pm Monday - Friday

Payment: Harrogate International Festivals accept all major credit/debit cards (except American Express), cash or cheques. Cheques should be made payable to ‘HARROGATE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS’. In order to cover the cost of postage there is an additional £1.50 charge for postal bookings, however, you can choose to collect your tickets on the door or at the Festival office prior to the event.

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 Tickets on the door: Tickets will be available to purchase from the Festival desk at the Old Swan Hotel from Thu 18 – Sun 21 July, subject to availability. Be aware events can sell out in advance. Early booking is recommended.

Tickets for sold-out events: For returns prior to Wednesday 17 July and for sold out events, we run a waiting list which you can join. Please contact our Box Office. From Thursday 18 July the onsite waiting list will open 10 minutes before the start of each event as we will be able to assess availability. An onsite waiting list will supersede any previous waiting list.

Bag Searches: Please note there may be random bag searches.

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. Limited number of Library Live Tickets available for selected events, to join as a free member visit the website.

Seating, Queuing and Departing: Seating for all events at the Old Swan Hotel is unreserved. We kindly ask that queue etiquette is observed prior to each event and you leave the room promptly when the event has finished to allow us to get the room set for the following event.

Doors will open approximately 10 minutes before each

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event. Friends of the Festival are entitled to priority entry on presentation of their membership card, and this will be gained through the Festival Friends’ lounge. Many events are nearly or completely sold out. We ask you to help us accommodate all ticket holders by making use of every seat in the auditorium and not leaving gaps. At the end of each event please stay seated until the authors have left the stage and exit the Ballroom by the door at the back to go to the WHSmith Tent for book signings.

Lost Property: Will be removed from the main auditorium and taken to the Old Swan Hotel reception desk.

Visitors with disabilities: The Old Swan Hotel is wheelchair accessible. We offer free tickets for carers and special provisions can be arranged for visitors with disabilities. 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.

Parking: Parking is available at The Old Swan Hotel on a first come first served basis. Please note, if using this car park, a valid parking permit must be displayed and can be obtained for free from the hotel reception. There is also metered on street parking available nearby.

Photography & Recording: The use of photographic, video or audio equipment is strictly prohibited.

Festival Bookstore: WHSmith will provide the Festival bookstore at The Old Swan Hotel and will host book signings after each event. The bookshop will be located within the Papakata tents, on the lawn outside the hotel.

You will be required to show a ticket for each event to have book signed. Limit of 3 books per person.

Friends’ Lounge: The Festival Friends’ lounge is located in the Red Lounge (adjacent to the Ballroom) and priority entry to the auditorium will be available through the Red Lounge. This room will also work as an anteroom adjacent to the auditorium with screens and a live link through to all of the events. Valid Tickets and 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.

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Lising Evidence Theakston are proud to sponsor the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

#theakstonscrime