Crime-(fiction) wave heads to Bristol

From detective fiction and thrillers to ‘cosy crime’ mysteries – across the board, crime fiction is booming. According to Nielson book data from 2022, UK sales are up 19 per cent on pre-pandemic levels.

CrimeFest, the annual convention celebrating all facets of the genre is back on May 11 at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, for a packed four day programme featuring legions of fans and 150 crime authors; from Lisa Jewell, Elly Griffiths and Mark Billingham to Adele Parks, Graham Bartlett and the new official (and first female) James Bond author, Kim Sherwood.

Panellists include returning guest Andrew Child – co-author of the worldwide phenomenon that is Jack Reacher, Vaseem Khan – author of two award-winning crime series set in India (Baby Ganesh Detective Agency and the Malabar House series), and Robert Thorogood, the creator of BBC One’s Death in Paradise.

Panel topics include crime fiction, serial killers, psychological thrillers, partners in crime and the importance of settings, as well as a ‘Fresh Blood’ panel showcasing debut authors.

Event logo – image: courtesy of CrimeFest

“The fact that sales of the genre continue to rise, and it now dominates our TV screens shows the remarkable appeal of crime fiction,” remarks director and co-founder of CrimeFest, Adrian Muller.

“The lineup this year illustrates the wealth and breadth of topics behind a genre that not only offers escapism and entertainment, but can also give insights and comment on pressing issues in society.”

Adrian Muller (CrimeFest co-founder), Dame Mary Perkins (Specsavers co-founder – event sponsor), and Donna Moore (CrimeFest co-founder) – photo: CrimeFest

Also present over the course of the event will be the Financial Times crime fiction reviewer and genre expert, Barry Forshaw, the chair of the Crime Writers’ Association and all-round publishing polymath, Maxim Jakubowski, alongside the president of the Detection Club – the novelist and leading authority on crime fiction, Martin Edwards.

The annual CrimeFest Awards will honour the most impressive crime books released in the UK in 2022, including the prestigious accolade of best debut crime novel.

Andrew Child at CrimeFest 2022 – photo: Gary Stratmann

Bristol authors represented at CrimeFest include Emily Koch, Jane Shemilt and the Sunday Times bestselling C. L. Taylor (who has sold nearly 2 million books in the UK alone), who shared her excitement about the event with Bristol24/7: “I’ve lived here for nearly 12 years and it’s such a vibrant, diverse and cultural city that you can’t help but be inspired as an author.

“I’ve used settings from all over Bristol in my psychological thrillers (The Missing, The Escape, Strangers) and my young adult fiction (The Treatment), everywhere from Knowle to Broadmead, Gloucester Road to Bristol University, with a few trips to Weston too.

C.L. Taylor – photo: courtesy of the author

“Crimefest puts Bristol on the crime community map, bringing authors from all over the UK, and the world, to our wonderful city. I’m hugely looking forward to my event with Elly Griffiths, Gilly MacMillan and MJ Lee where we’ll be discussing how to craft the perfect ‘bad guy’ in fiction, something I hugely enjoyed doing in The Guilty Couple, my new book.

“I’m also looking forward to watching the other panels – particularly the ‘twist in the tale’ panel with Lisa Jewell, Adele Parks, Simon Toyne and Paul Durston, and the ‘Battle Between Good and Evil’ panel with Liz Mistry, Liz Nugent, Tim Sullivan and Robert Thorogood.”

Photo: courtesy of HarperCollins/Avon Books

Across the four day convention there are around 50 panels programmed, exploring everything from crime fiction set during World War II, to the genre in the digital age.

For any delegates who love pop music as much as their crime fiction, the event will also be screening the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday May 13.

Crimefest is at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel from May 11-14. For the full list of authors and to book, visit www.crimefest.com.

Main photo: Gary Stratmann (Maxim Jakubowski)

Read more: Crime fiction authors and fans to descend on Bristol for CrimeFest 2022

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