Apart from the 'How Dark Is Your Noir' panel with Peter James, Christopher Fowler and Barry Forshaw at Harrogate's Old Peculier Crime Festival on Saturday 24 July, there are other tempting highlights.
With so many events packed into four days it's easy to overlook some of the real gems in the Festival programme. To make sure you don't miss a trick the Festival Team have chosen the events they are most looking forward to this year.
Christopher Brookmyre
9.00am, Friday 23 July | £12
"Brookmyre doesn't so much have his finger on the pulse of popular culture as an open razor to its carotid artery." Daily Express
The grandmaster of bloody chaos. What better way to start a Friday morning? Scottish author Christopher Brookmyre kick starts the 2010 Festival with his unique brand of biting satire, wicked wit and extreme entertainment. We can't wait!
Joseph Finder
A Scotsman, an Englishman, an Irishman, and a Welshman walk into a bar...
10.30am Friday 23 July | £8.50
It's no joking matter. When it comes to crime fiction the British Isles are bursting with talent. Such a strong tradition means there's plenty of room for regions to develop their own distinctive styles. Bateman (North Ireland), Jason Goodwin (England), Robert Lewis (Wales) and Caro Ramsay (Scotland) argue the case for a not so United Kingdom. Keeping peace over the potential civil war is American envoy, Joseph Finder. Let the Battle of Britain commence!
Charlie Williams
Putting The Boot In
10.30am Saturday 24 July | £8.50
More often than not in modern crime fiction it's not just the villains who get punishment, often the good guys take more than their fair share of torture - of both the physical and mental varieties - along the way. Ray Banks, Stella Duffy, Charlie Williams and Craig Russell - four writers on the bleeding edge of crime fiction - invite you into their dark and twisted worlds: Worlds where happy endings are often the first victims. Intrepid explorer Martyn Waites will be your guide through the shadows. Don't have nightmares!
Jo Nesbo
James Bond, Eat Your Heart Out...
10.00am Sunday 25 July | £8.50
Let's face it, Daniel Craig might be doing his best to keep the Fleming flame alive, but shaken martinis and enemies peeking out from behind the Iron Curtain are old news. Today our global conflicts are as much clashes between cultures than countries, the technological revolution has given ordinary people tools previously only in the hands of spymasters, and women are world leaders not window dressing. So where do we look for the next generation of high-octane international thrillers? Meg Gardiner considers the future of the action hero with help from Sean Black, Jeremy Duns, Jo Nesbø and Zoë Sharp.
'Deaver, Jeffery Deaver'
And what about the future for 007himself? Don't miss the chance to hear the man with the golden franchise in his hands. Jeffery Deaver will be writing the next official Bond novel. Catch him in conversation with Jeff Lindsay and Mark Lawson in the Festival finale event at 11.30am on Sunday 25 July.
Harvill Secker & Vintage Highlight World-Class Crime List
Two Random House imprints are highlighting their roster of international crime authors. The new Killer Crime catalogue features the very best crime writers from both Harvill Secker and Vintage.
Telephone Bookings
Box Office, tel: 0845 130 8840
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm, Mon to Sat
Online Bookings
To buy tickets, visit:
www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime
For information, email:
crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk
In Person Bookings
You can purchase tickets in person from the box office:
Box Office
Harrogate International Centre
Kings Road, Harrogate, HG1 1LE
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm, Mon to Sat
Booking fees
Bookings are managed by the Harrogate International Centre Box Office on behalf of the Festival.
Please note Harrogate International Centre charges 10% booking fee on tickets bought by cheque and credit/debit card for a single event and on ALL online purchases.
The booking fee is reduced to 5% if tickets for more than one event are purchased in a single transaction by phone or in person.
Rover tickets are subject to a flat £5 booking fee by phone or in person.
Customers purchasing their tickets in person at the box office by debit card or cash pay no booking fee.
