New Blood | Harrogate International Festivals

Discovering the bestsellers of tomorrow

New Blood is a legendary panel at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, dedicated to fostering new voices in crime fiction by spotlighting the most exciting debut authors in the genre.

This highly anticipated event has launched the careers of some of the genre’s biggest names, offering a vital platform for outstanding new talent. Traditionally curated by giant of the genre Val McDermid, the featured authors are now selected by a panel of notable critics, who have continued Val’s legacy of creating opportunities for the best fresh voices.

With New Blood alumni including SJ Watson, Stuart MacBride, Liam McIlvanney, Fiona Cummins, Stuart Neville, Abir Mukherjee and Chris Hammer among a host of other bestselling authors across the genre, this prestigious showcase remains a must-see event for fans eager to discover the next big name in crime fiction.

Mick Herron, the 2025 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival Programming Chair

Experience New Blood

Showcasing the stars of tomorrow, four outstanding debut novelists selected this year by a panel of the UK’s top crime fiction critics, will be in conversation with Mick Herron at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2025.

More details coming soon!

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