Festival Partner Events onsite at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND

THE REACHER ROOM

Rose Room

Visit the Reacher Room to pick up your TransWorld of Crime passport for a chance to win prizes all weekend long! There’ll be plenty of opportunities to collect the all-important passport stamps: put yourself on the cover of a bestseller, join in with celebratory.

Brought to you by Transworld.

THE GRAND ALPINE GONDOLA

The Bookshop

To celebrate the first Marple novel in 50 years, alight the red gondola for a photo opp that could win you a Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel proof!

Brought to you by Harper. 

HQ AT HARROGATE

Drinking Detective Tent

Don’t miss HQ in the main tent for giveaways and competition to win proofs and discover your next read! See you there!

Brought to you by HQ.

FRIDAY 24 JULY

BITTER FRUIT

12.30pm – 2pm: Watch out for a taste of BITTER FRUIT: Hodder are offering a taste of 2027’s most hypnotic debut novel from searing new voice in crime fiction, Tempest Black.

Brought to you by Hodder and Stoughton.

JOHN MARRS MADE ME DO IT

Bookshop

Celebrate the #MarrsMadeMeDoIt moments with giveaways, content creation and photo ops.

12pm – Flash game & giveaway: John Marrs Villains’ Hangman
5pm – Flash game & giveaway: F*ck. Chapter 39 by John Marrs

Brought to you by Amazon Publishing.

DEAD GIVEAWAYS

Front Lawn Dead Giveaways Tent

Free ticketed events but pop in on the day to see if there is a space for you.

11.30am: Beyond the 9-5 with Fiona Cummins, Claire Parkin and Barnaby Martin.
2.30pm: What Would Sherlock Do? Vaseem Khan interviews Robert Hutton.
3.30pm: Iced Coffee & SA Cosby

Brought to you by Pan Macmillan.

THE REACHER ROOM

Reacher Room

9.30am: Be first in the queue to get a Chain Reaction proof.
11am: Win a prize on the Tess Gerritsen wheel.
1pm: Share your Reacher love for a Chain Reaction proof.
3pm: Enjoy delicious cake to rejoice in our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson’s.

Brought to you by Transworld. 

CANELO MEET THE AUTHORS

Bowling Green Tent

5.15pm – 6pm: A chance to meet Canelo and Hera authors and enter the popular Canelo lucky dip to raise funds for the National Year of Reading.

Brought to you by Canelo.

ZAFFRE BOOKS: THE HOME OF CRIME FICTION

Red Lounge

Browse our bookshelves, complete puzzles, meet authors, win goodies and get the lowdown on all your most-anticipated Zaffre releases coming this year and beyond.

All day: Vaseem Khan: Get your thinking cap on at our Q Mysteries pop-up
All day: At Home with Zaffre: Put your feet up in our reading lounge, with flash proof giveaways, signings and bookish goodies
All day: Lynda La Plante: Dive into a world of gripping thrillers full of mystery, intrigue and iconic characters
10am – 12pm: New for 2027 – Be among the first to experience our blazing hot 2027 thriller, White Smoke
12.45pm – 1.15pm: Susie Dent Proof Giveaway
3.30pm – 6.00pm: Celebrate 10 years of T.M. Logan

Brought to you by Bonnier Zaffre.

SATURDAY 25 JULY

CENTURY & MICHAEL JOSEPH STAND

Bookshop

Head to the Century and Michael Joseph stand for exclusive proofs from Amanda Cassidy, Lucinda Berry and Andy Callahan!

9am – 11.30am: Be the first to get your hands on a proof for a major 2027 launch, this book will be everywhere!

11.30am – 2pm: Discover some of MJ’s leading 2027 crime thrillers before anyone else!

Brought to you by Century & Michael Joseph. 

JOHN MARRS MADE ME DO IT

Bookshop

Celebrate the #MarrsMadeMeDoIt moments with giveaways, content creation and photo ops.

12pm – Flash game & giveaway: John Marrs Villains’ Hangman
5pm – Flash game & giveaway: F*ck. Chapter 39 by John Marrs

Brought to you by Amazon Publishing.

BOOKOUTURE STAND

Bookshop

9am – 12pm: Interrogate the Bookouture team! Aimed at writers, agents and those working within the publishing world. They’re the masterminds
behind some of the most notorious names in crime fiction – and they’re ready to be quizzed! Ask your killer questions and sharpen your deadliest plots with Bookouture’s expert editorial team.
2pm – 6pm: Meet Bookouture’s Most Wanted! Come face-to-face with the bestselling authors behind your sleepless nights! Dive into discussions about your favourite characters, ask them your burning questions, win bundles of books, and uncover your next obsession.

Brought to you by Bookouture.

DEAD GIVEAWAYS

Front Lawn Dead Giveaways Tent

Free ticketed events but pop in on the day to see if there is a space for you.

9.30am: Breakfast with Jeffrey Boakye
11.00am: Bestseller Book Bingo
2.45pm: The Next Chapter: with Julia Chapman, DV Bishop and Lin Anderson.
3.30pm: A Life of Crime with Ann Cleeves.
5.00pm: Twisters with a Twist.

Brought to you by Pan Macmillan.

THE REACHER ROOM

Reacher Room

10.30am: Put yourself on the cover of one of our crime thriller bestsellers
12pm: Have your questions ready for expert witness, Sue Black
1pm: Take part in the Reacher Quiz to win a chain reaction proof!
3.30pm: Win a limited-edition mug by playing the How To Get Away With Murder quiz

Brought to you by Transworld.

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF FREIDA MCFADDEN

Red Lounge

Head to The Red Lounge for an immersive Freida McFadden experience complete with games, prizes, photo opps and the chance to pick up exclusive merch and proofs!

10am – 4pm: Freida McFadden themed activities in a relaxed and welcoming space with free bookmarks, stickers and tote bags to take home
10am: Proof Drop: The Housewife by Freida favourite, Natalie Barell
11am: Blind Date with a Book: Pick up your next summer read
12pm: Want to Know a Secret red knife brownie giveaway
2-3pm: Dear Debbie Murder Mystery Party – drinks tokens and signed editions available to win!
4pm: Proof Drop: Buried in the Woods Below by Daniel G. Miller

Brought to you by DK & Source Books

CAN YOU BEAT THE LIE-DETECTOR?

Drinking Detective Tent

10.30am – 5pm: Celebrate Clare Mackintosh’s It’s Not What You Think with an exclusive lie-detector test!

Brought to you by Harper.

PENGUIN GENERAL’S CRIME CLUB

Library

Penguin General Takes Over The Library: Calling all crime fans! Visit The Library for exclusive proofs, treats, giveaways and special Harrogate activities.

9.45am – 10.30am and 10.45am – 11.30am: We Chase Shadows Personality Quiz: Are you Amy, Rosie or Steve? Take Richard Osman’s personality quiz and claim your bespoke character badge.
12pm – 1pm: Penguin General Coffee and Crime Morning: Meet the authors, collect bespoke stamps, get your card signed and enter our Coffee and Crime Morning prize draw.
2.30pm: Robin Stevens and Ross Montgomery in Conversation: Tea, biscuits and murder with Robin Stevens and Ross Montgomery, discussing their brilliant new crime novels for adults.

Brought to you by Penguin Random House. 

FESTIVAL PARTNERS EVENTS
All partner activities and giveaways are available on a first come, first served basis, so be sure to arrive early to avoid missing out. Please note that attendance at each event is limited by venue capacity.

And lots more! Keep your eyes open this #TheakstonsCrime as there are lots of exciting moments happening.

Don’t forget to check our social media channels over the weekend for special announcements.