Welcome to the best crime writing festival in the world! Whether this will be your first visit to the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival or your tenth, we thought we would give you our Top 10 reasons as to why this will be the best event of your year!
1.
This is a festival like no other. You won’t find appearing guests hiding away in the Green Room. Strike up a conversation with your favourite author out in the PapaKåta tent or meet in the bar for a pint of Theakston Old Peculier! 
 

2.
Join us on the Thursday evening for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year Award. The six shortlisted authors battle it out for supremacy in one of crime fiction’s most hotly contended and prestigious award. It’s the crime writing fraternity’s equivalent to the Oscars!
3. 

Are you a budding author? Perhaps you just enjoy indulging in your creative side? Come along to our day-long series of intensive crime fiction writing workshops and take the chance to hone your writing skills with industry professionals and real-life crime experts.
 

4. 
Grow your library at home with our
on-site WHSmith bookshop, with all appearing authors signing in the tent after each event. Signed books also make great birthday and Christmas present #BrowniePoints!

“The Festival is the best in the world – I would know, because I’ve done them all!” –
Lee Child
 

 

5.
See for your yourself why international, bestselling authors love the Harrogate experience and return year after year!

“This is the finest and biggest attended crime and thriller writing festival in the world – without peer.” – Peter James

6. Join us for our ever popular New Blood Panel! Always a sell-out, this event sees Val McDermid in the hot seat to hand-pick four of the brightest new talents ready for a new crime wave.
7. 
No need to brace yourself for a weekend of discomfort on a blow up bed and pop up tent! Unwind from the excitement of each day in your own luxurious room at one of the top hotels with a Weekend Break Package and even join your new friends for breakfast (included!).
 

8.
Put your Crime knowledge to the test and take part in the Late Night Quiz! Mark Billingham and Val McDermid have alternate lives as quiz show contestants; both have won Celebrity Mastermind, featured on Pointless, and Eggheads. What better quizmasters then for THE ONLY quiz that really matters?!
 

9.
Take part in our Murder Mystery style Author Dinner – Digging Up The Past on Saturday Evening and mingle with even more great authors. Where better to try your hand at being a super sleuth than at the Old Swan Hotel, where Agatha Christie disappered in 1926!
 

10.
Last but most definitely not least – Discover why we’re known as one of the friendliest and most inclusive festivals – meet like minded people and make friendships that may last a lifetime!

 

See you there! 

The line-up so far…