Killer Women Crime Festival

London will host the first female-led crime fiction festival - the capital’s only festival of crime fiction and drama. The Killer Women Festival unites many of the UK’s best-selling authors including Paula Hawkins, Martina Cole, Mark Billingham, Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves, plus leading actors Douglas Henshall and David Morrissey.

The festival will take place on 15 October 2016 at Shoreditch Town Hall, site of the inquest into Mary Kelly, Jack the Ripper’s last known victim. It features panels, debates, a murder mystery, workshops and screenings. Themes range from Victorian crime to the state-of-the-art forensic
psychology. Attendees will learn ‘How to Solve a Murder’ from real-life detectives.

Crime writing is one of the most popular genres, selling over 21 million books a year. From psychological thrillers to police procedurals, the genre appeals particularly to women, who make up more than 60% of crime fiction fans. Panels will discuss historical crime fiction; the
relationship between writer and actor; bringing a manuscript to publication; serialisation on radio and TV; the importance of research; creating the psychology of a killer; murder investigations with real-life detectives.

The day-long programme includes screenings of true-crime documentaries followed by Q&As with the directors and experts in detection and forensic psychiatry. Plus workshops with editors, agents and top writers. Topics include: pitching; how to create suspense; how to self-publish a
bestseller. Attendees will enjoy a lively debate on crime fiction and misogyny with journalists India Knight and Julie Bindel.