Bloody Scotland assembles 'a murder' of crime-writers for this year's literary festival

Bloody Scotland crime-writing festival returns, online

This year’s Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival runs from 17-20 September and the programme has just been revealed. Highlights include two ‘Criminal Masterminds’ panels featuring Val McDermid talking to Lee Child and Ian Rankin in conversation with Lawrence Block.

Others lined up to take part include Tess Gerritsen, Mark Billingham, John Connolly, Linwood Barclay, Jo Nesbo, Jeffery Deaver and Ann Cleeves.

Bloody Scotland director Bob McDevitt, says, “What began with disappointment and seemingly endless challenges has turned into a genuine opportunity to try something a bit different this year. I’m particularly pleased with the diverse range of voices appearing on the panels from all over the world.

“The festival has a truly epic scale from our biggest ever panel featuring no less than 27 authors to a session that will bring five continents online together, and there will be more spotlights for debut and emerging writers than ever before. We all know the festival won’t feel quite the same this year (has anything?) but we have all the makings of a classic Bloody Scotland year nonetheless.”

Also on this year's bill are Peter May, Professor Sue Black, Steve Cavanagh, Simon Mayo, Attica Locke, Helen Fitzgerald, Chris Brookmyre, Denise Mina, and Deon Meyer.

Completing the line-up are Sheena Kamal and Oyinkan Braithwaite.

On the opening night, an event with all of the crime writers on the Bloody Scotland board - Craig Robertson, Lin Anderson, Abir Mukherjee and Gordon Brown - will give everyone the Bloody Scotland welcome they would normally have in Stirling, where the festival is traditionally staged.

With a reputation for ‘going beyond the usual remit of a literary festival’ Bloody Scotland is determined to keep a fringe feel with a film of the play You The Jury, a virtual cabaret at The Curly Coo and a criminal spin on Desert Island Discs - Desert Island Crooks.

Tickets are free (except Masterclass), to register for tickets go to bloodyscotland.com/events

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