Different. That’s what you can expect from two of this genre’s most brilliant and unpredictable minds. Both Chris Brookmyre and Stuart Turton have built extensions on the broad church of crime fiction, taking it in wonderful, unexpected directions. Chris’s incredible new novel The Cracked Mirror amply demonstrates his fondness for shredding the rules of crime writing as the progeny of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly collide with unforgettable results. Stuart’s hard-earned maverick status is gold-stamped with the genre-bending, description defying The Last Murder at the End of the World, an extraordinary murder mystery that will leave you breathless.

This event will be chaired by author Louise Welsh.
Crime in the Spotlight reading from Rhiannon Barnsley.

Sponsored by the Open University in Scotland 

Two of Tartan Noir’s finest police detectives team up for what will be a fascinating insight into the workings of razor-sharp criminal minds. One is a legend of the force (and fiction) and the other is a hugely popular relative newcomer who’s rising rapidly through the ranks. 

Quintin is the creator of Bob Skinner who has enthralled an army of readers from his first appearance in 1993 to today’s twisty thriller The Cage. Neil’s dashing Highland protagonist DS Max Craigie is in his fifth outing, as the siren-screaming The Devil You Know races from first page to last. 

This event will be chaired by author Caro Ramsay. 

Your late-night entertainment comes courtesy of two of the sharpest minds in the crime writing business. Writing top-notch novels is the easy bit (kidding!) but these two are also immensely entertaining panellists who will take you into the heart of Saturday night. 

Stand-up comic. Actor. Member of the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. Author of multiple number one novels. Mark has done it all. His new Dec Miller book is the superb The Wrong Hands. Erin’s inventive mind has created number one bestsellers and led to major TV adaptions of her work. Her new novel, The House of Mirrors, is a dazzling gothic mystery. 

Chaired by the podcaster Marco Rinaldi.
Crime in the Spotlight reading from Susan Allott.

If you’re holding out for a hero then look no further than two double-fisted, high-octane thriller stars who pack a big punch – and their characters aren’t too shy either. 

Andrew Child has moved into the family business to take up writing duties with big brother Lee on the legendary 100-million selling Jack Reacher series. The latest is the fast and furious The Secret. Tony Kent is a criminal barrister by day and thriller writer extraordinaire by night. The latest in his brilliant Dempsey and Devlin series is The Shadow Network, in which the duo hunt down a fearsome foreign agent. 

Author Gordon J Brown will chair this event. 

These two outstanding novelists, amongst the best of their generation, share more than a surname. They are both fearless, innovative writers with the priceless ability to create remarkable characters that live long in the memory. Irvine’s new novel Resolution sees the return of maverick investigator Ray Lennox, the troubled anti-hero of his TV adapted series Crime. Lennox has moved to Brighton, but his dark past has followed him. Louise’s hugely entertaining new book, To The Dogs, takes a headlong dive into Glasgow’s criminal underbelly as a good man’s moral compass spins out of control as his past also looms large.

This event will be chaired by TV presenter Stephen Jardine.
Crime in the Spotlight reading from Jack O’Donnell.

Sponsored by the Open University in Scotland 

These two outstanding novelists, amongst the best of their generation, share more than a surname. They are both fearless, innovative writers with the priceless ability to create remarkable characters that live long in the memory. Irvine’s new novel Resolution sees the return of maverick investigator Ray Lennox, the troubled anti-hero of his TV adapted series Crime. Lennox has moved to Brighton, but his dark past has followed him. Louise’s hugely entertaining new book, To The Dogs, takes a headlong dive into Glasgow’s criminal underbelly as a good man’s moral compass spins out of control as his past also looms large.

This event will be chaired by TV presenter Stephen Jardine.
Crime in the Spotlight reading from Jack O’Donnell.

Sponsored by the Open University in Scotland 

Witches, both historical and contemporary, both real and suspected, are the powerful driving forces for three spellbinding novels. Michael J Malone’s chilling gothic thriller The Torments is the story of Annie Jackson, a woman blessed with a curse – unwanted voices that tell of imminent deaths. Kate Foster’s beguiling and poignant novel The King’s Witches harks back to 16th century Scotland and the witchcraft mania that has gripped the country and its newly-arrived queen. The body of a missing teenager is found with a poem inked on his back in Suzy Aspley’s exceptional debut Crow Moon, set in a fictional Scottish village. 

Chaired by Teddy Jamieson

From the very top tier of psychological thriller writers come two novelists whose expertly crafted plots – and devilish twists – keep readers guessing, and on the edge of their seats, until the final page. 

Every Move You Make might be the boldest book yet from multi-million bestseller Cally Taylor. Reaching deep into personal experience, she has crafted a terrifying tale of five women being stalked with deadly consequences. The perfect life and the price you’d pay to get it is the propulsive premise for A Lesson in Cruelty, the jaw-dropping thriller with real heart from number one bestseller Harriet Tyce. 

Chaired by Dr Jacky Collins

Misogyny and toxic masculinity lie at the heart of three daring, important crime novels from authors with the storytelling skills to voice the fears and rage of a generation – and generations before them. 

Long-buried memories and uncomfortable family truths are dredged up alongside a body from a Swedish river in Tove Alsterdal’s disturbing thriller Deep Harbour. Ajay Close’s powerful What Doesn’t Kill Us packs an emotional punch as a killer stalks the streets and women fight back in 1970s Leeds. One of the Good Guys is Araminta Hall’s fearless, groundbreaking exploration of aggressive masculinity wrapped up in a murderous tale. 

The author and podcaster Zoe Venditozzi will chair this event. 

If you like your thrillers pacy and bloody, packed with action, twists, snappy dialogue, and heroes to die for – and let’s face it who doesn’t – then these are the writers for you. Carter and Cavanagh may sound like an 80s cop show, but they have much better storylines. Chris’s multi-million selling Robert Hunter series sets the standard for serial killer chillers. In The Death Watcher, a routine hit-and-run reveals a horrific truth. Steve is the creator of the celebrated Eddie Flynn series as well as several outstanding standalones. His new novel is the fiendishly clever Witness 8. 

This event will be chaired by TV and radio presenter Bryan Burnett.
Crime in the Spotlight reading from Charlotte Stevenson.