Our festival sponsors Contraband tell us about their great line-up of crime novels.

Contraband is the newest crime outfit on the block. With wicked authors, ruthless villains, labyrinthine plots and fiendishly clever detectives on the case, we’re hunting down the best criminal minds to read our reprobate books.

To make our intentions clear, we’re hijacking an event at the Bloody Scotland festival.

Catch us at 3.15pm on Sunday 13th September when we’re sponsoring a lineup of three unusual suspects: Michael Malone, Caro Ramsay and Douglas Skelton. They will talk about cops v crooks – being on the right vs wrong side of the law. Be there… we’re making an offer you can’t refuse.

Contraband is the crime, thriller and mystery imprint of Glasgow-based indie publisher Saraband – inaugural winners of the Saltire Society Scottish Publisher of the Year award.

Neil Broadfoot’s Falling Fast was shortlisted for the Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year award last year – and The Storm is even faster. Michael Malone’s Beyond the Rage, a chart-topper in Scottish crime this spring, features gang leader Kenny – Glasgow’s answer to Tony Soprano. Graeme Macrae Burnet’s The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau is a psychological thriller and homage to Simenon. Graham Lironi’s Oh Marina Girl will mess with your head. Matt Bendoris’s DM for Murder is wisecracking, whip-smart and sizzling hot stuff. Got that? Good.

Find all the loot shown in our lineup here at Waterstones, all good bookshops and digital versions lurking all over the ’net.

COMPETITION: If you really think you’re gangster material, head over to Facebook or Twitter for a chance to win a bundle of three Contraband books.