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Ian Rankin, who was set to be the 2020 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival Programming Chair, sits down with N. J. Cooper to reflect on his lost programming chair year.

The pair also dig into Ian’s upcoming novel A Song for the Dark Times, the next of the Inspector Rebus books.

Ian Rankin in conversation with N. J. Cooper was recorded live as part of the digital Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2020.

This episode is kindly supported by HQ.

Podcast Music By: Joseph McDade.

2020 marks the publication of Mark Billingham’s twentieth Tom Thorne novel – what an achievement! In a celebratory interview with Joe Haddow, Mark looks back at the series beginning with the debut novel Sleepy Head. Stick around to the end for a short dramatised snippet of the novel, narrated by Mark himself.

Mark Billingham in Conversation with Joe Haddow was recorded live as part of the digital Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2020.

This episode is kindly supported by the Crime Vault.

Podcast Music By: Joseph McDade.

Val McDermid unpacks the success of the iconic New Blood panel revealing how she picks the chosen four each year, whether she has seen trends change over the years and expressing what the platform means to debut authors and the industry.

In this interview Mark Lawson ekes out the heritage and impact of 17 years of the New Blood panel.

Val McDermid in Conversation with Mark Lawson was recorded live as part of the digital Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2020.

Podcast Music By: Joseph McDade.

Stella Duffy, author and creative revolutioner joins interviewer Jenny Harris to discuss how the pandemic has impacted on culture and how important work such as Fun Palaces can help people to co-create their own cultural offering off-line.

Stella Duffy in Conversation with Jenny Harris was recorded live as part of the digital HIF Weekender in July 2020.

Podcast music by: Joseph McDade.

With a writing career spanning more than 20 years, Joe Finder delves into the life of firm festival favourite and past programming chair, Lee Child. Best known for his Jack Reacher novel series, the debut of which was published in 1997, with the 25th book The Sentinel set to be published later in 2020.

Lee Child In Conversation With Joseph Finder was recorded live as part of the digital Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2020.

Podcast Music By: Joseph McDade.

Featuring: Ryan David Jahn, Gillian Flynn, Chris Mooney, Megan Abbott and John Connolly.

Back in 2012 we were thrilled to showcase four of the most acclaimed new crime writers in America. Ryan David Jahn’s Acts Of Violence won the New Blood Dagger while Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn picked up not only the New Blood award but also the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. Chris Mooney has received rave reviews from the likes of Michael Connelly and Dennis Lehane and Megan Abbott’s hugely praised The End Of Everything was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick.

These four incredible authors sat down with 2012 special guest, John Connolly.

Podcast music by Joseph McDade.

Featuring: Helen FitzGerald, Mark Billingham, Sarah Hilary, Alex North and Fiona Cummins.

Strong stomachs and smelling salts at the ready. Authors on both sides of the bloody fence tackle the icky questions that splits readers like a butcher cleaving a carcass. How far is too far? Are crime writers really dizzy with bloodlust? Why do women suffer horrific violence on the page when statistics show men are the biggest victims of violent crime?

Looking at the evidence and assessing the body count are the creator of Tom Thorne Mark Billingham, Helen Fitzgerald the writer behind the BBC hit, The Cry, author of the Marnie Rome series Sarah Hilary, and whisper it, Alex North.

Journalist turned author, Fiona Cummins, mops up the mess as Chair.

Helen FitzGerald's book Worst Case Scenario has been shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year 2020. Vote for Worst Case Scenario, and discover the shortlist at: www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com

Podcast music by Joseph McDade.

Featuring: Mick Herron, Elly Griffiths, Lisa Jewell, Vaseem Khan, and Chair Ian Payne.

Readers have a good cry and a great laugh. These authors bring it all. Elly Griffiths created one of the most engaging characters in Ruth Galloway. Her latest, The Stone Circle went straight into the Sunday Times Bestseller list. Vaseem Khan takes us to India with the charming Inspector Chopra, who tackles corruption alongside his heartwarming sidekick, a baby elephant.

Lisa Jewell is a literary sensation. Her #1 thrillers are hailed for their emotionally engrossing characters who grip to the heart wrenching end. Witty, but angry too and heartbreaking, Mick Herron’s Jackson Lamb series brings the rollicking dramas of Slough House to vivid life. ITV presenter Ian Payne, keeps emotions in check as Chair.

Mick Herron's book Joe Country has been shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year 2020. Vote for Joe Country, and discover the shortlist at: www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com

Podcast music by Joseph McDade.

Featuring: Abir Mukherjee, Liam McIlvanney, Kate Rhodes, Eva Dolan and Lee Child.

Alumni of Val McDermid’s New Blood panels from years past tell us how it went with their second books - and their third, fourth and fifth.

Liam McIlvanney appeared in 2010 with All the Colours of the Town acclaimed by Val as, ‘authentic, atmospheric and ambitious.’ Kate Rhodes’ Crossbones Yard was picked in 2012, with Val praising the ‘fresh voice of the protagonist’.

Eva Dolan was a 2014 New Blood for Long Way Home. Val described her first standalone This is how it Ends as ‘imbued with passion.’ A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee in the class of 2016, was hailed as ‘One of the most exciting debut novels I’ve read in years.’  Voracious reader, Lee Child, chairs.

What Happened Next was recorded live at Harrogate International Festivals’ Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in July 2019.

Abir Mukherjee's book Smoke and Ashes has been shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year 2020. Vote for Smoke and Ashes, and discover the shortlist at www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com

Podcast music by Joseph McDade.

Featuring: Val McDermid, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Gytha Lodge, Holly Watt and Chris Hammer,

The Queen of Crime, Val McDermid, handpicks four hot new talents.

Gytha Lodge is a multi-award winning playwright who studied creative writing at UEA. Her debut, She Lies in Wait, is dubbed as the biggest debut of 2019. Contending that title is investigative journalist, Holly Watt, her first novel To the Lions received acclaim as a ‘breathholding rollercoaster of a read’.

From Down Under, Scrublands is the powerful compulsive thriller from journalist and foreign correspondent, Chris Hammer. And freelance writer and editor, Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut, My Sister the Serial Killer, mixes crime, sisterly love and murder, hailed by the New York Times as ‘pulpy, peppery and sinister.’

Witness the riveting rising stars of the genre in the most anticipated panel of the Festival.

New Blood With Val McDermid was recorded live at Harrogate International Festivals' Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in July 2019.

Oyinkan Braithwaite's book My Sister The Serial Killer has been shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year 2020. Vote for My Sister The Serial Killer, and discover the full shortlist at www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com

Podcast music by Joseph McDade.