In an exciting announcement, acclaimed author Mick Herron unveiled the full program for the 2025 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival during a rooftop gathering at Hachette’s Carmelite House in London on April 1st.

Event Details

The festival will take place at the historic Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, running from July 17th to July 20th, 2025. As the curator of this year’s festival, Herron, known for his popular Slough House spy thrillers, presented an impressive lineup of literary talents.

Featured Authors

The festival boasts an array of esteemed writers, including:

• Reverend Richard Coles
• Belinda Bauer
• Janice Hallett
• Abir Mukherjee

They will join previously announced headliners such as:

• Lee and Andrew Child
• Kate Atkinson
• Val McDermid
• Irvine Welsh, making his festival debut

Special Events and Highlights

Expect a variety of engaging activities, including:

• The prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award ceremony
• A behind-the-scenes insight into the acclaimed Slow Horses TV series featuring Herron and Emmy award-winning showrunner Will Smith
• The Critics’ New Blood panel showcasing debut authors: RS Burnett, AE Goldin, Daniel Aubrey, and Kate Kemp
• A Creative Thursday filled with workshops and talks led by industry experts like Vaseem Khan, Will Dean, and Laura Shepherd-Robinson
• A late-night quiz hosted by Val McDermid and Mark Billingham
• Murder-mystery author dinners featuring authors such as Ajay Chowdhury, Abigail Dean, and CL Taylor

Conclusion

The 2025 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival promises to be a thrilling celebration of crime literature with noteworthy performances and discussions. As anticipation builds for this resplendent event, readers and writers alike are encouraged to mark their calendars for a weekend filled with storytelling and intrigue.