Have you booked your seat for National Crime Reading Month?
This June, you can #PickUpAPageTurner and delve into the nation’s favourite genre – crime fiction – for National Crime Reading Month, hosted by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) in partnership with the national charity, The Reading Agency. The exciting launch events have just been announced and tickets are already selling fast!
On 1 June in London, the flagship Waterstones Piccadilly store sees award-winning crime writers Dreda Say Mitchell MBE and Louise Candlish launch NCRM at 6.30pm with Deadly Obsessions.
Chaired by author Abir Mukherjee, they’ll explore what makes a great crime read and why crime fiction continues to convert new readers into lifelong book lovers. Opening the evening, the writer, comedian, and podcaster Andrew Hunter Murray will discuss the huge variety of subgenres within crime with author, and NCRM director, Sam Blake.
Booking Link – https://www.waterstones.com/events/deadly-obsessions-national-crime-reading-month-launch-at-waterstones-piccadilly/london-piccadilly
On 1 June in Edinburgh, the Scottish launch of NCRM sees leading forensic scientist and author, Professor Jim Fraser, at a talk in Central Library at 6.30pm. Professor Fraser has been involved in many high-profile investigations, including the murders of Damilola Taylor, the serial child killer Robert Black, and the death of Gareth Williams, the GCHQ codebreaker. As a member of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, he has also reviewed many notable cases, including the Lockerbie bombing. The evening will be chaired by CWA author Jess Faraday.
Booking Link – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-launch-national-crime-writers-month-with-professor-jim-fraser-tickets-621766980777
In Dublin, one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed authors, Karin Slaughter, will be in conversation with journalist and crime writer, Edel Coffey. Slaughter has sold 35 million books; Pieces of Her is currently a Netflix series starring Toni Collette.
Booking Link – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/karin-slaughter-in-conversation-with-edel-coffey-tickets-585818257177
An online event, Steve Cavanagh & Friends Pick Up A Page Turner, sees the master of the modern thriller joined by a panel of bestselling crime authors as they reveal their favourite crime and thriller reads, and the books that inspired them, for NCRM. The free event takes place on Thursday 8 June from 7pm.
Booking Link – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/steve-cavanagh-friends-pick-up-a-page-turner-tickets-632204760457
There will also be a very special event at the British Library in London, How to Survive a Classic Crime Novel. The British Library publishes the hugely popular Crime Classics series. Marking the publication of Kate Jackson’s How to Survive a Crime Classic Novel which imagines what you would you do if you found yourself in the world of the golden age murder mystery, bestselling authors Mark Billingham, Abir Mukherjee, and Victoria Selman, take part.
Booking Link – https://www.tickets.bl.uk/1653/1654
2023 is a special year as it marks the 70th anniversary of the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA). One of the UK’s most prominent crime writing societies, the CWA works to support, promote, and celebrate the crime writing genre. NCRM culminates with the prestigious CWA Dagger awards ceremony, hosted at the end of June.
Maxim Jakubowski, Chair of the CWA, said: “National Crime Reading Month is all about bringing new books to readers and new readers to this richly varied genre. We want everyone to #PickUpAPageTurner this June.”
With events happening all over the country, find out more at www.crimereading.com.
Ambassadors for NCRM include authors Steve Cavanagh, Elly Griffiths, Vaseem Khan, Nadine Matheson, LJ Ross, Robin Stevens, Sarah Ward, Roz Watkins, Victoria Selman, Penny Batchelor, TM Logan, Dorothy Koomson and Professor Jim Fraser.
TM Logan, author of The Holiday and The Mother, said: “I’m delighted to be an ambassador for National Crime Reading Month! I’ve loved the genre for as long as I can remember, it has such a wide audience and it’s great to see how great crime books can bring so many people together.”
Book now to join the CWA and #PickUpAPageTurner!