Coastal Crime, at the Leonardo Royal Grand Harbour Hotel on Saturday September 26, will bring together top authors and rising stars for a dynamic, one-day celebration of crime, thriller and mystery writing. Tickets are on sale now from coastalcrime.org
Designed for both readers and writers, the festival blends an exciting main programme alongside a dedicated industry hub offering expert advice, practical guidance and pitch opportunities for writers ready to take the next step in their careers.
Some of the authors on the Coastal Crime line-up (Image: Coastal Crime)
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Festival director Alex Stone said: “Coastal Crime is about bringing readers and writers together in a way that feels inclusive, inspiring and genuinely supportive.
“We are creating a festival that celebrates bestselling names while championing new voices and building a community around a shared love of crime fiction.”
The main hall will host various panel sessions including ‘reinventing the classic whodunnit’, ‘adapting novels for screen’ as well as historical crime, coastal noir, psychological suspense and high-stakes thrillers.
Featured authors include New York Times bestselling writer Antony Johnston; screenwriter and novelist M J Arlidge behind ITV’s Innocent drama and DI Helen Grace Series; Tom Mead, acclaimed for his classic puzzle mysteries; Luke Jennings, whose novels inspired the global hit TV series Killing Eve; Sunday Times bestseller Lesley Kara, author of The Rumour, recently adapted into a major television series for Channel 5 and T. M. Logan, author of the gripping thrillers The Holiday and The Catch, both adapted for the screen.
They are joined by Vaseem Khan, author of multiple award-winning crime series set in India; Anna Mazzola, winner of the 2025 CWA Gold Dagger; Heidi Perks and Sarah Pearse, both known for their atmospheric suspense novels; Jackie Kabler, an Amazon number one and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers; Tom Wood, renowned for fast paced action; and Ruth Irons, representing a new wave of crime writing.
Fans can expect book signing opportunities and the chance to network at the evening drinks reception.
For writers, the dedicated industry hub will host panels led by publishing professionals, providing guidance, networking and practical advice across all genres. These focussed sessions include: ‘breaking into the genre’, ‘understanding publishing routes’, marketing, mastering research, and pitching to agents. Contributors include UK NetGalley Director Stuart Evers, and leading UK writing academy, Curtis Brown Creative, sharing what agents are really looking for and how to approach submissions.