#TheakstonsCrime #HIF2020 #SpecialGuests @TheakstonsCrime #Harrogate #CrimeFestival

Today I’m thrilled to be sharing details about one of the biggest book festivals in the country, The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, and wait to you see the guest list. Unfortunately I have never attended Harrogate, but I know a lot of book bloggers who rave all year round about this amazing festival. So without further ado here’s everything you need to know about this upcoming book festival.

Harrogate, 4 March 2020: The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is thrilled to announce its 2020 Special Guests at the world’s largest and most prestigious crime fiction festival.

Crime writing royalty Martina Cole, Mark Billingham, Lisa Gardner, Kathy Reichs, Elly Griffiths, Mick Herron and Michael Connelly will be appearing as part of the killer line-up curated by this year’s Festival Programming Chair and Rebus author, Ian Rankin OBE.

From 23-26 July, Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel – the legendary scene of Agatha Christie’s mysterious disappearance in 1926 – will welcome over 100 world famous authors for a celebration of the crime genre like no other.

Returning for its 18th instalment, the award-winning Festival is established as a literary phenomenon, attracting an international audience to see the best in the business and the most exciting new talent as part of an unmissable programme of creative workshops, once in a lifetime talks and unique panels.

Joining fiction titan Ian Rankin at this year’s Festival will be No. 1 bestseller Martina Cole will be sharing the stories behind her iconic career as the undisputed Queen of Crime; Kathy Reichs will introduce A Conspiracy of Bones, the riveting new thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan; and Festival favourite Mark Billingham returns to Harrogate to celebrate 20 years of Tom Thorne,  one of British crime fiction’s most iconic detectives.

Michael Connelly, the international phenomenon with over 74 million copies sold worldwide, touches down in the UK to share his latest unputdownable thriller featuring veteran reporter Jack McEvoy, Fair Warning; the master of psychological suspense Lisa Gardner will give the Harrogate audience an insight into the twists and turns of When You See Me; Elly Griffiths is set to reveal the secrets behind her much-loved Dr Ruth Galloway mystery series; and Mick Herron will mark ten years of his award-winning spy sensation Slough House and introduce his new novella set in the same world, The Catch.

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival forms part of the diverse year-round portfolio curated by the charitable organisation Harrogate International Festivals, delivered with the mission to bring immersive and moving cultural experiences to as many people as possible.

 Ian Rankin, best-selling Rebus author, said:

 “It is for good reason that Harrogate is so well loved by authors and audiences alike, and the pressure has been on to make sure that this year lives up to its stellar reputation! But working with the Harrogate team has been a joy and we’re incredibly proud of the celebration of crime writing we have in store. Beginning with the announcement of our incredible Special Guests, the countdown to this year’s legendary long weekend is well and truly on and I can’t wait unveil the rest in April.”

 Sharon Canavar, CE of Harrogate International Festivals, said:

“Our mission at Harrogate International Festivals is to present the most unforgettable cultural experiences and year on year Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival continues to surpass all expectations. It has been a delight working with Ian Rankin and we’re thrilled that the 2020 Special Guest line-up reflects the absolute best in the crime-writing business – we look forward to revealing the full programme.”

Simon Theakston, Executive Director of Theakston, said:

“We are incredibly proud to be supporting the biggest and best crime writing festival in the world, right here in Harrogate – it is a truly unique opportunity to discover the secrets behind the genre’s greatest characters, listen to world-renowned authors and celebrate the wonderful world of crime writing. All this and the chance to enjoy a very satisfying glass of Old Peculier at the same time.”

Booking: Rover Tickets – including Weekend, Friday and Saturday – are now on sale, along with Weekend Break Packages. For more information and to book tickets, please call +44(0)1423 562 303 or email crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk.

*** The full programme line-up will be announced on 2nd April 2020***

PRAISE FOR THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL

 “The Best Crime Festival in the World and I should know I’ve done them all” Lee Child

“Harrogate is a must. With beautiful locale, smart fans and superb author interaction, it’s one of the best festivals I’ve ever attended” Michael Connelly

“Incredibly well run and such a friendly group of authors and punters” J. S. Monroe

“Turning a small corner of Yorkshire into paradise” Val McDermid

“Amazing Event, great company” Robert Scragg

“There are so many Festivals in the world, but this is the one I keep coming back to” Andrew Taylor

“The crime Festival is the best in the country, and it shows no sign of ever changing” Barry Forshaw

“Famous amongst crime readers all over the world” Ann Cleeves

“It’s the industry must-have” N J Cooper

 

For further information, interview and accreditation requests, or to RSVP for the full programme celebration at Brown’s in Covent Garden on 20 May, please contact Midas Public Relations:

• Orla Bennett: Orla.Bennett@midaspr.co.uk | 020 7361 7860
• Hannah McMillan: hannah.mcmillan@midaspr.co.uk | 020 7361 7886 | 07971 086649

About Harrogate International Festivals

‘Harrogate International Festivals’ is a charitable organisation with a mission to present a diverse year-long programme of live events that bring immersive and moving cultural experiences to as many people as possible. Delivering artistic work of national importance, the Festival curates and produces over 300 unique and surprising performances each year, celebrating world-renowned artists and championing new and up-coming talent across music, literature, science, philosophy and psychology. The HIF+ ongoing education outreach programme engages schools, young people and the local community with workshops, talks, projects and inspiring activities, ensuring everyone can experience the Festival’s world class programme and the transformative power of the arts.

Established in 1966, Harrogate International Festivals are an artistic force to be reckoned with and a key cultural provider for the North of England.

Find out more at:

• Website: www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
• Facebook: @HarrogateInternationalFestivals
• Twitter: @HarrogateFest
• Instagram: @harrogatefestivals  

Look For Me by Lisa Gardner @LisaGardnerBks #BookReview

Book description

The home of a family of five is now a crime scene: four of them savagely murdered, one—a sixteen-year-old girl—missing. Was she lucky to have escaped? Or is her absence evidence of something sinister? Detective D. D. Warren is on the case—but so is survivor-turned-avenger Flora Dane. Seeking different types of justice, they must make sense of the clues left behind by a young woman who, whether as victim or suspect, is silently pleading, Look for me.

I can’t believe Look For Me is book nine in the DD Warren series from Lisa Gardner, I’m a huge fan of this series, and have followed It from the very beginning. When I get to this point in a long running series I can’t help but wonder if the authors going to run out of steam, it must be difficult to come up with new ideas for plots and characters after writing so many books, but any worries I may have had were unfounded, if anything Look For Me is a reminder why Lisa Gardiner is a bestselling crime novelist.

I should mention Look For Me can be read as a standalone, despite it featuring young victim turned vigilante Flora Dane who we met in Find Her As I’ve come to expect from this author Look For Me opens with a grim and disturbing prologue that grabs your attention and leaves you desperate to read on. Detective DD Warren is called in to find the predator who massacred Roxy’s family. Curiously, Roxy and the two family dogs have gone missing. Is Roxy running because she’s guilty of murdering her family? Or is she terrified she’ll be the final victim? Detective D. D. Warren leads the investigation alongside Flora Dane survivor-turned-avenger.

I’ve said this before I do love American crime thrillers they always feel that little bit darker and a lot more gritty, that said there are some scenes in Look For Me which some readers may find distressing due to the subject matter. As you can imagine nine books there aren’t any real surprises regarding DD Warren’s character, but it was interesting concept to add Flora into the investigation, a vigilante with a band of “survivor” helpers, could this possibly the start of a new series? I’m hoping so. Surprisingly Look For Me is more than just a crime thriller, it’s also a dark heart wrenching novel about the foster care system, and a family torn apart. Sometimes grim but unfortunately very credible Lisa Gardner has written another gripping and worthy addition to the The DD Warren series.

Buying links:    Amazon UK 🇬🇧       Amazon US 🇺🇸

Publisher: Century (8 Feb. 2018)

Language: English

**Weekly Wrap Up**

Whooopeee I’ve actually managed to read three books this week, in between the hours spent job hunting, the less said about that the better!

A Room Full Of Killers by Michael Wood

I’m a huge fan of the Matilda Drake Series, even more so after reading this book, it’s brilliant and definitely the darkest one yet.

Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner

I enjoyed this book but not the best in the series.

Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry

Book description

Emily and Elizabeth spend their childhood locked in a bedroom and terrorized by a mother who drinks too much and disappears for days. The identical twins are rescued by a family determined to be their saviors.

But there’s some horrors love can’t erase…

Elizabeth wakes in a hospital, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily’s body in their bathroom. Days before, she was falling in love and starting college. Now, she’s surrounded by men who talk to themselves and women who pull out their eyebrows.

As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Emily’s death, she discovers shocking secrets and holes in her memory that force her to remember what she’s worked so hard to forget—the beatings, the blood, the special friends. Her life spins out of control at a terrifying speed as she desperately tries to unravel the psychological puzzle of her past before it’s too late.

ARC’s I received this week

I only received three books this week, one I requested on the dreaded NetGalley and forgot about. I’ve managed not to request anything on NetGalley for a whole week, I posted a couple of reviews on there but I didn’t even look to see what new books were on there. So you see I do have some willpower😂

The second book I received is top secret at the moment, so my lips are well and truly sealed 🤐🤐🤐

and the third book Child Taken by Darren Young is for the blog tour later on in the year

I’m really looking forward to reading this book over the weekend.

 

Book description

A brilliantly breath-taking thriller with twists you’ll never see coming. The start of a new series from international bestseller Arne Dahl.

Someone is watching.

At each abandoned crime scene there’s a hidden clue: a tiny metal cog, almost invisible to the naked eye. Someone is sending Detective Sam Berger a message, and that someone knows that only he will understand the cryptic trail.

Someone knows.

When another teenaged girl disappears without trace, Sam must convince his superiors that they’re dealing with a serial kidnapper and possible killer. As the police continue the hunt to find the latest kidnap victim, Sam is forced to unearth long buried personal demons – he has no choice if he is to understand the brute’s darkly personal message before time runs out.

 

Child Taken by Darren Young

Book description

One hot summer’s day, two-year-old Jessica Preston disappears from the beach. The police are convinced she drowned, but Sandra Preston won’t give up hope that her daughter is still alive.

Twenty years later, another child goes missing, and Sandra is approached by a young journalist who raises questions about what really happened to Jessica Preston all those years ago. But when the journalist discovers someone with an explosive secret, it threatens not only to reveal what’s been covered up for so long, but puts both their lives in danger.

I also bought one book this week,

Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry 

Last week on the book review café

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/02/03/blog-tour-the-day-that-never-comes-by-caimhmcdonnell-camih-mcfori_ink/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/02/02/topfivethusday-with-bookblogger-linda-hill-aka-lindasbookbag/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/02/02/blog-tour-dont-look-behind-you-by-mel-sherratt-bookouture-writermels/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/02/01/my-book-of-the-month-january-2017/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/31/the-break-down-by-b-a-paris-bookreview/

Next week on the book review café

Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry review

A Room Full Of Killers by Michael Wood review

Backstabber by Kimberly Chambers Blog tour

The Watcher by Netta Newbound Blog tour

#TopFiveThursday

Not actually book related but it’s my blog, my rules! Right? I have to mention today’s a special day in our household our “old boy”  Milo reaches the grand old age of 14 today, which is an incredible feat when you consider the vet came to the house eighteen months ago to put it him down as he was in so much pain! He really is an incredible character and we love him dearly and yes he has got presents and a cake!

 

 

 

 

Find Her by Lisa Gardner

Book Description

I escaped the box.

The coffin that was both my prison and my lifeline.
My prison as I waited each day for release.
My lifeline as being locked inside meant being away from him.

I escaped the box, but I didn’t escape its consequences.
Now danger’s irrelevant.

All I care about is making them pay. The other predators out there. Those just like the man who took me.

And if someone tries to grab me again? I know how to protect myself.

And when another girl is taken?

Have no doubt: I will do anything, anything, to find her.

Escaped kidnap victim Flora Dane has once again disappeared. Has the self-proclaimed vigilante become a victim? Or is something far more sinister at play? D.D. will have to race against the clock if she is going to Find Her.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Lisa Gardner, and especially the D D Warren series, so I was really looking forward to reading Lisa’s latest offering. The book description alone intrigued me so much, I Just had to take a peek at the first page, with the intention of reading Find Her at a later date. BIG MISTAKE, from the first page where we meet Flora trapped in a coffin, I was well and truly hooked. Find Her is told with two narratives; Flora’s, the original kidnap surviver, and Boston PD Detective DD Warren. I can’t say much about the plot, as Find Her is the type of book, that any review will give away spoilers.

Reading about Flora’s life during her kidnapping was my worse nightmare, at times I felt so claustrophobic, I’m sure my blood pressure went up! Lisa has obviously done a lot of research on kidnap victims and their captors, and it’s chilling how accurate she is in her portrayal of both. I also found the premises of trauma bonding fascinating, it also explained why Flora made the decisions she did. Flora is such a complex character, at times I found it hard to distinguish between her being a victim, or the predator. Surprisingly D D takes a back seat In Find Her, the plot focuses mainly on Flora, whilst D D investigates the case in the background, which works well.

The plot is well executed, and there are many twists and turns along the way, guaranteed to keep even the most hardened crime reader gripped to the last page. Lisa Gardner is an absolute master of the psychological suspense novel, and Find Me is no exception. This story proceeds at a breathless pace, thrilling and yet disturbing, a heart pounding tale, that I read in just over a day, yes it’s that good!

5 ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ out of 5

Publisher: Headline (9 Feb. 2016)

Kindle

Hardcover

 

 

**Stacking The Shelves**

Here’s my round up of stacking the Shelves hosted by Tyngas reviews . Stacking the Shelves highlight books which have been received In a week. Paper books, e-books, ARC’s received, books bought or borrowed, are all included. I haven’t done a round of books for a while, as I’ve just been too busy, so these are just a taster of the books I’ve received over the last week.

ARC’S received

Beneath The Surface by Heidi Perks

Book Description

don’t know where you are…

I don’t know what I’ve done…

Teenager Abigail Ryder is devastated when she gets home from school to find her family gone. Nothing makes sense. Things are missing from the house and her stepsisters’ room is completely empty. But the police think she’s trouble, and when grandmother Eleanor tells her to forget them all and move on, there’s no choice other than face the future – alone.

Fourteen years on, Abi and Adam are a happy couple on the verge of parenthood. But when the past comes back to haunt Abi, the only way forward is to go back and uncover the truth – and reveal the dreadful secrets a mother has been hiding all these years.

Publisher: Red Door Publishing Ltd (24 Mar. 2016)

Find Her by Lisa Gardner 

Book Description

I escaped the box.

The coffin that was both my prison and my lifeline.
My prison as I waited each day for release.
My lifeline as being locked inside meant being away from him.

I escaped the box, but I didn’t escape its consequences.
Now danger’s irrelevant.

All I care about is making them pay. The other predators out there. Those just like the man who took me.

And if someone tries to grab me again? I know how to protect myself.

And when another girl is taken?

Have no doubt: I will do anything, anything, to find her.

Escaped kidnap victim Flora Dane has once again disappeared. Has the self-proclaimed vigilante become a victim? Or is something far more sinister at play? D.D. will have to race against the clock if she is going to Find Her.

Publishers:Headline (9 February 2016)

Dead Pretty by David Mark

Book Description 

Hannah Kelly has been missing for nine months. Ava Delaney has been dead for five days.

One girl to find. One girl to avenge. And DS Aector McAvoy won’t let either of them go until justice can be done.

But some people have their own ideas of what justice means…

DEAD PRETTY is the stunning new novel from one of Britain’s most original crime writers.

Publisher: Mulholland Books (28 Jan. 2016)

 

Keep Them Safe by Sarah Bartrum

Book Description

It wasn’t that Sid wanted to harm anyone, quite the opposite. He’d make a perfect granddad; he just needed to find the right grandchild.
With paedophilia and child murder at the core, DI Johanson is the obvious choice to solve this crime. But is his old school mate really the murderer or only a pawn in a wider game of abuse?

Publisher: Mason Publishing; 1 edition (16 April 2011)

You And Me Always by Jill Mansell

Book Description

On the morning of Lily’s twenty-fifth birthday, it’s time to open the very last letter written to her by her beloved mother, who died when she was eight.

Learning more about the first and only real love of her mum’s life is a revelation. On the same day, Lily also meets Eddie Tessler, a man fleeing fame who just might have the ability to change her world in unimaginable ways. But her childhood friend Dan has his own reasons for not wanting Lily to get too carried away by Eddie’s attentions.

Before long, secrets begin to emerge and Lily’s friends and family become involved. In the beautiful Cotswold village of Stanton Langley, nothing will ever be the same again…

Books I bought

Dead Secret by Ava McCarthy

Book Description

Two quick shots. One for him. One for you.

After the death of her three-year-old daughter, Jodie has nothing left to live for – or almost nothing.

She has one task to fulfil before she takes her own life. And that’s to kill the man she holds responsible for her daughter’s death – her seemingly perfect husband, Ethan.

But Ethan is hiding more than just his true nature. And as more horrifying secrets from his past emerge, Jodie’s strength will be pushed to the limit…

Publisher: Harper (14 Jan. 2016)

The McKays Box Set – To Kill For, Blood Sport, Hard Time, Gang Land & Killing Fields Kindle Edition by A.J Carella

Book Description

Box set comprising: To Kill For, Blood Sport, Hard Time, Gang Land & Killing Fields.

To Kill For:

Former LA Cop, Kat McKay, vows she’ll never return to Brecon Point after leaving years ago. But when tragedy strikes, she returns to help solve a crime that hit a little too close to home. Uncovering the truth about her missing niece means that Kat will have to face the demons of her own past. And the only way to do that is by enlisting the help of the one man she left behind.

Local cop, Finn Groves will do anything to solve the case–even if it means letting down his guard around the one woman who broke his heart years ago. With her niece’s life on the line, Finn and Kat must put their past behind them in order to find Kat’s niece. Will the McKays survive the explosive results or will they find one more reason to kill for?

Blood Sport:

The discovery of an injured child along a lonely road leads Kat and Finn to uncover a terrible sport that has been flourishing on their own doorstep.

Hard Time:

When it comes to family, Kat will do anything. Even if that means going against everything she believes in, and risking her already fragile relationship with the man she loves.

Faced with a problem that is too much for her alone, she enlists the help of her one time partner, Kyle.

Together they must uncover a deadly secret before any more innocent lives are lost.

Gang Land:

Leaving Brecon Point, Finn heads to L.A. in search of the one person that haunts him.

Killing Fields:

Jake McKay is coming home and bringing trouble with him.

As he attempts to redeem himself in the eyes of his family he finds himself plunged into a nightmare unfolding on their doorstep, the consequences of which will rock the entire family.

No Longer Safe by A J Waines

Book Description

She was your best friend. Now she’s your deadliest enemy – and there’s nowhere to run…

When Alice receives an invitation from Karen, her charismatic University friend, to stay in a remote cottage in Scotland, she can’t wait to rekindle their lost friendship. But two more former students arrive – never friends of Alice’s – and as the atmosphere chills, Karen isn’t the warm-hearted soulmate Alice remembers. Barely is the reunion underway before someone is dead and the fragile gathering is pushed to breaking point.

As the snow cuts them off from civilisation and accusations fly, Alice finds herself a pawn, sinking deeper into a deadly game she can’t escape.

I would great if you would leave a comment on the books you have on your shelf right now, as I like to see what other people are reading.