Our speakers this year will examine the many arenas crime fiction covers: the police detective, historical, ‘hard- boiled’, clerical, classical fairy tales, domestic, the golden age gems, the light-hearted, the crossover – romance & crime. Acclaimed author, Lee Child, will be our Guest of Honour and give the Conference Lecture. We are also delighted to announce that our Honorary Fellow Val McDermid will give the After-Dinner Speech on Saturday 20 August. Further award-winning speakers will include Kate Charles, Martin Edwards, Jane Finnis, Shona MacClean, Marcia Talley, Andrew Taylor and Carol Westron. Natasha Cooper will chair the conference.