Paula Hawkins and Nicci French among headliners for Aberdeen Crime Writing Festival
Aberdeen Performing Arts invites everyone to the North-east with events across the city and online, as Granite Noir announces the programme for its 9th edition set to take place Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 February 2025.
Paula Hawkins and Nicci French are among the authors due to make headline appearances at the crime writing festival, along with New York Times best sellers Lucy Foley and Chris Whitaker, podcasters Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling, award-winning comedian and Gentleman Thief Alasdair Beckett King, and singer-songwriter and author James Yorkston.
Hailed as one of Scotland’s leading literary festivals, Granite Noir takes its name from its home city of Aberdeen; inspired by the atmospheric and historic backdrop of the Granite City. A love letter to crime fiction in all its forms, to Nordic Noir and the contribution of Scottish writers to the genre; this year’s festival includes events covering all aspects of crime writing - from espionage and policing to the whimsical and supernatural.
Criminal duos are in focus as Granite Noir welcomes three husband and wife teams to the festival. Nicci French, the pseudonym for writing partnership and journalists Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, whose books have sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. They will be joined by husband and wife team Ambrose Parry, Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, as they meet in conversation and discuss their latest novels in Partners in Crime.
Expect murder, mayhem, blackmail and more from this true-crime-obsessed pair; Granite Noir is delighted to welcome broadcaster Laura Whitmore and comedian and podcaster Iain Stirling for a live version of their Murder They Wrote podcast, where they dive into some of the most jaw-dropping cases in true crime history.
Global No.1 bestselling author Paula Hawkins comes to Granite Noir to discuss her powerful new thriller, The Blue Hour. When a small bone at the centre of a famous sculpture is revealed to be human, three people become intimately connected by the secrets and lies that put it there. Paula will also introduce a screening of The Girl on the Train, the film adaptation of her first thriller, in an event at Cowdray Hall organised in partnership with Belmont Community Cinema.
Chief Executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts, Sharon Burgess commented in anticipation of this year’s events: “Granite Noir sets out each year to celebrate the best in crime writing encompassing all that the genre inspires and is inspired by, including conversations with incredible authors, plays, immersive experiences and music as well as exhibitions, workshops and of course cocktails!
“The line up for this year’s festival truly reflects that ethos with all of the above as well as live podcasts and film screenings and so much more taking place across four action packed days. Granite Noir is proudly rooted as an event unique to the North-East of Scotland, and this year we are putting the festival on a truly global stage, with many events being livestreamed so that no matter where you are in the world, you can be part of a wonderful weekend of gory, gritty and glorious fun!”
Following on from the in-demand success of Scared to Death at Granite Noir 2024, Ten Feet Tall Theatre presents Aberdonian playwright Rona Munro’s darkly funny Guilty in the run up to this year’s festival. Two women face each other in a small windowless room for some routine questioning in this tangled web of intrigue and suspense.
The criminal justice system and policing is examined further with the festival’s exhibition, Cold Blooded Killers: True Crime Cases from the North East, 1864 - 1963. Scratch below the surface and discover the dark, murderous history of the North East in this specially curated exhibition from the North East Police archives. Curator Claire Smith will deliver a talk exploring the people involved, the evidence uncovered, and the outcomes for those accused of these cold-blooded killings.
Police procedures go under the microscope with an unparalleled insight into the inner workings of our criminal justice system from Professor Nick Fyfe, Robert Gordon University’s Vice Principal, as he delivers Tales From the Beat – reflections on 30 years of fieldwork with the Police at Cowdray Hall. Discover what happens on the other side of a police cordon with an interactive forensic science experience, Behind the Crime Scene Tape. Join Lecturer in Forensic Biology, Wendy Deegan and students from Robert Gordon University as they reveal the secrets of forensic crime scene investigation in this interactive and informative experience in the city’s historic Anatomy Rooms.
And delve into the darkest depths of the human mind with The Criminal Mind with Dr Duncan Harding, a mesmerising, insightful and redemptive memoir from a forensic psychiatrist and expert witness.
Bygone eras and espionage are explored, as Granite Noir lifts the veil with a series of events that reveal the underbelly of crime writing. Historical fiction writers Oskar Jensen, SJ Parris and Lucy Ribchester uncover long-forgotten truths with Secrets from the Past, a time-travelling tour of Europe uncovering secrets from across the centuries; Carole Hailey, Joseph Knox and Kim Sherwood explore the world of secrets, spies and dark truths at Hidden in Plain Sight; and Sam Blake, Tony Kent and James Oswald discuss their suspenseful page-turners in a conversation on Gripping Thrillers.
Casting its eyes across the North Sea and beyond, Granite Noir invites three international authors to discuss what’s lost and found when working with different languages. Leading Icelandic translator and novelist Quentin Bates, award-winning author Teresa Solana and Norwegian Arctic Mysteries author Ørjan Karlsson bring their global perspectives to Lost in Translation? Chaired by Jacky Collins.
Recognised as Scotland’s most haunted city, it’s only (super)natural for Aberdeen’s crime writing festival to delve into the weird and wonderful side of the genre. Plants with a taste for human flesh, body horror and witches come together in Myth Murder and Monstrosity, where Sarah Maria Griffin, Kirsty Logan and Elle Nash share the unsettling, twisted and bizarre narratives that frame their latest books. T.L. Huchu and Courtney Smyth join in conversation on A Kind of Magic, discussing the latest witty, witchy fantasy murder mystery and the spellbinding fourth instalment of the Edinburgh Nights series. Critic, author, producer and programmer Anna Bogutskaya sets out to defend fans of the horror genre, before a specially selected screening of a classic horror film in partnership with Belmont Community Cinema. And Audio Haunted presents a unique, audio, murder mystery experience in the Music Hall with Hexagone, a spooky interactive aural spectacle.
The Scottish BPOC Writers Network hosts a curated evening of Nighttime Noir in the Lemon Tree Lounge, a thrilling and intriguing event from some of the most exciting new writing talent followed by a DJ set from writer and DJ Arusa Qureshi. And North-east loon Shane Strachan hosts a one-of-a-kind night on the dark side of spoken word with Into the Dark, alongside Loud Poets Grand Slam champion RJ Hunter, Lesley Benzie, Gen Carver and Aberdeen’s own Mae Diansangu.
Budding young crime writers can kindle their imaginations with Granite Noir’s children’s programme located at the Central Library and Aberdeen Arts Centre, suitable for ages 4 and up. Children’s authors Alasdair Beckett King, Alice Hemming, Nadine Aisha Jassat and Sam Sedgman will be sharing some of their most recent works in four fun and informative sessions over the festival weekend. Junior festival goers will be able to make a start on their very own bestsellers with a series of Creative Writing Workshops for ages 7+ and 15+.
Other highlights of the Granite Noir programme include A Celebration of the Work of P.D. James to coincide with the reissue of the Adam Dalgliesh mystery series and ten years after the death of one of crime fiction’s most influential figures. Granite Noir’s popular Literature at Lunchtime series returns, with a spotlight on authors CJ Cooke (The Book of Witching) and Alan Warner (Morven Caller, The Sopranos). Nilesha Chauvet (The Revenge of Rita Marsh) and Harriet Tyce (Lesson in Cruelty) meet in a conversation on Reclaiming the Narrative. Plus, a live recording of the A Kick up the Arts podcast where host and BBC Scotland Broadcaster Nicola Meighan will be joined by an all-star artistic panel; and the ever-popular Poisoned Afternoon Tea and Poisoned Cocktail Party (007) hosted by Dr Kathryn Harkup at The Terrace at His Majesty’s Theatre.
Once again Granite Noir will be supporting emerging crime writers within its festival programme. The popular Short Story Competition, introduced in 2024, will return in partnership with the Press and Journal and Evening Express; emerging Scottish literary talent are given a stage in Locals in the Limelight, previewing the festival’s main events; and Nina Bhadreshwar, Lucy Rose and Trisha Sakhlecha, three of the most exciting new talents in noir fiction head up the Bold New Voices panel, chaired by Katalina Watt. The Scottish BPOC Writers Network hosts an online Writers of Colour Workshop, for Black writers and writers of colour based in Scotland; and the Society of Young Publishers Scotland host a panel on An Introduction to Publishing, along with a How to Get Published workshop led by literary agent Jenny Brown.
Granite Noir 2025 comes to a close on Sunday 23 February with a performance from everyone’s favourite band of crime writing rockstars - the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. Mark Billingham, Chris Brookmyre, Doug Johnstone, Stuart Neville and Luca Veste will bring down the curtain on this year’s festival with their full-on ‘rawk’ experience, murdering songs for fun in front of anyone who will listen. Get to know the band earlier in the festival as they take part in conversations on Dead Funny and Rockin’ with the Writers.
Rebecca Edser, Head of EventScotland said: “We are proud to support Granite Noir as part of EventScotland’s National Events Funding Programme. With the announcement of such heavy weights within the crime fiction scene, next year’s festival is set to be as thrilling as ever. Alongside authors talks and panel discussions there are a range of workshops, theatre performances and exhibitions that pay homage to the city, crime fiction and noir writing in all its darkly fascinating forms. Literature festivals play an important role in Scotland’s events portfolio not least by providing a platform which brings diverse voices and communities together, while also
fostering learning, imagination, and creative engagement.”
Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland added: “Once more, Granite Noir has brought together a high profile, fun and interesting programme from the darker corners of genre literature. Alongside celebrating Scotland’s strength and reputation in these areas of writing, the festival also brings world renowned authors such as Paula Hawkins to a Scottish audience. This is the perfect opportunity to connect readers to their favourite writers and introduce new names in crime writing to add to their reading lists.”
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesperson said: “People are fascinated by crime and wrongdoing, so it is not surprising that crime fiction is such an exceedingly popular area of entertainment. It's great that we are able to offer once again a local festival that focuses on this intriguing, dark subject.
“The programme includes contributions from world renowned authors, comedians, historians, exhibitions, film screenings and there is not just one, but three husband and wife writing partnerships. A wide range of creative activities are planned with something for everyone. There is an amazing mix of humorous, macabre and even supernatural content. I hope the event is successful for all involved.”
Granite Noir 2025 will run Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 February, taking place in Aberdeen Performing Arts venues, His Majesty’s Theatre, Music Hall and the Lemon Tree; as well as venues across the city, including Aberdeen Arts Centre, the Anatomy Rooms, Central Library and Cowdray Hall. Events in the Lemon Tree Studio will be available to a global audience through livestreaming, with selected events across the programme being supported by BSL interpretation.
Granite Noir is produced and curated by Aberdeen Performing Arts. We are grateful for the support of our funders Aberdeen City Council, Creative Scotland and Event Scotland. Granite Noir is presented with our partners Aberdeen City Libraries, Aberdeen Archives Galleries and Museums, Aberdeen Arts Centre, Citymoves Dance Agency, Police Scotland and Robert Gordon University.
Background
Images are courtesy of Aberdeen Performing Arts.
Granite Noir is Aberdeen’s crime writing festival. Inspired by the incredible popularity of crime fiction in all its forms, by the fantastic contribution that Scottish writers make to the genre, by our love affair with Nordic Noir, on the page and on screen, and most of all inspired by Aberdeen, which is the perfect backdrop for the festival – steeped in history, atmospheric, quirky and with a strong sense of place.
Granite Noir is produced by Aberdeen Performing arts on behalf of Aberdeen City Council Libraries and Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives.
Aberdeen Performing Arts is a multi-award winning, multi-site, arts charity right at the centre of North-east of Scotland. Our three iconic city centre venues; His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall and the Lemon Tree, are all on a national and international touring circuit for the performing arts and a vital part of Aberdeen and Scotland’s cultural landscape. www.aberdeenperformingarts.com.
EventScotland, part of VisitScotland - the national tourism and events organisation for Scotland, works to make the destination the perfect stage for events by securing and supporting an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events. It provides funding opportunities and access to resources and information to develop the industry.
By raising Scotland’s profile as a leading events destination, we hope to attract more visitors to our shores. It supports the delivery of Scotland’s National Events Strategy 2024-2035 which aims to build on the events industry’s many achievements to date. The strategy refresh has been shaped by, Scottish Government, VisitScotland’s Industry and Events Directorate, Scotland’s Events Industry Advisory Group (EIAG), Local Authorities, COSLA, Trade Union representatives, and those who responded to the consultation process.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery, which, now in its 30th year, has supported over 14,600 projects with more than £501.9 million in funding through Creative Scotland and its predecessor, the Scottish Arts Council. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot.
Media contacts
All media enquiries, please contact Granite Noir PR Hannah Bradley Croall, [email protected] | 07580041899