Swindon’s first crime fiction festival is being held in the town this weekend.

Authors from around the UK will give interviews at panels on historical crime fiction, psychological thrillers, and police procedurals, and deliver writing workshops for visitors at the Delta Hotels Marriott in Old Town from October 18 to 20.

The lineup includes Tom Hindle, Chris Lloyd, Phoebe Morgan, and local first-time author Eleanor Barker-White.

The final afternoon will feature a Readers vs Authors Mystery Solve, where those who write mysteries for a living and those who read them closely can test to see who solves it first.

A spokesperson for The Bloodshed Crime Fiction Festival 2024 said: “It should be a fun, informal festival, where everyone can relax and talk about a genre we all love.

“It is the first of its kind in Swindon, as far as we know!

“The team at the Marriott have been excellent supporters. The venue will be a fantastic setting for the festival.”

Waterstones will be providing a book stall throughout the weekend and every participating author will be available after panels to sign their books.

Book tickets at www.swindonstoryshed.co.uk/the-bloodshed/ with further concessions potentially available by emailing accessfund@swindonstoryshed.co.uk Any profits will go towards funding Swindon Story Shed's literacy project for another year.

Festival sponsors are still being sought.

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