Friday May 29

5:00pm – The First Clue
A lively double bill exploring handwriting analysis and the history of crime fiction.

• Kathryn Thorndycraft-Pope (forensic document examiner)
  Discover how handwriting and documents can reveal the truth — from detecting forgeries and alterations to uncovering details invisible to the naked eye.
• Allan Martin (The Dead of Mull, The Peat Dead)
  A fast-paced journey through the history of crime fiction — from Sherlock Holmes to the hard-boiled detectives of Raymond Chandler, and how the genre has evolved into the stories we can’t get enough of today.

7:00pm – Cocktails, Mocktails & Mystery
An elegant, interactive hour of crime-solving, where guests enjoy a crafted cocktail while following clues to uncover the truth.

8:00pm – Trial by Jury
An interactive live experience where you hear the evidence, examine the case and decide the verdict.

• Mark Bridgeman (The Scottish Murder Book, Erased)
  The bestselling author recreates a real-life murder trial, taking on the roles of judge and counsel for both prosecution and defence. As the audience, you become the jury — hearing the case, discussing the evidence and delivering your verdict before the real outcome is revealed.

Saturday May 30

10:30am – Murder in the Morning
A compelling double bill exploring place, atmosphere and the relationship between real-world events and storytelling.

• The Woods Are Lovely, Dark and Deep
  Explore the power of location and atmosphere in crime fiction.
  Rachel Bremner (The Crimson Keep), Julie Adams (Fenagill), Elizabeth Highfield (Murder in the Forest), Heather Critchlow (The Cal Lovett Series)
• Why Let the Facts Get in the Way of a Good Story?
  A fascinating look at how real-world events — including some close to Stonehaven — shape and influence crime writing.
  Catriona Keith (The Devil and Daniel Singer), Allan Nicol (Sheila Garvie: Mastermind or Victim), Rob McInroy (Bob and Annie Kelty series)

1:30pm – Masterclass: How to Solve a Crime
A fascinating insight into the realities of forensic investigation.

• RGU Criminology Department
  A team of real-world experts reveal what really happens in crime scene investigation — and how it differs from what we see on television, in films and in books.

3:30pm – The Unusual Suspects
A compelling double bill exploring the past and present of crime writing.

• The Past Is a Foreign Country…
  Why are writers so drawn to the past? This panel explores historical crime fiction and its enduring appeal.
  Douglas Skelton (Ship of Thieves), Nancy Jardine (Tailored Truths), Lexie Conyngham (The Gowden Wifie), Chris Longmuir (Dangerous Destiny)
  
• Watching the Detectives
  What would happen if your favourite fictional detectives compared notes? Explore the enduring appeal of popular sleuths and long-running series.
  Deborah Masson (DI Eve Hunter series; I’ll Be Watching You), Marion Todd (DI Clare Mackay series), Ewan Wallace (DI Lily Bankhurst series), Allan Martin (Inspector Angus Blue series)

7:00pm – Noir by Night
A thought-provoking double bill exploring creativity, storytelling and the darker edges of history.

• All Artists Are Criminals… (To a Degree)
  What does it really mean to be a writer? A discussion inspired by Nina Allan’s The Dollmaker, exploring creativity, morality and the act of storytelling.
  Tariq Ashkanani (The Midnight King), Nina Allan (A Granite Silence), Ellen Dunne (The Lost Son)
  
• The Witching Hour
  A lively conversation on the Witches of Scotland campaign, the story behind the book — and the legacy of Scotland’s witch trials.
  Claire Mitchell KC and Zoe Venditozzi (How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy)