Bloody Scotland 2025 – Grab This Book

Over the last decade (and beyond) the annual highlight of my bookish obsession has been the Bloody Scotland crime book festival. I initially lurked around the edges of events and scarce broke breath to anyone in attendance. But over the years I’ve come to realise and enjoy the wonderful inclusive atmosphere and the joy of the whole experience – now I shed my shyness to chat to anyone that makes eye contact.

The launch of the festival programme is a treat and I pour over the pages looking to see if any events jump out as “must see”.  This year was no exception and there were so many names jumping it felt like the programme had been delivered by Lemmings.

I’ve been invited to share two panels today which I feel stood out and I’m most looking forward to.  One was an easy pick –In The Shadows of War featuring Alan Parks, Dominic Nolan and David F Ross. This panel is one of the first you can catch as it takes place on Friday 12th September at 2pm in the Golden Lion.

Why have I selected this as my top pick?

You get a trio of elite authors, each of the three I consider “unmissable” when they relase a new book. Dominic Nolan’s Vine Street has been my go-to recommended audiobook for the last three years, an epic work of storytelling which I described as a serial killer novel which spanned multiple decades. Dominic called it “a book about the London Underground Dance Clubs of the 1920s and 30s) but I am sure it was the same book!  David F Ross writes unpredicable and compelling stories with authenic Scottish voices and more than a few authentic bams in the midst of his books.  Grab This Book launched in 2014 and David was the first author publication event I attended while wearing my “bookblogger hat” I’ve been enjoying his work for a long old time. And I cannot forget Alan Parks, author of the phenomonal Harry McCoy books and now intruducing a new hero (in his latest book, Gunner) which I have also had the delight of reading.

I expect a healthy dose of anarchy and cynicism and my thoughts go out to the moderator of this panel ahead of time. Quite frankly I cannot wait for this!

If you cannot be in Stirling on the first day of the festival this panel is also available as part of the online offering so you don’t need to miss out. Tickets for this unholy trio can be bought here: https://bloodyscotland.com/event/in-the-shadows-of-war-alan-parks-dominic-nolan-david-f-ross-online-461212/

My second recommendation is for a panel I am less knowledgable on and I’ve selected it as I am in new(ish) waters with this area of crime fiction. Female Leads, Fiction Follows features Ambrose Parry, Lesley McDowell and SJ Parris. I have read very little historical fiction so it may seem unusual to find me recommending this particular panel, given the focus on female leads in historical crime stories. However, within the last 18 months I’ve been dabbling in more and more crime fiction set long, long in the past. I’ve been spending all my Audible credits on SJ Parris books and have hours of listening behind (and ahead) of me in the world she has spun around the wonderful Giordano Bruno.

Ambrose Parry is always a fascinating duo to see, their writing dynamic and their humour and engagement on previous occassions is always a treat so I know this panel will be no different. And with the fabulous Lesley McDowell chatting about her latest: Love and Other Poisons I am bubbling with excitement (I am assured by the Bloody Scotland team my spot in the queue to get Lesley’s book personally signed is all sorted).

Female Leads, History Follows is on Saturday at 10am, also in the Golden Lion. Tickets here – or I will see you at the event! : https://bloodyscotland.com/event/female-leads-history-follows-ambrose-parry-lesley-mcdowell-457610/

The full programme of events can be found at BloodyScotland.com