Hallie Rubenhold, Mick Herron, Simon Mason, Andrew Wilson, Andrew Taylor, Carolyn Kirby and John Finnemore have sold millions of crime fiction novels between them, spanning the different genres with alacrity.
And they will be coming together on CRIME FICTION SATURDAY at Oxford Literary Festival 2026 to shine a light on their subject and answer questions on how to write your first murder, where facts end and fiction begins in historical crime, writing multiple series at the same time, the telling of true crime stories, approaching locked room mysteries and balancing historical authenticity with narrative tension and storytelling.
These are just some of the issues being addressed on Saturday March 21 by these world-leading crime writers, explored through a truly immersive programme curated to celebrate true crime, historical fiction, contemporary detective series and espionage this year.
The fun kicks off with Hallie Rubenhold, the historian and bestselling author, talking about her latest book ‘Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress, and Dr Crippen‘, an in depth examination of the infamous 1910 London murder of American music hall performer Belle Elmore which provoked a manhunt for her husband, the medical fraudster Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen. Here she talks to Andrew Wilson and shifts the focus to the women at the centre of the sordid tale. 10am Pusey House Chapel. BOOK HERE
Next up is Simon Mason talking to Triona Adams (who has curated CRIME FICTION SATURDAY) about his double life of crime: The Wilkins Mysteries, and the Finder series. The award-winning local author produces two successful, concurrent, much-loved, and very different book series. Here he will discuss his much hyped third book in the DI Ryan Wilkins Mysteries Lost and Never Found while explaining how he leads such a double life in the world of crime fiction. Pusey House Chapel. 12 noon. BOOK HERE
A fascinating discussion will then take place between two masters of historical crime Andrew Taylor and Carolyn Kirby about fact versus fiction. Andrew Taylor is the only author to have won the CWA’s Historical Dagger three times with The Office of the Dead, The American Boy and The Scent of Death and talks to Carolyn Kirby about his endeavours. Oxford University Mathematical Institute Lecture Theatre 2 at 2pm. BOOK HERE
Carolyn Kirby will then be interviewed about Gender Fluid Georgians with Anthony Delaney at Weston Lecture Theatre on March 27 at 4pm. Kirby extensively researched 18th-century gender perceptions for her novel, Ravenglass, an 18th-century adventure set on land and at sea and will be discussing the hidden stories of lovers, lawmakers and homemakers who defied convention in Georgian times and whose stories are only now coming to light through dramas such as Gentleman Jack and Bridgerton. BOOK HERE
And finally, to complete the quartet, Mick Herron, one of our greatest crime writers, investigates the case of Radio 4 national treasure John Finnemore and his first venture into crime fiction in The Researcher’s First Murder at The Sheldonian at 6pm. Puzzle solver and sketch writer Finnemore’s new work is based around a body found stabbed in a locked room. Readers must then solve the puzzle themselves. Oxford based Herron is of course the author of the multi-award-winning Slough House thrillers, as well as the Oxford-based Zoe Boehm series, both made into major TV series, starring Gary Oldman and Emma Thompson. BOOK HERE
CRIME FICTION SATURDAY curator Triona Adams adds: “Taken together, these conversations will reveal the different creative challenges of writing crime across its many forms – from revisiting real historical crimes to inventing new ones. However varied their approaches, the writers are all grappling with the same enduring puzzle: how to keep readers turning the page in one of the most inventive and widely loved genres in fiction.”
Oxford Literary Festival runs from March 21-29. Details here: https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org
