When the announcement was made in December last year we were saddened to hear the news that CrimeFest, a cornerstone of the book festival calendar as well as the crime fiction calendar, was to take place for the final time this year. However in legacy of the crime fiction convention it has been announced that the organisers have compiled a new anthology. 

What is CrimeFest?

CrimeFest was first established in 2008 as a spin off to the American crime fiction convention, Left Coast Crime. CrimeFest is a 4 day festival that takes place in May welcoming both casual crime novel readers and dedicated enthusiasts. Because of its democratic set-up, where all published UK authors register to participate, CrimeFest if famed as the most inclusive and friendliest crime fiction events. 

Although the festival recieved on-going support from its headline sponsor, Specsavers, and other sponsers Free@Last TV and HW Fisher, the organisers believed that after sixteen years is was time to end the Bristol based convention on a high. The festival is held in Bristol and the final CrimeFest will take place from the 15-18 May at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel. In attendance will be Lee and Andrew Child, Simon Brett, Lindesy Davis, Martin Edwards, Felix Francis, Yrsa Sigurdardottir and John Harvey, as well as Ghost of Honour John le Carré (represented by his two sons).

The legacy of CrimeFest

Over the sixteen years of CrimeFest the convention has gifted thousands of books over the years to inner city schools and libraries across Bristol and the UK. CrimeFest also works to support up-coming talent, with a bursary for crime fiction authors of colour and the £1000 prize awarded to the Specsavers Debut Novel of the Year awards. Community passes are also offered to librarians, students and those on benefits. 

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of CrimeFest, the convention's last anthology, Ten Year Stretch was published. Profits from the book and the convention's annual raffles have raised thousands of pounds for the Royal Institute of the Blind (RNIB) library. This new anthology, due to be published in August will also see the proceeds of its sale going to the Royal National Institute of Blind (RNIB) library.

CrimeFest: Leaving the Scene

The anthology to mark the sixteenth and final CrimeFest is called 'CrimeFest: Leaving the Scene'. The new anthology will be published by No Exit Press in August with early copies gifted to each of the first 450 registered Full Pass Holders of the final CrimeFest.

Featuring contributions from authors who have had a close relationship with CrimeFest over the years including a story from acclaimed American Author Jeffrey Deaver, a long-standing regular face at the convention. Bestselling author Lee Child, who attended the very first convention and was a featured guest at the fifth and tenth anniversaries of CrimeFest will be contributing the foreword. Lee writes that CrimeFest is ‘one of the best’ conventions: “I have been many times, and always come away with my spirits lifted, and with new enthusiasm for my chosen trade - plus a little apprehension, given the tsunami of new talent chasing after me.”

Other contributors to 'CrimeFest: Leaving the Scene' include historical novelist Lindesy Davis; playwright, author and producer Simon Brett; CWA Dagger winner Martin Edwards, Canadian-Welsh crime writer Cathy Ace. We'll also see contributions from the current chair of the Crime Writer's Association, Vaseem Kahn. Renowned editor, author and critic Maxim Jakubowski, who has also shared his thoughts as a LoveReading Editorial Expert, will be among the contributors and is also advising editor of the anthology. 

CrimeFest co-host, author Donna More contributes a short story, with her fellow co-host Adrian Muller contributing an Afterword. 

Sharing her love of CrimeFest, Donna Moore said: “CrimeFest has been a real labour of love over the years and it's wonderful to be able to go out in celebratory fashion with this anthology. I'm delighted to have a story of mine included amongst authors whose writing has kept me entertained, whose work I admire and who I'm delighted to be able to call friends, thanks to CrimeFest.”

Adrian Muller also commented: “The final CrimeFest this May will be a big celebration. We wanted to do the anthology as a way to thank our delegates – authors, readers, sponsors, and those in the publishing industry - who make up our CrimeFest family.”

No Exit Press is an award-winning crime imprint of Bedford Square Publishers and has a 30-year history and impressive roster of quality authors with many CWA Dagger recipients among them. Jamie Hodder-Williams, CEO of Bedford Square Publishers, said: “No Exit Press is excited to collaborate with CrimeFest to celebrate its16th anniversary and mark its final meeting. This special collection of brand-new stories brings together a prestigious group of crime and thriller writers who have all had significant involvement with the festival – a fitting tribute to CrimeFest’s legacy and lasting influence on the crime fiction world.”