Some of the biggest names in crime writing including Ian Rankin, Peter James, Charlie Higson and Sophie Hannah (author of the new Poirot series) are coming to the city for the third international Noirwich Crime Writing Festival, 15-18 September 2016.

Crime writing is the most popular genre in the UK and over 1,500 visitors are expected to Norwich for what has become one of the highlights of the crime writing calendar. With events taking place at Writers’ Centre Norwich’s home Dragon Hall, Jarrold, and the University of East Anglia (UEA), as well as a fringe festival across the city, a killer weekend is guaranteed!

The festival kicks off with CWA 2016 Diamond Dagger winner and Sunday Times bestseller Peter James at Jarrold on Thursday 15 September. On the Friday, Ian Rankin headlines at UEA and events take place all day at Dragon Hall on Saturday 17 September – rounding off with a Bloody Brunch on the Sunday – where visitors can enjoy a Bloody Mary and brunch with six sensational crime writers.

Chris Gribble, Chief Executive at Writers’ Centre Norwich, one of the festival organisers and a speaker at the CWA conference in 2016, says: “We’re delighted that audiences locally and nationally will be able to enjoy some of the biggest and most exciting crime writers of the moment. This festival will grow and grow and help Norwich, England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, promote tourism and attract new visitors to our cultural attractions and businesses”.

Henry Sutton, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at UEA and award-winning crime novelist, is one of the founders of Noirwich. He says “We want to make Norwich the world’s leading centre for the enjoyment and study of crime fiction; this year’s fantastic line-up brings us a big step closer to that goal”.

Lynsey Dalladay, Head of Marketing, Interest Brands at Dead Good Books (Penguin Random House’s crime community) says “We’re delighted to be partnering with the festival for a second year running. The quality and variety of events at this year’s Noirwich is outstanding and offers crime fans the inside scoop on crime writing. It’s going to be a thrilling four days.”

For details and tickets see www.noirwich.co.uk