As part of National Crime Reading Month, crime novelist John Dean is to give a talk at Catstrand Arts Centre in New Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway, followed by a screening of classic crime film Brighton Rock.

John, whose books regularly feature in the best-selling charts on Amazon, is the creator of the DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris series.

The writer, who has had 17 novels published and is with The Book Folks of London, will talk about where his ideas come from at 7pm on Thursday May 16 in a talk called A Scream in the Night, followed by a screening of the film.

National Crime Reading month is organised by the Crime Writers’ Association and the Crime Readers Association.

More detail, including how to book tickets, can be found in the Spring programme at www.catstrand.com