Deadly is the British Library’s inaugural festival celebrating women writing crime and it starts with a bang: the opening night on Friday 28 March features international best-seller Tess Gerritsen sharing her brand new book The Summer Guests, in which trouble (and martinis) come to a small seaside town. You can join in person or online – tickets are here.

Saturday 29 March, promises a full day of events celebrating the very best in contemporary crime writing by women. Featuring non-fiction as well as fiction, brand-new work from celebrated authors, fresh voices, lively exploration of themes and perceptions of the genre, and plenty of criminally good fun.

Two legends of British crime fiction, Ann Cleeves and Denise Mina (AKA the Godmothers of Crime) reveal the inside track on their craft, and The Five author Hallie Rubenhold launches her much anticipated new book, Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress and Dr Crippen.

Get stuck into a forensic analysis of plot twists at the Killer Endings panel with Saima Mir, Sam Blake and Sophie Hannah in conversation with Abir Mukherjee; and explore works confronting cliches and pushing boundaries in The Politics of Crime with Kate Summerscale, Kia Abdullah and Bee Rowlatt in conversation with Ayesha Hazarika.

There will also be a special showcase of the hottest literary newcomers to the crime scene: Maha Khan Phillips, Blessin Adams, Busayo Matuluko and Mary Watson, as well as a chance to pit your wits against some of the field’s leading luminaries in The Deadly Sleuth-Off, where Team Vera will take on Team Marple in a literary death match.

Come and join the fun, in person or online tickets are here.