CrimeCon, the world’s biggest true crime festival, will once again be live and in central London this autumn: across the weekend of 25-26 September. True crime fans, starved of in-person events, will be able to meet authors, publishers, documentary makers, podcasters and law enforcement professionals.

The workshops, panels and talks will delve deeper into cases, examine evidence and hear real life stories from survivors and victims’ families.

The CWA will be hosting a panel on Sunday 26 September called Exhuming the Past: Writing historical true crime. Talking about writing true crime from the past will be CWA members Daniel Smith and Jeremy Craddock, and the panel will be chaired by Dagger shortlisted author and CWA member Susannah Stapleton. They will discuss the nitty-gritty of their work, from the challenges and ethics of historical research to crafting a compelling story.

Daniel Smith is the author of The Peer and the Gangster, investigating the relationship between Conservative peer Lord Boothby and Ronnie Kray, and its subsequent cover-up. His other books include Scandal at Dolphin Square: A Notorious History, and The Ardlamont Mystery, exploring the links between a true-life Victorian murder trial and its links to Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle.

Jeremy Craddock is a journalist and author who worked for more than 20 years on newspapers and magazines in the north-west of England. One of the biggest stories he covered was the Lady in the Lake murder case in 1997. He now teaches multimedia journalism at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he also contributes to a media law podcast, Bang to Rights. The Jigsaw Murders: The True Story of the Ruxton Killings and the Birth of Modern Forensics is his first book. It is a case that has haunted him since childhood as he used to live near the murder scene.

Susannah Stapleton combines her love of Golden Age detective fiction and a long career as a historical researcher to write true crime that highlights early twentieth century women’s history. Her first book, The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective: Secrets and Lies in the Golden Age of Crime was shortlisted for the 2020 ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction.

This is a ‘Covid-proof’ event. Should the event not be possible due to Covid-19 restrictions and moved to a later date, all tickets will be transferred automatically or refunded in full immediately upon request. So you can book in confidence.

The event will be held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel & Spa, St Paul’s. You can find out more about the fantastic line up and book your tickets here.