Books & Literature in Stirling

Bloody Scotland

A three-day celebration of crime writing, bringing together leading Scottish and international authors, showcasing debut voices and encouraging new writers.

Various venues: Stirling, Stirling

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Bridge of Allan Library, Stirling

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Desert Island Crooks: MW Craven, Louise Welsh, Kristen Perrin

You know the score. Desert Island. Stranded. Surrounded by sharks. And by some miracle you have access to a music streaming platform or a gramophone, a book and…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Denise Mina presents Lucy Foley

When the Agatha Christie estate sought someone to write the first new Miss Marple novel in 50 years, they sought an author who could mix modern suspense with a…

Albert Halls, Stirling

The Kill Switch: Robert Peston

One of the UK’s most familiar faces comes to Stirling as we welcome ITV Political Editor Robert Peston in his less familiar role as bestselling author.

Albert Halls, Stirling

Evil Under the Sun: Kate Gray, Foluso Agbaje, Sabine Durrant

Glamour, luxury and exotic locations are at the heart of three red-hot thrillers all rich in intrigue while being fabulously glitzy and gripping.A sun-drenched…

Made In Stirling, Stirling

In Conversation: Chris Brookmyre and Abir Mukherjee

Grab your ticket for an unmissable hour in the company of two of Scotland’s finest crime writers.It is 30 years since crime fiction’s most infamous mantlepiece…

Albert Halls, Stirling

Twists and Turns: Gilly Macmillan, Dorothy Koomson, Claire Douglas

Get a front row seat for three hugely talented writers who know exactly how to put their readers on the hook and keep them dangling there from first page to las…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Can you solve the murder? with Antony Johnston

Unleash your inner detective in a unique interactive murder mystery experience led by award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Antony Johnston whose lat…

Cowane Centre, Stirling

Debut Prize Panel - Frances Crawford, Kirsty Lockwood, May Rinaldi, Zoë Rankin, Linda Duncan McLaughlin

Meet the finalists for the 2026 Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year as they’re interviewed by festival co-founder Alex Gray. Fear and rumour rip th…

Made In Stirling, Stirling

History in the Making: DV Bishop, AE Goldin, Cressida Downing

We bring you three historical thrillers steeped in atmosphere, rich in detail, brimming with intrigue, and all utterly compelling.A snowbound institution for th…

Made In Stirling, Stirling

How to Clean A Crime Scene: Ben Giles & Craig Robertson

For 30 years, Ben Giles worked the frontline of Britain’s most hidden profession – crime scene cleaning.

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Writes and Wrongs: Evelyn Clarke, Sarah Lotz & Sarah Vaughan

Books about books and authors writing about writers are the deadly premise in three novels which literally put the meta into metaphors and the page into page-tu…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Dangers on a Train: Ilona Bannister, Tim Sullivan, CM Ewan

From Murder on the Orient Express to Girl on a Train, some classic crime fiction has been set on trains.

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Where does free speech end and extremism begin? Professor Lara Frumkin

In this session, you’ll have a chance to consider the fine line between free expression of ideas and speech that is considered extremist.

Made In Stirling, Stirling

The Stuff of Nightmares: Catriona Ward, Will Carver, Sarah Pinborough

Dare you spend an hour with authors who delve so deep into the human psyche that they come out the other side?

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Death on the Island: Lin Anderson, Alex Gray, Andrew Raymond

In the skilled hands and twisted mind of a crime writer, the dark beauty of Scottish islands offers the perfect landscape for tales of murder and mystery.Lin An…

Albert Halls, Stirling

Rogue Agents: Kim Sherwood, David Goodman, Paul Warner, CJ Merritt

With the world in turmoil, the spy novel is as relevant as it’s ever been, and these are four of the best.

Made In Stirling, Stirling

Helsinki Noir: Antti Tuomainen, Martta Kaukonen, Satu Rämö

As part of a collaboration with the Helsinki Noir festival, we are delighted to welcome three of Finland’s leading crime writers to Stirling.The Winter Job is a…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Straight to the Heart: Sarah Hilary, Patricia Gibney, Simon Mason

The police procedural is crime fiction’s oldest trope but it in the hands of talented authors it is far more than a whodunnit and can shine a light on society’s…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Denise Mina presents Jane Harper & Jane Casey

It’s a case of Double Jane-pardy (sorry!) as two fabulous storytellers from opposite ends of the world get together to discuss their work.Jane Harper is the que…

Albert Halls, Stirling

Time After Time: Elly Griffiths and Ellery Lloyd

Make sure you put aside an hour of your time to listen to two authors who use the concept of time-loop fiction to wildly entertaining effect.Time spent with Ell…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

The Algorithm Did It: Carys Green, Doug Johnstone, Ajay Chowdhury

The creeping advance of technology brings all manner of new dangers and these brilliantly innovative crime writers are tackling them head on.A clone to do the w…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Nice and Cosy: Janice Hallett, Steve Higgs, Olly Smith

Get comfortable for an hour of charm and criminal creativity in the company of three doyens of dastardly delight.The Silent Appeal is the hugely anticipated seq…

Albert Halls, Stirling

In Conversation: Steve Cavanagh and Nadine Matheson

These two former lawyers have turned to a life of crime, which is great news for us as they’re creating some of the most entertaining novels in the business. Na…

Albert Halls, Stirling

Denise Mina presents Tana French

One of the world’s most lauded crime writers, Tana French was born in the USA, raised in Italy, the USA, Ireland and Malawi, and has grown to be the First Lady…

Albert Halls, Stirling

Denise Mina presents SA Cosby

We are delighted to welcome one of the most dynamic voices in crime fiction on his first visit to Stirling.

Albert Halls, Stirling

Femmes Fatales: Liz Nugent, Harriet Tyce, Andrea Mara

Three superb authors, three novels overflowing with brilliant characters, three books that will have you questioning everything that you read.

Albert Halls, Stirling

In Conversation: Jeremy Vine and Matthew Sweet

Seize your ticket for two talented and entertaining speakers who guarantee an hour of laughs and insight into the world of books and television.One of the most…

Albert Halls, Stirling

8 Out of 10 Crime Writers Do Countdown

There will be consonants and vowels, there will be numbers and conundrums. There will be Steve Cavanagh, Andi Osho, Mark Billingham and Liz Nugent.

Albert Halls, Stirling

Call the Polis - James Oswald, Caro Ramsay, Andrew James Greig

Police procedurals are the dark, beating heart of Tartan Noir and we present three of the genre’s finest exponents in one unmissable panel.A brutal murder durin…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

A Touch of the Gothic: Francine Toon, Graeme Macrae Burnet, CD Major

Enter the world of the gothic where talented but twisted authors weave mesmerising tales wrapped in the macabre.McIlvanney Prize winner Francine Toon returns wi…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

From Screen to Page: Jo Spain, Remi Kone, Charles Cumm

Learn the tricks of the trade from three writers whose outstanding talents have made stories come alive on the screen and the page.A business in helping people…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Murder at the Edge of the World: Ørjan Karlsson, Malcolm Kempt, Zoë Rankin

Meet three authors who have skilfully harnessed wild locations at opposite extremes of the world to create vivid and atmospheric crime thrillers.A mutilated bod…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Die Laughing: David Weir, RWR McDonald, CE Hulse

With the world in turmoil, countries at war, and leaders who leave a lot to be desired, we’ve rarely been in greater need of a good laugh – even if it’s mixed w…

Made In Stirling, Stirling

Across the Pond: Gavin Bell, Edel Coffey, Tariq Ashkanani

Three outstanding writers whose books are set in what we used to call the good ol’ US of A.A killer has committed four murders in four weeks in four American ci…

Made In Stirling, Stirling

Chasing Dark Shadows: Luca Veste, Emma Styles, Michael Wood

Meet four authors who delight in leading us into the darkest recesses of the minds of the worst of killers. A disgraced cop has to catch a killer to save his ow…

Made In Stirling, Stirling

The Housing Crisis is Murder: Nasheema Lennon, Andi Osho, Samantha Dooey-Miles

Trying to get a foot on the housing ladder has become the stuff of nightmares and these three authors have somehow managed to make it even scarier.Buying a hous…

Made In Stirling, Stirling

Till Lies Do Us Part: Yemi Dipeolu, MK Oliver, Dandy Smith

Marital vows only go so far in the twisty world of crime fiction where truth and lies are separated only by the width of a wedding ring.A new husband and a murd…

Made In Stirling, Stirling

Every Breath You Take: Sam Blake, Deborah Masson, Tanya Sweeney

Three very different takes on the theme of stalking and obsession are sure to have you looking over your shoulder.

Made In Stirling, Stirling

Dept Q: Scott Frank, Matthew Goode, Kate Dickie, Alexej Manvelo, Leah Byrne

Quirky, quick-witted and quantifiably quality, Dept. Q is quite possibly the hottest crime series on television.

Albert Halls, Stirling

Spies, Lies and Allies: Alan Parks, Catherine Merridale, Douglas Jackson

The mid-20th century and a world in turmoil is the perfect backdrop for three outstanding novels from three outstanding storytellers. Deception is the riveting…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

In Conversation: Gregg Hurwitz and Robert Bryndza

What better way to spend your Sunday than in the company of two of the best thriller writers at work today?New York Times number one bestseller Gregg Hurwitz is…

Albert Halls, Stirling

Gory Glesga: Eva McRae, Frances Crawford, Callum McSorley, Martin Stewart

We go west in pursuit of banter, bodies and bampots with four of the finest exponents of Glasgow crime fiction.An unused return ticket casts doubt on a seeming…

Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

In Conversation: Val McDermid and Denise Mina

Join two of the biggest names in Scottish crime fiction for an extra special final event to wrap up Bloody Scotland 2026.

Albert Halls, Stirling

Are They or Aren’t They? Tracy Maton, Leodora Darlington, Julie Mae Cohen

Prepare to be dizzy as three fascinating female leads keep you guessing till the very last page and three fiendish authors leave you twisting in the wind.Decept…

Made In Stirling, Stirling

Denise Mina presets Ardal O’Hanlon

Careful now. Much-loved comedian and actor Ardal O’Hanlon will be neither small nor far away but on stage in the Albert Halls to discuss his crime fiction debut…

Albert Halls, Stirling

How To Pitch Your Book: Sheila M Averbuch

So, you’ve finished writing your novel and think you’ve done the hard work? Think again.

Stirling Central Library, Stirling