Tag: Amy Jordan

Murder One 2026 Events

With the vital support of The Arts Council of Ireland, DLR Libraries and Culture Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, we are delighted to be back for 2026 bringing you another thrilling weekend of murder and mystery.

This year Rick O’Shea will be hosting a very special free event on Sunday October 18th which is funded as part of the Culture Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.

This year too, we bring you an exciting optional One Day Masterclass Ticket for our four fantastic masterclasses which are taking place on Friday October 16th from 10am until 5pm (scroll down for more information and booking details)

All Murder One Events take place in the DLR LexIcon Library in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin and this year we are delighted to announce that our Saturday and Sunday events feature Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

Please note that concession tickets for all events are for students, seniors and those on income support. If you feel that you may be in one of these categories but can afford the full price, please allow space for those who can’t, by booking a full price ticket. 

FRIDAY 16TH OCTOBER 

THE SECRETS OF THE SUBMISSION PACKAGE

Friday, October 16th at 10.00am – 11am
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets: €20 & €17 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin/Sam Blake has been helping authors from every genre get published for over 20 years and she has a very high success rate.

In this masterclass she’ll take you through what you need to include in your cover letter, how to write a synopsis, what needs to be in your opening chapters – and how you know when it’s the right time to submit. You only get one chance, so getting it right is vital. This masterclass will also include crucial information on using AI.

Come with your questions – as Ireland’s leading literary scout she works with publishers and agents across all areas of the publishing landscape.

MEET THE AGENTS

Friday, October 16th at 12pm – 1pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €25 & €22 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

The Darley Anderson agency is legendary for representing some of the biggest names in crime fiction, but today they represent more than just crime.

In this unique event, meet three of their top agents who cover commercial fiction (crime/thriller/horror), children’s, YA, fantasy and romance, find out what they are looking for and what’s happening in the industry at the moment.

Whatever you are writing, this is not to be missed!

WORLD BUILDING MASTERCLASS WITH DAVE RUDDEN

Friday, October 16th at 1.30pm – 2.30pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €25 & €22 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

World-building is key in fantasy, but the art of creating a plausible setting is crucial to all genres, from crime to romance to literary fiction.

How does place inform storytelling? How can you engage the senses to convey character, plot and theme?

Discover new approaches to exposition, description and scene-setting, and learn from best-selling author Dave Rudden (Sister Wake, Conn of the Dead, Knights of the Borrowed Dark) how to make the world of your book come alive.

THE ESSENTIALS OF CRIME FICTION
TWO-HOUR MASTERCLASS

Friday, October 16th at 3pm – 5pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €45 & €40 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

Henry Sutton is the author of 16 novels including Crafting Crime Fiction (Manchester University Press), and is Professor of Creative Writing and Crime Fiction at the University of East Anglia. In this masterclass he will guide you through the nine key steps to writing a compulsive work of crime fiction, whether a police procedural or a psychological suspense, and everything in-between.

This immersive, practical and theoretical masterclass will address the very fundamentals of novel writing, along with more sophisticated and nuanced approaches, and will be suitable for those beginning the writing journey as well as experienced novelists. A sell out last year, participants are still talking about Henry’s first class in Ireland, make sure you book early!

 ONE DAY TICKET -FOUR WORKSHOPS

Friday, October 16th at 10am – 5pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €105 & €95 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

This one day ticket gives you access to four valuable sessions:

  1. The Secrets of The Submission Packet with Sam Blake/Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin
  2.  Meet the Agents with Clare Wallace, Lucy Irvine and Jade Kavanagh
  3. World Building Masterclass with Dave Rudden
  4. The Essentials of Crime Fiction A Two-Hour Masterclass with Professor Henry Sutton

Scroll up to get full details of each individual event.

Please note that concession tickets for all events are for students, seniors and those on income support. If you feel that you may be in one of these categories but can afford the full price, please allow space for those who can’t, by booking a full price ticket. 

DYING FOR LAUGHS
Ardal O’Hanlon in conversation with Edel Coffey

Friday, October 16th at 6pm – 7pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €18 & €15 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

Irish actor, writer and comedian Ardal O’Hanlon has turned to crime with a new mystery series featuring celebrity gardener Finn O’Leary in A Plot to Die For. Finn is taking a career break to help look after his mother when a member of her choir dies mysteriously…

In conversation with Edel Coffey whose In Glass Houses adds to her trio of bestsellers, this will be a night to remember!

SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER

READINGS IN THE STUDIO

Saturday, October 17th at 10am
dlr LexIcon Studio
Admission Free
BOOK HERE

Step into a world of story and imagination with our talented writers as Claire Coughlan (Among the Ruins) , Fiona Gartland (Under Her Care), Henrietta McKervey (The Woman in the Water) and Cormac Quinn (Murder on Lough Derg) take to the stage to read from their latest work.

From moving moments to unexpected twists, whether you’re a long time fan or discovering these authors for the first time, join us to discover the power of the written word—spoken aloud. Expect emotion, insight, and a glimpse into the creative minds behind the stories.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

ALL ABOUT FEAR
Cecelia Ahern, Sam Blake and Mary Watson with Kitty Murphy

Saturday, October 17th at 12pm – 1pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €14 & €12 
BOOK HERE

Thirty-two of Ireland’s women crime writers, members of the Irish Murderesses WhatsApp group, have come together to produce a landmark short story collection in support of Women’s Aid.  They kill people for a living, but find out what they really FEAR in the very first event post launch, to mark publication. Hosted by co-editor and contributor CL Murphy, find out how the collection came together, how Mr Fear, actor Emmett J Scanlan wrote the forward, and how Cecelia Ahern was lured to the dark side.

The editors’ royalty earnings from worldwide sales of this book
(expected to be at least €8,000) will be donated to domestic violence
charity Women’s Aid (RCN 20012045). Contributing authors have donated
their stories without renumeration to help make this possible.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

BLOOD TIES: KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Carmel Harrington, Edel Coffey and Michelle McDonagh
with Jen Bray

Saturday, October 17th at 2pm – 3pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €14 & €12 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family! What happens when those relationships get toxic? Or are your family the only people you can truly rely on?

Carmel Harrington (The Nowhere Girls), Edel Coffey (In Glass Houses) and Michelle McDonagh (If These Walls Could Talk) discuss how relationships are at the core of every drama with Jen Bray whose The Lies Between Us features three sisters under pressure, and hit the bestseller list earlier this year.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

A SPOONFUL OF ARSENIC
Gill Perdue, Rosemary Hennigan and Dr Marie Cassidy
with William Shaw

Saturday, October 17th at 4pm – 5pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €14 & €12 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

There are many ways to murder –  Gill Perdue (All of Them Lied), Rosemary Hennigan (The Hotel Guest) and Dr Marie Cassidy (Deadly Evidence) discuss their ‘favourites’, and what works and what doesn’t, from their own work and others. ‘Modern crime master’,  the multi award shortlisted William Shaw will be hosting (and watching his coffee carefully…)

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

MISSING IN ACTION
Jane Casey and Andrea Mara with Catherine Ryan Howard

Saturday, October 17th at 6pm – 7pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €18 & €16 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

When someone disappears, can those close to them ever get to the truth?

In Jane Casey’s first book set in her native Ireland, Everything She Didn’t Say, a lonely clifftop holiday cottage is the scene of a violent event and a confounding disappearance.

In Andrea Mara’s Such A Nice Girl, two mothers discover their daughters have disappeared after a family wedding, but with blood found at the scene, could one of them be a killer?

In the hands of these expert crime writers, nothing is as it seems. Catherine Ryan Howard is question master, investigating the route from one dark twist to another.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER

READINGS IN THE STUDIO

Sunday, October 18th at 11am
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Admission FREE
BOOK HERE

Join us for Readings in the Studio where stories leap off the page and voices come to life.

Acclaimed authors Bryan J. Mason (There Are No Happy Endings) , James Murphy (Farset Investigations Belfast) , Robert Craven (The Payout Game) and Karen Fitzgibbon (Tell the Truth) take to the stage to share readings from their latest work— whether it’s sharp dialogue, lyrical prose, or unforgettable characters, each writer brings a unique perspective and style to this celebration of crime fiction.

Hear the words direct from the authors themselves.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

CRIMINAL GENRE BUSTERS
Aisling Rawle and Dave Rudden with Tanya Sweeney

Sunday, October 18th at 1pm – 2pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €14 & €12 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

Crime covers a huge range of stories from cosy to procedural, political to psychological suspense, mystery supernatural to dystopian.

Two very different writers from different corners of the genre, Aisling Rawle (The Compound) and Dave Rudden (Sister Wake), meet to discuss what drives them to write and why the stakes are always high. Tanya Sweeney’s Esther is Now Following You bridges dark women’s commercial fiction and crime, and she’ll be quizzing our authors to get to the secrets of a good story.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

CONTINENTAL KILLERS
Antonio Lanzetta and Antti Tuomainen
in conversation with Rick O’Shea

This event is funded as part of the Culture Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.

 

Sunday, October 18th at 3pm – 4pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets are FREE but booking is ESSENTIAL
BOOK HERE

Murder One and DLR Libraries are thrilled to present this exciting international event where RTE’s Rick O’Shea will chat to acclaimed Italian writer Antonio Lanzetta and the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ Finnish writer Antti Tuomainen.

Together, these two European crime fiction writers will discuss how regional landscapes shape literary tension, the enduring appeal of the anti-hero, the exploration of tone within the genre, and the complex mechanics of building gripping stories on the page.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

ON A DARK & STORMY NIGHT
Catherine Ryan Howard, Leodora Darlington, T.M. Logan
with Brian McGilloway

Sunday, October 18th at 5pm – 6pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €14 & €12 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

The opening line of a book can be crucial to hook a reader. Catherine Ryan Howard (Buyer Beware), editor turned writer Leodora Darlington (The Exes) and T.M. Logan (The Weekend) talk to Brian McGilloway about how they come up with opening lines and those lines that have stopped them in their tracks.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

THE GREATEST TWIST
with Harriet Tyce and Jo Spain

Sunday, October 18th at 7pm – 8pm
The Studio Theatre, dlr LexIcon
Tickets €17 & €15 (plus booking fee)
BOOK HERE

What makes you gasp? There is a true art to a great twist as Traitors star and bestseller Harriet Tyce knows only too well, and brings to every book, as her latest Witch Trial clearly shows.  Jo Spain’s brilliant scripts take all sorts of unexpected routes, and in her latest gripping thriller Never to be Found, nothing is quite what it seems for any of the characters.

Jo and Harriet discuss with multi-award shortlisted William Shaw (The Burning Tide), how they come up with their ideas, and how they bring those gasp-out-loud moments so brilliantly to the page.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murder One 2025 – It’s a Wrap!

What a fantastic weekend (even if we do say so ourselves)! We’ll have the official shots feeding out over our social media in the coming days but we have to say a HUGE thank you to DLR Libraries and the Arts Council for making Murder One possible, to our fabulous audiences who travelled from all over the country, and to the authors who braved the weather (and cancelled flights) to deliver such amazing events, and to Dubray Books for being such wonderful booksellers – THANK YOU!

Sign up for our newsletter to get first news of next year’s festival running 16th-18th October 2026 with a children’s day on 15th October 2026.  It’s already shaping up!

FRIDAY 17th OCTOBER 2025

THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO GETTING PUBLISHED

 

Sam Blake explained the blueprint of publishing from keyboard to bookshelf  while discussing exactly what the industry is looking for – what’s hot and what’s not – and how best to submit your work. She demonstrated what you need to do to attract an agent or publisher, and crucially what not to do. This masterclass provided a concrete way to improve your pitch, ideas on where to submit and gave a thorough understanding of how the business works, all in a relaxed and informal atmosphere leaving plenty of opportunity for people to ask all those tricky questions.

Plotting and POV Masterclass  with Professor Henry Sutton  

 

Whether you are writing a police procedural or a psychological thriller, you must consider the basic elements essential to a gripping narrative. The author of 15 novels and Professor at the University of East Anglia, Henry Sutton (Crafting Crime Fiction) guided the audience through the art of storytelling, from creating a compelling plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats to choosing the perfect point of view to bring your characters to life. The UEA Crime Fiction Masters is the leading course of its kind in the UK and some of the world’s most successful writers are alumni. 

Read more:  https://www.writing.ie/resources/tips-for-crafting-crime-fiction-by-henry-sutton/

 

HOW TO SNARE AN AGENT WITH SIMON TREWIN AND JADE KAVANAGH

 

Landing a literary agent is one of the biggest steps on the path to publication—but how do you make your submission stand out from the slush pile? Industry heavyweights Simon Trewin (Simon Trewin Creative) and Jade Kavanagh (Darley Anderson Literary Agency) shared their insider knowledge on what agents are really looking for.

From perfecting your pitch to avoiding common mistakes, they provided a guide through the dos and don’ts of querying, the anatomy of a strong submission, and how to build lasting professional relationships in the publishing world.

Whether you were polishing a manuscript or just starting your journey, this session was a marvellous chance to learn from two leading voices in the industry—and get one step closer to landing the agent of your dreams.

 

All About Agatha:
Dr John Curran in conversation with Victoria Dowd

Our author events kicked off with Dr John Curran and Victoria Dowd talking puzzles, mystery and the game of murder.

Dr John Curran is a world expert on Agatha Christie and her work. For many years he edited the official Agatha Christie Newsletter and acted as a consultant to the National Trust during the restoration of Greenway House, Dame Agatha’s Devon home, affording him unique access. John worked with her grandson, Mathew Prichard, to establish the Agatha Christie Archive. Dr John Curran is the author of Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks and Agatha Christie’s Murder in the Making, as well as the official history of Collins Crime Club: The Hooded Gunman. His latest book The Murder Game: Play, Puzzles and the Golden Age was published in early September 2025.

Victoria Dowd is an award winning bestselling author who writes locked room mysteries, her new book Death in the Aviary set in the 1920s features an incredible new heroine Charlotte Blood.

 

SATURDAY 18th OCTOBER 2025

Readings in the Studio

 

Saturday morning our talented writers Lucy O’Callaghan (Obsession), James Murphy (How To Be Dead), Joseph Birchall (In Plain Sight) and R.B. Egan (The Landlord) took to the stage to read from their latest work. From moving moments to unexpected twists we discovered the power of the written word—spoken aloud.  It was a really insightful glimpse into the creative minds behind the stories.

 

Behind Closed Doors:
Professor John Deane-O’Keeffe with Mary Watson, Amy Jordan and Gill Perdue

The secrets that people keep hidden behind closed doors make for fascinating fiction. Criminal psychologist Professor John Deane-O’Keeffe lead a gripping conversation with bestselling authors Mary Watson (The Cleaner), Amy Jordan (The Dark Hours), and Gill Perdue (The Night I Killed Him). Together, they explored the darker side of human nature, the secrets that simmer beneath the surface, and the complex psychology behind the closed doors of fiction.

 

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Events: Gillian McAllister and Andrea Mara
with A.J. West

Both Gillian McAllister (Wrong Place Wrong Time) and Andrea Mara’s (No One Saw a Thing) books have stormed the charts. Last Saturday they discussed suspense, secrets, and the surprising moments that change everything. In conversation with Sunday Times bestselling author A.J. West (The Betrayal of Thomas True) they delved into the art of crafting thrillers that turn everyday lives upside down—where ordinary people find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

 

The Role of Women in Crime Fiction:
Victim to Sleuth: Kitty Murphy with Catherine Kirwan, Catherine Ryan Howard and Amanda Cassidy

 

From damsels in distress to daring detectives, the role of women in crime fiction has undergone a huge transformation. Author Kitty Murphy hosted a thought-provoking discussion with bestselling crime writers Catherine Kirwan (The Seventh Body), Catherine Ryan Howard (Burn After Reading), and Amanda Cassidy (The Stranger Inside), exploring how female characters have evolved from victims and sidekicks to complex protagonists and sharp-witted sleuths.

 

All the Colours of the Dark:
Chris Whitaker talks to Edel Coffey

On his first visit to Ireland, global sensation and international bestselling author Chris Whitaker sat down with acclaimed writer and journalist Edel Coffey for an intimate conversation about his writing process, the inspiration behind his unforgettable characters, and how he weaves powerful human stories through gripping, suspenseful plots. 

Chris Whitaker (We Begin at the End) has stunned readers with his latest novel All the Colours of the Dark—a sweeping, emotional thriller that blurs the lines between hope and heartbreak, darkness and redemption.

 

SUNDAY 19th OCTOBER 2025

Readings in the Studio

Sunday morning (October 19th) stories leapt off the page and voices came to life with acclaimed authors Michelle Dunne (A Good Mother), Karen Fitzgibbon (Never Look Back), Conor McAnally (Bullets In The Water) and Jake Arnott (The Long Firm Trilogy). All four took to the stage sharing readings from their latest work— whether it’s sharp dialogue, lyrical prose, or unforgettable characters, each writer brought a unique perspective and style to this celebration of crime fiction.

 

The Devil’s in the Detail:
Steve Cavanagh with Anna Sharpe,
Jane Casey and Andrea Carter

Master of the legal thriller Steve Cavanagh lead a riveting panel discussion with legal experts, authors Anna Sharpe (Notes on a Drowning), Jane Casey (The Secret Room), and Andrea Carter (There Came A-Tapping) on the meticulous craft of building tension, planting red herrings, and creating stories where every detail matters.

From courtroom drama to small-town secrets, these acclaimed writers shared how they research, plot, and fine-tune their work to keep readers hooked—and guessing—until the very last page. It was the perfect event for all who are fascinated by the mechanics of mystery or were eager to sharpen their storytelling instincts

Strength of Character:
Tim Sullivan, Carmel Harrington AND Brian McGilloway talk to Michelle McDonagh

 

What makes a character truly unforgettable? Is it resilience, vulnerability, or the quiet courage to confront the unknown? Bestselling authors Tim Sullivan (The Bookseller), Carmel Harrington (The Stolen Child), and Brian McGilloway (The One You Least Suspect) sat down with writer and journalist Michelle McDonagh for a powerful discussion on character-driven storytelling.

From gripping crime fiction to emotionally rich dramas, these authors craft protagonists who linger in the mind long after the final chapter. Together, they explored how to build complex, compelling characters—flawed, fearless, and deeply human—and why it’s the people at the heart of the story who truly move us.

 

Evil Genius:
Ruth Ware and Steve Cavanagh with Michelle Dunne

 

What makes a truly brilliant villain—or a twist so clever it leaves readers breathless? International bestseller Ruth Ware (The Woman in Suite 11) and thriller powerhouse Steve Cavanagh (Two Kinds of Stranger) had a high-stakes conversation about plotting the perfect crime, writing razor-sharp suspense, and the deliciously dark minds that drive their stories.
In conversation with author Michelle Dunne, these two masters of misdirection revealed how they craft morally complex characters, ingenious plots, and those gasp-out-loud moments that have become their signature.