‘I lived abroad until 2 years ago and I always travelled home to Dublin for the Murder One weekend. I love it. It is the highlight of my literary festival year and I always look forward to it.’ Jennifer Lindsay
‘One incredibly seriously awesome amazing brilliant weekend!’ GreenfingerPeter
These are just some of the fabulous comments that we received at Murder One 24 – another fabulous coming together of crime writers, crime readers and book sellers.
With the vital support of Arts Council Ireland and dlr Libraries we were delighted to bring you a thrilling weekend of murder and mystery – here are our 2024 events – sign up for our mailing list to get advance notice of our events for Murder One 2025 which will take place October 16th – 19th 2025!
Friday 18th October
The Plot’s the Thing: Masterclass
with International Bestseller
Catherine Ryan Howard
This was the ONLY masterclass Catherine did in 2024 and thus a Murder One exclusive!
We learned how to plot the perfect crime with the award-winning, no. 1 bestselling thriller writer Catherine Ryan Howard. This masterclass explored the mechanics of storytelling and the best methods for taking your idea from brain to blurb. Catherine shared each step of her own process, from interrogating the initial idea to getting to ‘THE END’ of the first draft, with sticky notes and spreadsheets in between. Even if you were more of a pantser than a plotter, this masterclass offered techniques, tips and tricks to help strengthen your storytelling and keep your readers turning the page.
How NOT to secure an agent – with Literary Agent Simon Trewin
Your Killer Pitch with Literary Agents Polly Nolan & Simon Trewin
Picking pitches at random, Simon Trewin and Polly Nolan critiqued as many as they could within the hour, answering key questions as they went and helping writers to understand the points that will give them that vital killer pitch to catch an agent’s attention. A great pitch can get you an agent, will be used to tempt a publisher and in turn to catch that reader. Getting it right can mean the difference between success and failure.
One of Us is Dead: Peter James
in conversation with Breda Brown
Peter James has written 20 Sunday Times No. 1s, sold over 23 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 38 languages. Much loved by crime fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, and accurate portrayal of modern-day policing, James never disappoints. In his latest novel, a man arriving late for a funeral notices another man who resembles an old schoolfriend, Rufus Rorke. But Rufus died two years ago! In One of Us is Dead, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace’s wits are tested to the limit. Peter James was in conversation with journalist, book reviewer and producer of Inside Books podcast, Breda Brown.
Saturday 19th October
4 x 15: Live Readings in the Studio
Introduced by Sam Blake, four talented crime writers, Michelle Teahan, R.B. Egan, Michelle Dunne, and Kitty Murphy had 15 minutes each to hook the audience as they discussed and read their work!
With Friends Like These:
Karen Perry & Claire McGowan in conversation with Brian McGilloway
What happens when someone you once called a friend suddenly becomes a threat? They may know the darkest secrets of your past, but can they keep a secret? What happens when a circle of friends turns into a tangled web of intrigue and danger? Keeping your friends close is one thing but when they get too close it’s time to beware the hand of friendship. Author Brian McGilloway discussed the mercurial nature of friendship with Karen Perry and Claire McGowan.
Andrea Mara & C.L. Taylor
in conversation with Sam Blake
Two of the top-selling crime writers in Ireland and the UK, Andrea Mara and C.L. Taylor are masters of domestic suspense. Their new novels, Someone in the Attic and Every Move You Make, feature not only ingenious and original premises, but enough twists to keep the reader in a state of high anxiety. The authors discussed how they develop new, heart stopping ideas, and the tricks of the trade with fellow crime writer Sam Blake.
This Dark Island:
Michelle McDonagh, Sheila Bugler
& Fiona McPhillips
in conversation with Andrew Hughes
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past,” William Faulkner once famously remarked. We Irish are obsessed with the past. The memory of dark and dreadful events in our history endures for generations. From tragic events like the death of Ann Lovett, to deep family secrets, abuse and cover ups, it is small wonder then that our crime writers so frequently look to the past as inspiration. Andrew Hughes discusses this dark island with fellow crime writers Michelle McDonagh, Sheila Bugler, and Fiona McPhillips.
Watching the Detectives,
From Page to Screen:
Jo Spain & Jane Casey
in conversation
with Professor John Deane-O’Keeffe
Crime writers frequently attract the attention of filmmakers, as their books are ideal for TV drama. Jane Casey’s standalone novel, The Killing Kind, recently hit the screen, and Jo Spain is both a novelist and screenwriter whose Harry Wild series is currently showing on RTE to rave reviews. What are the unique qualities that render a crime novel suitable for a TV series and what is the process? How does it feel to see the characters in your head on the screen? These two bestselling Irish writers discussed the issues with forensic criminologist, Professor John Deane-O’Keeffe.
Sunday 20th October
4 x 15: Live Readings in the Studio
Introduced by Sam Blake, four talented crime writers, Lucy O’Callaghan, Clara Dillon, James Murphy, and Claire Coughlan had 15 minutes each to hook the audience as they discussed and read their work!
Witness 8:Steve Cavanagh
in conversation with Edel Coffey
Steve Cavanagh is the bestselling author of the Eddie Flynn novels and several standalone thrillers. In 2018 The Liar won the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger for crime novel of the year. In 2019 Thirteen won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the year. All of his novels have either been nominated for awards or have won awards internationally and Witness 8 is sure to follow. A former lawyer, Steve Cavanagh was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he still lives. Edel Coffey went inside the court room to hear Cavanagh’s evidence on creating one of the greatest characters in crime fiction published today.
Knowing Your Place:
Stuart Neville, Amanda Cassidy
& Vaseem Khan
in conversation with Henrietta McKervey
As well as thrilling plots and characters that leap off the page, our three authors all use location as an integral part of their stories. Amanda Cassidy sets her new novel in a French chateau; Vaseem Khan’s Malabar House Series is set in 1950s India; and Stuart Neville’s new novel is set in the American West. Henrietta McKervey discussed the importance of place, and the opportunities it provides, in the novels of these three award-nominated and award-winning crime writers.
Inside Knowledge:
Graham Bartlett, Nadine Matheson & Andrea Carter
in conversation with Michelle Dunne
With years of professional experience upholding the law, our three panellists have gotten close to the reality of the crimes featured in their gripping novels. Nadine is a criminal solicitor, Andrea was both a barrister and a solicitor, and Graham has over thirty years’ experience as a detective, firearms commander and city police chief. Using their inside knowledge and blending fact and fiction, our experts discussed the influence of their professions with crime writer and former soldier Michelle Dunne.