Join us for a special online event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Murder Squad – the collective of six crime writers from the North of England whose work has been highly praised by both readers and reviewers.
ONLINE: SATURDAY 31ST MAY 2025, 6PM (BST)
You are invited to mark 25 years of Murder Squad with writers Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Margaret Murphy, Chris Simms and Cath Staincliffe
BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET TO MURDER SQUAD’S
25TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT
ONLINE FROM 6PM to 7.30PM BST
To date Murder Squad writers have gained about 30 prizes – including CWA Daggers (we have TWO Diamond Dagger winners among our members!), Edgars, Macavitys, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, RTS, Anthony, and Agatha Awards as well as honorary degrees.
Since Murder Squad was formed, TV adaptations of Ann Cleeves’ Vera and Shetland series have enjoyed worldwide success. Her first Two Rivers book, set in Devon, has also been televised. Vera, played by Brenda Blethyn, is now one of the best-loved British TV detectives.
Martin Edwards created a new series set in the Lake District, became consultant to the British Library’s Classic Crime series, and won four awards for The Life of Crime, his bestselling history of the genre. He is a former Chair of the CWA and current President of the Detection Club; his latest series began with Gallows Court, which introduced Rachel Savernake.
Cath Staincliffe developed work in TV and radio, creating Blue Murder for ITV, writing Legacy and Undercover: Close To Home for BBC Radio 4 and guest writing on Stone. She wrote the Scott & Bailey books based on the hit show. Cath published a series of stand-alone novels about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events.
Margaret Murphy continues to write psychological suspense under her own name and under the pseudonym M.K. Murphy she recently began a detective thriller series set in London. She has also penned three forensic thrillers as A.D. Garrett, and two serial killer novels as Ashley Dyer.
Kate Ellis writes contemporary novels with a historical twist, one series being set in Devon and another in a spooky York. She has also published a crime trilogy set in North West England in the aftermath of the First World War. In 2019, she was awarded the Dagger in the Library.
Chris Simms, described by the Guardian as one of the best of the new generation of crime writers, is behind the popular DI Spicer of novels and those featuring DC Iona Khan. He is also an active force behind the Crime Readers Association.
Murder Squad with be in conversation with publisher Ian Skillicorn, Director of the Liverpool Book Club and Smithdown Litfest.
BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET TO MURDER SQUAD’S
25TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT
ONLINE FROM 6PM to 7.30PM BST