Coastal Crime

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Coastal Crime Get ready for a brand-new festival celebrating crime fiction in all its thrilling forms!

Whether you’re a passionate reader, an aspiring crime writer, or just love a good mystery, Coastal Crime is the place to be.

Congratulations to our competition winner, Justine Gilbert! 🎉Justine has won a full-day pass to Coastal Crime on Saturda...
09/10/2026

Congratulations to our competition winner, Justine Gilbert! 🎉

Justine has won a full-day pass to Coastal Crime on Saturday 6 March 2027 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour. We’re looking forward to welcoming you, Justine!

Thank you to everyone who entered by signing up to our newsletter.

Didn’t win this time? Our EARLY BIRD tickets are still on sale until 30 October, so you can still save on joining us.

Grab your tickets before they go up to full price:
https://coastalcrime.org/

Writing a thriller with dark humour and a smart, feisty female lead? Or a romantic suspense novel where love and danger ...
09/10/2026

Writing a thriller with dark humour and a smart, feisty female lead? Or a romantic suspense novel where love and danger are closely entwined?

Meet Jade Kavanagh, literary agent at Darley Anderson Literary, who’ll be joining us for 1-2-1 appointments at Coastal Crime.

Jade is looking for smart, high-stakes thrillers and emotionally charged romantic suspense. Take a look through the graphics for more about what she hopes to find, along with advice on preparing for your appointment.

This week and next, we’re sharing more about the agents joining us and their wish lists to help you choose the right fit for your work.

Limited appointments are available, and bookings are open now:
https://coastalcrime.org/

A valid Full, Day or Part-Day festival ticket is required to book a 1-2-1 appointment.

09/10/2026

🔪 LOVE CRIME FICTION? HERE’S A KILLER DEAL! 🔎📚

Get 25% OFF Coastal Crime festival tickets when you book before 30 October!

Join us in Southampton on Saturday 6 March 2027 for a thrilling day of bestselling crime writers, gripping conversations, behind-the-scenes secrets and murderous mysteries!

🎟️ Tickets from just £15 for individual events

📚 Morning, afternoon, day and full festival passes available

🥂 Make a night of it with our special evening event featuring bestselling author Lucy Clarke!

🔥 USE CODE: CCEarly25

⏰ Hurry – offer ends 30 October 2026!

Booking link in the comments.

Tag a crime fiction-loving friend you’d bring along! 👇

Could Nicky Lovick be the right agent for your book?We’re pleased to welcome the WGM Talent literary agent to Coastal Cr...
02/10/2026

Could Nicky Lovick be the right agent for your book?

We’re pleased to welcome the WGM Talent literary agent to Coastal Crime for 1-2-1 appointments. Nicky is keen to see domestic thrillers with a killer hook and hear from self-published authors considering a move into traditional publishing.

Her interests also include high-concept and dystopian romance, witches and folklore. Take a look through the graphics for more about her wish list, plus some practical advice on preparing for your appointment.

This week and next, we’ll be sharing more about the agents joining us and the books they’re hoping to find. If you’re thinking of booking, it’s a good chance to get to know who might suit your work.

Bookings are open now at https://coastalcrime.org/

A valid Full, Day or Part-Day festival ticket is required to book a 1-2-1 appointment.

FREE PLACES THIS THURSDAYAre you writing, or thinking about writing, a psychological thriller? Do you want to be fully p...
01/10/2026

FREE PLACES THIS THURSDAY

Are you writing, or thinking about writing, a psychological thriller? Do you want to be fully prepared with your new book before our fabulous festival? Founder and Festival Director Alex Stone is leading a 12 week course that might be just what you need.

TODAY, 1 October, is the first session of this new live online 'Write a Psychological Thriller' programme.

As a special introductory price, Alex is opening up a limited number of places completely free!

The first session is Premise, Hook & Opening Pages - exploring what makes a compelling psychological thriller, how to develop the central premise of your novel and how to create an opening that immediately draws readers in.

The full programme runs for 12 weeks, but sessions can also be booked individually, so there's no need to commit to the entire course.

And over the coming weeks, Alex will be joined by five fantastic guests from across crime investigation, editing and publishing, including a former Senior Detective, a professional editor, a literary agent and two leading publishers.

Want to try the first session for free?

Book Thursday's session on TicketTailor and use code: PartnerFree

There are only a limited number of free places, so once they're gone, they're gone.
Full details & booking: https://bit.ly/4hvyZBm

🎟️ Fancy winning a full-day pass to Coastal Crime?Sign up to our newsletter before 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 September and...
29/09/2026

🎟️ Fancy winning a full-day pass to Coastal Crime?

Sign up to our newsletter before 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 September and you’ll be in the draw for a ticket to next year’s festival, worth £155. If you’re already subscribed, there’s nothing else you need to do - you’re included.

We’ll also send you author reveals, panel announcements and other Coastal Crime news, so you’ll hear what’s happening as plans come together.

Enter and read the full details here: https://coastalcrime.org/competitions/

Open to UK residents aged 18+. One winner; terms apply.

Announcing Coastal Crime PresentsCrime fiction in Southampton isn’t just for one weekend in March…We’re delighted to int...
23/09/2026

Announcing Coastal Crime Presents

Crime fiction in Southampton isn’t just for one weekend in March…

We’re delighted to introduce Coastal Crime Presents: a new series of author conversations, lively panels and audience Q&As, created in partnership with Southampton City Libraries.

Beginning this autumn, the programme will bring crime writers and readers together throughout the year—giving you more opportunities to meet the authors behind the books, explore the craft of crime writing and enjoy some brilliantly bookish conversations.

Tickets are just £4 per event, with the first five events now announced.

📍 Southampton Central Library
🕚 Saturdays, 11am–12pm
🎟️ Book through Ticket Tailor

Discover the full programme and book your place:
https://coastalcrime.org/coastal-crime-presents/

Because Coastal Crime is becoming more than a festival. It’s a year-round community for everyone who loves a good crime story.




We’re always happy to support the authors who are part of the Coastal Crime community - and this looks like a wonderfull...
22/09/2026

We’re always happy to support the authors who are part of the Coastal Crime community - and this looks like a wonderfully relaxed way to celebrate a new thriller!

Join bestselling Dorset author (and Coastal Crime Founder) Alex Stone for the launch of her gripping new novel, The Jealous Girl.

Expect an evening of books, conversation and the chance to hear more about the inspiration behind Alex’s latest psychological thriller.

She wants the other woman gone. But will envy make her a murderer?

📅 Tuesday 29 September
🕕 6–9pm
📍 PizzaExpress Christchurch, private upstairs room
🎟️ Free, but advance booking is required

Find booking details at:
https://authorevents.co.uk/

Please note that the event takes place upstairs and there is no lift available.

Have you got an idea for a psychological thriller - or a work in progress that needs a clearer structure, stronger suspe...
21/09/2026

Have you got an idea for a psychological thriller - or a work in progress that needs a clearer structure, stronger suspense or a killer twist?

Bestselling author and Coastal Crime founder Alex Stone is launching a new live online programme designed to help writers take their novels from idea to publication-ready manuscript.

Across 12 weeks, Alex will cover characters, setting, crime authenticity, structure, suspense, point of view, twists, endings and revision. She’ll also be joined by an impressive group of industry guests:

🔎 Former senior detective and crime consultant Stuart Gibbon
📝 Professional editor Emily Reader
📚 Literary agent Nicky Lovick
📖 Phoebe Morgan, Executive Publisher at Simon & Schuster
📖 Emma Grundy-Haigh, Editorial Director at Boldwood Books

The course is limited to a small cohort, keeping the sessions practical, interactive and relevant to each writer’s own novel. You can join the complete programme or book an individual four-week block.

📅 1 October–17 December 2026
🕖 Thursdays, 7–9pm UK time
💻 Live online via Google Meet

Alex Stone newsletter subscribers can receive 20% off until 25 September.

Find out more:
https://authorevents.co.uk/write-a-psychological-thriller-with-alex-stone/

novel

Fancy joining us at Coastal Crime for FREE? 🔍📚We’re giving one lucky crime-fiction fan the chance to win a free ticket t...
11/09/2026

Fancy joining us at Coastal Crime for FREE? 🔍📚

We’re giving one lucky crime-fiction fan the chance to win a free ticket to Coastal Crime 2027.

Join us in Southampton for a day packed with bestselling authors, rising stars, gripping conversations and everything crime fiction.

Entering couldn’t be easier — simply sign up to the Coastal Crime newsletter via our homepage and you’ll automatically be in with a chance.

📅 Saturday 6 March 2027
📍 Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour
🎟️ Enter at coastalcrime.org

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