John Dean – Crime Writer

Kirkcudbright is becoming known as a town that likes its crime writing – indeed, the introduction to the town in the Google search engine says as much.

Various organisations stage crime writing events during the year and Kirkcudbright Book Festival is one of them.

This year is no exception, starting on Friday 6th March, 2.30pm with Philip Miller: The Diary of Lies: the New Shona Sandison Mystery.

Venue: Kirkcudbright Parish Hall, 8 St Mary St, Kirkcudbright DG6 4AQ

Philip Miller is an ex-journalist turned civil servant whose third novel featuring Edinburgh-based investigative reporter Shona Sandison – The Diary of Lies – delves into an insidious conspiracy within the UK’s most powerful institutions. Philip’s previous best-selling Shona novels are noted for their ‘striking prose and lovable characters’ and relevant contemporary settings.

Saturday March 7 at 10.00am sees Three Scribblers: same passion, different genres. Venue: Kirkcudbright Scout Hut, Soaperie Gardens, Parish Church Grounds, St Mary St, DG6 4AA

Moffat Writers Ink members Fiona Quinn, Sarah Burchett Cook and Iain Alexander. Chaired by LP Mennock.

A fantastic array of talent talk about their writing, their journeys into publishing, the power of storytelling and imagination, and why their chosen genres fascinate and captivate a wide audience.

LP Mennock is a crime writer and founder of Moffat Writers. She has edited a crime short story anthology and helps develop the careers of writers.

Fiona Quinn is a Glasgow child of the ‘70s, a science nerd and fiction lover. She has written all her life but focused on scientific articles and corporate reports as she worked across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. On returning to Scotland to live, she joined a local writing group and studied creative writing at UWS. This resulted in her being welcomed into the supportive book and writing community, attending book festivals, becoming a member of Moffat Writers Ink. (Change to printed programme – Fiona replaces Ann Bloxwich)

Sarah Burchett Cook is originally from Kent but after 28 years living in Devon in the South-West of England, she now lives in Scotland. She writes fantasy and literary fiction blended with a touch of history, myth and legend. She is author of The Rosa Chronicles.

Iain Alexander writes dark psychological thrillers laced with gothic horror. At the 2025 Scottish Association of Writers’ awards, he took first place for his novel Dark Necessities from which he will be reading today.

Crime fiction fans may also be interested in attending: Samantha Dooey-Miles & May Rinaldi, New Voices on Crime and Modern Life, on Sunday March 8

Venue: Station House Cookery School, St Mary St, Kirkcudbright DG6 4DN

Join two emerging and award-winning writers talk about their latest books. Samantha Dooey-Miles’s first novel Under the Hammer explores the housing crisis, murdering landlords and female rage with Hamilton as the backdrop; she is a winner of the Scottish Book Trust New Writer Award. Irene Paterson (writing under the name May Rinaldi), a crime writer based in Dumfries, first novel Liar Thief is a psychological suspense thriller; she is the winner of the Black Spring Press New Crime Writer Award.

You can find out more, and discover how to book your tickets, at https://www.kbtbookfestival.org /