Stellar line-up for Scotland’s premier crime-writing festival

BLOODY Scotland, Scotland’s international crime writing festival, returns to Stirling in September.

This year’s line-up of acclaimed authors includes Val McDermid, Mick Herron, Lisa Jewell, Rob Rinder, Karien Smirnoff, Mark Billingham, Denise Mina, Liam Mcllvanney, Liz Nugent and Antti Tuomainen. The festival kicks off during the afternoon of Friday 15 September and continues through the weekend.  

 

The Faculty of Advocates has been a key supporter of Bloody Scotland for many years and this year it is sponsoring the Lin Anderon & Guests event. Lin Anderson is the author of the well-known forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod series of crime thriller novels, the first of which – Driftnet – was published 20 years ago. She is also one of the founders of Bloody Scotland.

She will be joined on stage by three experts she credits with helping her create the stamp of authenticity which is at the heart of the Rhona MacLeod series – Professor Lorna Dawson, a specialist in soil forensics, forensic pathologist Dr James Grieve, and advocate Donald Findlay KC.

“I have always been impressed by Lin’s work and enjoyed reading it,” said Mr Findlay. “I have been pleased to play a very small part in providing her with some legal advice. The festival itself is well established in the calendar and it is right that the Faculty should support it in every way possible – hence I was delighted to be invited to share an event with Lin and two experts I know well and have crossed swords with in the real world of the criminal trial,” he added.

The annual iconic torchlit procession is open to all and will start from the Castle esplanade on the Friday evening and move through Stirling’s historic old town to the Albert Halls, following the pipes and drums of the Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band.

The 2023 festival will take place in various Stirling venues including the Albert Halls, Holy Trinity Church and the Golden Lion as well as online. Tickets for in-person events can be bought online and at the festival. Digital passes are available for a curated selection of online events, including the Lin Anderson & Guests session on the Friday afternoon, and these can be used to access these events up until the end of September. More information, including the full programme, can be found here.