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Goldsboro Books announces “Capital Crime”, comics convention-styled crime fiction festival for London

By John Freeman on September 12, 2018

A comic convention style crime and thriller festival is to launch in London in September 2019, a new project from Goldsboro Books.

Capital Crime – founded by Goldsboro Books Managing Director David Headley and novelist and screenwriter Adam Hamdy – will run in London’s West End from 26th to 28th September, featuring events focused on “accessible, mainstream fiction loved by readers around the world”, and will “entertain crime and thriller fans and attract newcomers to the genre”.

Bookseller reports the event will be modelled on comic conventions, offering crime fiction fans the opportunity to engage with their favourite authors, filmmakers and creative talent.

The festival is expected to attract more than 800 crime and thriller fans over three days and promises a “unique social outreach initiative”, with details being unveiled later this year.

No guests have been announced, but early followers of its Twitter account include award-winning Amer Anwar, author of Brothers in Blood, crime and thriller writer JD Fennell, Icelandic author Ragnar Jonasson, comics writer and novelist Robbie Morrison, Joel Richardson, Publisher for Crime/Thriller at Penguin, author and radio host Sam Stone, thriller and SF author James Swallow, who also scripted one of the Dan Dare Audio Adventures, Ronnie Turner, author of the psychological thriller Lies Between Us.

Formed in 1999, London-based Goldsboro Books considers its mission to provide signed hardback first edition books in their central London bookshop and online, delivering the best book-buying experience for every customer. Goldsboro Books aims to interest and inspire book lovers, readers and collectors and provide the finest quality signed books in the world and this new event is clearly an extension of those aims.

David Headley

“Capital Crime is an inclusive festival and we will be launching an exciting new initiative to encourage people from disadvantaged backgrounds into the world of publishing,” Hamdy told Bookseller. The event will be a “place for fans to come and celebrate everything about this best-selling genre”.

“The international film and television industry has a long history of adapting crime and thriller books,” he says. “Capital Crime is a place where authors can be recognised for their role in creating these wonderful works, and fans can come to meet them and the people responsible for adapting them into other media. It’s a celebration of all things crime and thriller.”

“From Sherlock Holmes to James Bond, George Smiley to Cormoran Strike, London is home to some of the best loved crime and thriller characters. Yet it is one of the few places in the UK that doesn’t have a dedicated crime and thriller festival. Adam and I are excited to be bringing Capital Crime to Britain’s biggest city.”

• For more information, visit capitalcrime.org or visit @CapitalCrime1 on Twitter

• Goldsboro Books Limited is at 23 – 27 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ | Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 20 7497 9230 | enquiries@goldsborobooks.com | Opening hours: Monday – Friday 10.00am – 6.00pm | Saturday 11.00am – 5.00pm Web: www.goldsborobooks.com

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.