list.co.uk/festival Crime Pays | FESTIVAL BOOKS
criminal intent
The old saying would have you believe that crime doesn’t pay but the burgeoning canon of fi ctitious crime says otherwise. Rowena McIntosh investigates eight authors headed for the Edinburgh International Book Festival who have got crime working in their favour
PAULA HAWKINS Previously a writer of romantic comedies, Hawkins’ 2015 novel The Girl on the Train is a tense thriller exploring alcohol abuse, broken relationships and unreliable narrators. The book dominated the bestseller list, and there’s a i lm adaption starring Emily Blunt due for release in October. Hawkins featured on the Forbes list of highest-paid authors 2016, ahead of George RR Martin. ■ 13 Aug, 7.15pm, £12 (£10) LIN ANDERSON Anderson is the creator of both forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod and private investigator Patrick de Courvoisier. Anderson’s tenth Rhona MacLeod novel was shortlisted for the 2015 Scottish Crime Book of the Year and 2016’s None but the Dead is on the longlist for the McIlvanney Prize. She also supports the crimes of others, co-founding Bloody Scotland crime writing festival. ■ 15 Aug, 7pm, £8 (£6)
11–18 Aug 2016 THE LIST FESTIVAL 33