Hillingdon’s crime-writing festival returns on Saturday 13 June with its largest author line-up so far, bringing more than 15 bestselling writers to the Winston Churchill Theatre for a full day of talks, book discussions and writing insight.
The Hillingdon Libraries Crime Festival will run from 10am to 5pm. Tickets cost £12, and the event is aimed at readers, crime-fiction fans and aspiring writers looking to hear directly from published authors.
Festival details for Hillingdon readers
The festival takes place at the Winston Churchill Theatre in Hillingdon on Saturday 13 June. It follows the sell-out success of last year’s event, when more than 200 visitors attended sessions with nine crime writers.
This year’s programme has been expanded to feature more than 15 authors, including Tom Hindle, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, TM Logan, Louise Candlish and Araminta Hall.
The event has grown out of Hillingdon libraries’ regular Coffee and Crime sessions, which have built a local audience for crime fiction and author-led discussion. The council is now positioning the festival as a full-day literary event rather than a single panel or library talk.
More than 15 bestselling authors on the bill
The confirmed line-up includes writers known for contemporary thrillers, mysteries and psychological suspense. For readers, the appeal is not only hearing about new books, but also seeing how crime authors build tension, structure plots and create characters that keep a story moving.
For aspiring writers, the format offers a practical route into the genre. Live talks and book discussions can give audiences a clearer view of how published authors approach research, pacing and the pressure of writing for a crowded market.
Hillingdon Council said the day will include live author appearances and writing insights. The source announcement did not provide a session-by-session timetable, so visitors should check the official booking information before planning around a specific author.
Part of the National Year of Reading
The festival is also part of Hillingdon libraries’ wider 2026 programme for the National Year of Reading, a campaign focused on literacy, reading for pleasure and helping more people discover books.
That context matters for local families and library users because the crime festival sits alongside other reading activity planned across the borough. Young readers aged four to 11 will also be able to take part in the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, which launches on Saturday 4 July.
Daniel Kennedy, Hillingdon Council’s Corporate Director of Residents Services, said the festival was a way to connect people with reading through events that bring residents and visitors together.
“Our libraries are welcoming community spaces that bring people together, and during the National Year of Reading residents and visitors will have even more opportunities to enjoy events and activities that help them discover new authors and share a love of reading,” he said.
Tickets, timing and booking
Tickets for the Hillingdon Libraries Crime Festival cost £12. The event runs from 10am until 5pm on Saturday 13 June at the Winston Churchill Theatre.
Readers interested in attending should book through Hillingdon’s official festival booking page and check the council’s author events listings for any updates to the programme. Families looking ahead to the summer can also sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge from Saturday 4 July.
Source: Hillingdon Council
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This article is based on Hillingdon Council’s event announcement and keeps dates, venue, ticket price and named authors tied to that source.
- Checked the event date as Saturday 13 June.
- Checked the venue as the Winston Churchill Theatre.
- Checked the published ticket price as £12.
- Checked the named author line-up against the council announcement.
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- Hillingdon Council
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- Hillingdon
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- 2026-05-29 11:35
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