Crime comes to Waterstones

Crime comes to Priory Meadow

On Thursday 2 October a trio of highly acclaimed authors discuss their new works – three compulsive psychological thrillers that take the art of crime writing in exciting new directions. Erica Smith looks forward to facing the Crime Panel at Waterstones.

The panel features Jake Arnott (best-selling author of The Long Firm and He Kills Coppers), Jo Furniss, best-selling author of All The Little Children and Dead Mile) and Chris Bridges, whose debut thriller Sick To Death has recently been shortlisted for a Val McDermid debut award.

Chris Bridges’ Sick To Death is a sharply observed cat-and-mouse thriller starring a chronically ill heroine who won’t let being underestimated keep her from getting what she wants. As a former NHS nurse with a hidden disability, Chris likes to feature the untold stories of sick, dying and disabled people in his work and smash the trope of the passive disabled character with a background role. Chris is an alumnus of the 2022 London Writers Award and has also written a weekly column for an LGBTQ+ lifestyle website. He lives in Hastings.

Jo Furniss’s Guilt Trip is a gripping tale of secrets and lies, double crossing and treachery. A group of parents expose each other’s darkest secrets when a minibus carrying their teenage children disappears without trace in this unputdownable thriller. After spending a decade as a broadcast journalist for the BBC, Jo gave up the glamour of night shifts to become a freelance writer. She recently settled on the south coast after 15 years living abroad. Guilt Trip is her third published novel.

Jake Arnott’s Blood Rival is a modern retelling of Greek tragedy set in the gangland of Kent, a compulsive psychological thriller of forbidden desire and fatal ambition. Jake is the bestselling author of eight novels, his first, The Long Firm, was adapted as a BAFTA Award winning BBC TV drama. An out-and-proud Down From Londoner, Jake lives just by the sea in St Leonards.

‘I am so happy to be appearing alongside Jo Furniss and Chris Bridges,’ says Jake. ‘Guilt Trip and Sick to Death are terrific novels, full of suspense and surprises. And Blood Rival won’t disappoint crime fans either. It should be a great event.’

The event is on Thursday 2 October and will run from 5 to 6pm in the cafe on the first floor of Waterstones in Priory Meadow. The panel discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and a signing session. Tickets are £3 in advance (which can be redeemed against the price of a book on the day) and are available in store or can be reserved by emailing hastings@waterstones.com. For more information visit the Waterstones website.

Also in: Literature