Upcoming Crime Fiction Events in London

Here are a couple more crime fiction events in London coming up soon:

As part of the Free the Word Festival:

FRIDAY 8 APRIL

Criminal Justice

Dominique Manotti, Margie Orford & Nii Ayikwei Parkes, chaired by Dreda Say Mitchell

Friday 8 April at 6.30pm

Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA

Tickets: £8 (£5 PEN Members and Concessions) or £25 for full festival ticket

Book tickets to Criminal Justice online

Crime writing is one of the world’s most tenacious literary genres, creeping around political and cultural barriers. Yet despite the harsh spotlight it shines on power and corruption, crime writing is often written off as simply a form of popular entertainment. The bestselling French author Dominique Manotti debates the impact of crime writing with the South African crime novelist and reporter Margie Orford and Nii Ayikwei Parkes, poet, novelist and publisher. Award-winning crime writer Dreda Say Mitchell asks if their writing makes any difference to society – or is it just an opiate for the masses?

and at Foyles (booking required but tickets are free):

Crimes and Misdemeanours: Russian Detective Fiction, with Grigory Chkhartishvili aka Boris Akunin

13th April 2011 6:30pm - 7:30pm Charing Cross Road Literary Event

Often referred to as the 'undisputed champion' of Russian crime fiction, Boris Akunin has plumbed the depths of tsarist Russian history as inspiration for his sinister characters and labyrinthine plots. This evening he sheds light on the truth behind the fiction, the differences between British and Russian crime and the true origins of his pen name.

This event is supported by the British Council and Academia Rossica as part of the Russia Market Focus 2011 cultural programme at The London Book Fair.