Hi everyone,

I’ve been away from the blog for a while, which isn’t to say I haven’t been busy.

We’re only a few months away now from the launch of The Venetian Sanctuary and, as a sort of mini-prelude to that , The Venetian Candidate came out in paperback on April 4th. So it was a delight to spend some time in Aberystwyth with my friend Alis Hawkins (whose The Skeleton Army came out on the same day – and if you want a new historical crime series to check out, look no further than her “Oxford Mysteries”) at an evening presentation at Ceredigion Library. Thanks to everyone who turned up!

A visit to Edinburgh also enabled me to see Hawkwind for what – sadly – might be the last time. That’s hard to take on board. It’s been 39 years since I first saw them and so this was bittersweet to say the least. But if this is to be the last one, well, it’s been a hell of a ride and this was a good one to go out on.

But the big news this month is this year’s Gŵyl Crime Cymru Festival 2024, coming your way from Wednesday April 17th. We’ll be back live in Aberystwyth next year, but this time we’re exclusively online and all events are FREE.

Tickets can be reserved at https://gwylcrimecymrufestival.co.uk .

I’m greatly honoured to be Chair of this year’s event, but it really couldn’t have been done without the huge amount of work put in by Cathy Ace, Jacky Collins, Wini Davies, Jacqueline Harrett, BE Jones, Alison Layland, Chris Lloyd, Chloe Tilson, Sarah Todd Taylor, Sarah Ward, GJ Williams and, of course, our tireless festival administrator Gail Williams. Thank you all so much.

The panellists are a brilliant mixture of the best in Welsh crime writing, and the best international authors as well. I think there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy over the eight days of the festival.

I’m in conversation with Marsali Taylor and Andy Griffee on the appropriately named “Watery Graves” panel on April 19th, at 18.30 (BST).

Hoping to “see” you there, and wishing you all happy reading and happy viewing!

Philip