Noir at the Bar

We are delighted to bring Noir at the Bar back to The Old Punchbowl in the High Street as part of WORDfest Crawley.

Noir at the Bar, which began in America over ten years ago then spread to the UK in 2016 is a great way to hear excerpts of books, either already published or work in progress, and to get a flavour of a range of crime fiction.

Crawley crime author Derek Farrell will host the evening, with names being pulled from a hat and books being given away by the authors who appear.

The authors who are joining us are...

Fiona Cummins

Katerina Diamond

S.E. Lynes

Casey Kelleher

Howard of Warwick

We are asking for £3 donation to attend the event - with all the proceeds going to support the amazing work done by Free Shop Crawley.

Waterstones will be selling books of the authors present.

See below for the bios of the authors:

Fiona Cummins: Fiona Cummins is an award-winning former journalist and the internationally bestselling author of seven crime thriller novels, all of which have received widespread critical acclaim from household names including Val McDermid, Lee Child, David Baldacci, Martina Cole and Ian Rankin. Her books, which include RATTLE and WHEN I WAS TEN, have been translated into several languages and three have been optioned for television. Her fifth novel, INTO THE DARK, the first in a series featuring DC Saul Anguish, was described by the Daily Mail as ‘breathtakingly good’ and was shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2023. Her sixth book, ALL OF US ARE BROKEN, was a spring 2024 Richard and Judy book club pick.

Last year, Fiona was invited by the Reading Agency to write a novella for the Quick Reads/World Book Night campaign, and A BOY CALLED SAUL, was the result. Her most recent novel, SOME OF US ARE LIARS, is out now.

When Fiona is not writing, she can be found eating biscuits or walking her dogs. She lives in Essex with her family.

Katerina Diamond: Katerina Diamond is the Sunday Times and Kindle number One Bestselling author of nine novels including THE SECRET, THE TEACHER, THE ANGEL and THE SILENCE. After a nomadic life, she has lives on the East Coast of Kent.

Her books have been Longlisted for a CWA New Blood award and Hotel Chocolat 'Darkest moment' award.

Her appearance at Noir at the Bar in 2025 produced one of the loudest OOOH moments on record and her return has been avidly awaited ever since.

S.E. Lynes: S.E. Lynes is the author of Amazon #1 best seller, THE HOUSEWARMING, plus best selling psychological suspense novels such as VALENTINA, MOTHER, THE WOMEN, HER SISTER's SECRET, THE BABY SHOWER ,THE SPLIT, EVERY MOTHER'S NIGHTMARE and many more!

A former BBC Producer, she has lived in France, Spain, Scotland and Italy and is now settled with her family in Greater London. After completing her MA, S E Lynes taught creative writing at Richmond Adult Community College for ten years. She now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing in Richmond Borough.

Casey Kelleher: Casey Kelleher was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, and grew up as an avid reader.

Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up three children together with her husband, she penned her debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that she could give up her day job and concentrate on writing full-time. Her lates novel BURIED is a gripping gangland crime thriller that readers cannot put down.

Howard of Warwick: the world's best selling - and only - author of medieval crime comedy. A quarter of a million sales and a No 1 Best Sellers around the globe.

A humble chronicler with the blind luck to stumble upon the Brother Hermitage manuscripts, Howard recounts tales of a young monk who is clearly the archetype for many later characters; later characters who tended to know what they were doing. Brother Hermitage has been described as Cadfael meets Clouseau.

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