Whispers in the stacks: An evening of spooky fiction

Step into the shadows and join us for a chilling celebration of crime and horror fiction. As night falls over The Hive, three masterful storytellers—Olivia Isaac-Newton, Caz Frear, and Charley Barnes—will share spine-tingling tales and insights into the art of suspense.

Whether you're a die-hard fan of dark mysteries or just love a good scare, this is your chance to meet the minds behind the mayhem, ask your burning questions, and maybe even leave with a signed copy of your next favourite read from Script Haven’s pop-up bookshop.

Free tickets available now but booking is essential.Spaces are limited, so secure your spot before they vanish into the mist...

This is an event in partnership with HarperCollins Publishers, The WestMidlands Readers' Network and The University of Worcester.

Meet the authors

Olivia Isaac-Henry is the author of The Verdict, Someone You Know, and Sorrow Spring. A Worcestershire native now based in London, she’s also a crime drama enthusiast and musician with the band The Protagonist. Her latest novel, Hallows Hill, is a haunting tale of teenage rituals, buried secrets, and a deadly Halloween reunion. As protagonist Mia confronts eerie visions and unsettling truths, she must unravel whether the danger is supernatural—or something far more human.

Caz Frear is the internationally bestselling author of the Cat Kinsella series, including Sweet Little Lies, Stone Cold Heart, and Shed No Tears. With a background in History, Politics, and headhunting, Caz brings psychological insight and razor-sharp wit to her crime fiction. Her latest standalone thriller, Five Bad Deeds, follows Ellen Walsh—a seemingly ordinary woman whose life unravels after receiving a cryptic note. As anonymous threats escalate, Ellen must confront the consequences of her past and uncover whether the danger stalking her is driven by revenge, betrayal… or something even darker.

Charley Barnes is a Lecturer in Cultural Studies with a specialist focus on True Crime and crime fiction narratives. Her academic research led to the publication of Deconstructing True Crime Literature in 2023, while her practice-based work explores representations of female violence in contemporary fiction. Charley is the author of over ten psychological thrillers—with two more on the way—and is also a published poet, editor, and one of the Directors of Black Pear Press, an independent publishing house based in Worcestershire.

Host or Publisher The Hive