Inaugural lecture. Thurs 13th June, 6pm. Virtual or in-person. Free to attend.
Representations of Killing in Fiction and Political Discourse. Please do attend virtually or in person (in Cambridge, UK) if you’re interested – I’d love to see you there. Here are the links:
Mick Finlay is an academic teaching and conducting research in Social Psychology. He also writes crime novels. In this talk, he brings together these two interests, discussing how the way we present violent deaths in fiction has implications for the reader, while the way we describe the deaths of civilians in war has implications for the citizen. The first part describes the various methods used to represent murders in crime fiction and reflects on the attractions of writing and reading about crime. In the second part, we move into the real world, looking at some of Mick’s research into how groups rationalize violence. Drawing on ideas of wilful ignorance and competitive victimhood, examples are presented that illustrate how people describe the killing of civilians in ways that protect the moral identity of the perpetrator group and enable individuals to avoid recognizing the violence of those they identify with. Examples will be drawn from Nazi Germany, Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Trigger warning: this talk will refer to sensitive and contentious present-day conflicts that attendees may have emotional identifications with.
Newcastle Noir. Sat Dec 9th 2023, 3-3.45. Newcastle Central Library.
3.00-3.45 Spooks and Sleuths with Chris Merritt, Mick Finlay and Robert Craven (Moderator: Jacky Collins)
This panel bring crime fiction fans a fusion of crime writing wonderment. The authors here transport us back in time, immerse us in the dangerous world of espionage and enable us to understand the psychology of the characters they create. Dr Noir invites you to be mesmerised not only by the flexibility of crime fiction but also by the authors’ multifaceted skills.
Past events
Murder and Witches. In March, I hosted an event in the Cambridge Festival with fellow crime writers Cathi Unsworth and Syd Moore. Each of us talked for 15 minutes about the strange and gruesome history behind some of our stories (with pictures!), followed by a Q&A. We were amazed by the reception to the event, with over 1,200 people registering. You can watch a recording of the event here.
Murder and Witches. Sat March 27, 2021, 15.00-16.15 (UK time). Free online event in Cambridge Festival. The crime writers Cathi Unsworth, Syd Moore, and Mick Finlay, whose books draw on the Hagley Woods murder of 1943, the history of witches in Essex, and murder in London and East Anglia, talk about some of the events in history that have inspired their books. Followed by a Q&A. Book a free place here. Special event promotion: buy signed books from the authors and/or a 3 for 2 deal here.
Virtual Noir at the Bar. 7.30 pm, Wed 17 June, 2020. Free online event featuring 9 crime writer. Each will do a reading. Neil Lancaster, Kate Simants, Caz Frear, CV Dalcher, Rowan Coleman, Mick Finlay, William Shaw, Henrietta McKervey, Morgan Cry, Katerina Diamond and Linwood Barclay.
Newark Literary Festival. Sat, 11 July, 2020, 10 – 11 am. Crime Through the Ages, with Nick Quantrill, Frances Brody, Rod Reynolds and myself.
Saturday 26 October, 2019, 15.30 – 16.30. Cambridge Festival Of Ideas. Reading and Writing Historical Fiction. Historical fiction panel event with authors Emma Flint, Syd Moore and Antonia Senior (Mick Finlay chairing). Followed by booksigning. At Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge. Free tickets – booking here.
Thursday, March 28, 2019: Historical Crime Panel in Penarth Pier Pavilion, Wales arranged by Griffin Books. I’ll be in conversation along with Alis Hawkins and Katherine Stansfield. Location to be confirmed. Tickets here.
Friday May 10th, 11.20 am: I’m giving a 20 minute talk on ‘Cruel and Unusual Victorian Crimes’ at Bristol CrimeFest.
Thursday May 21st: An evening crime fiction event in Brooks Bookshop, Pinner . I’ll be in conversation about all things crime fiction with Leigh Russell, John Nightingale and L.C. Tyler. Tickets available in shop or reserve by emailing info@brookspinner.com
Monday June 3rd, 12.30pm: I’ll be appearing with Katherine Stansfield at a lunchtime event in the Cardiff Libraries Crime and Coffee Festival. Cardiff Central Library Hub. Tickets here.
Saturday June 8: Heffers’ Murder Will Out Crime Festival in Emmanuel College, Cambridge. ‘…. a murderously good day of panel discussions, book signings – and answering those author questions you’ve been just dying to ask.’ Featuring: Fiona Barton, Simon Brett, Julia Chapman, Rory Clements, Mick Finlay, Lucy Foley, Elly Griffiths, Mick Herron, Lisa Jewell, Gytha Lodge, Alex Michaelides, Anthony Quinn, William Shaw, Laura Shepherd-Robinson and L C Tyler. I’ll be on the ‘Big Smoke’ London-themed panel with Mick Herron, Anthony Quinn and a soon-to-be-announced moderator. Book tickets here.
The Arrowood Series 