Step into an evening of sharp twists and suspense as Chris McDonald and Sarah Mellortake the stage to talk all things crime fiction. Chris will be talking about his emotionally charged new mystery The Wrong Man while Sarah delivers the gritty, atmospheric tension of The Silent Places. Together, they will discuss their inspirations, their characters tangled secrets, and the craft of building suspense that lingers long after the final page. Warm, insightful and full of storytelling energy, this is a perfect event for readers who love their crime fiction layered, human and impossible to put down.
Complimentary glass of wine or soft drink included
The Wrong Man - Chris McDonald
A new PI. A dead rockstar. A tangled web of secrets.When Ethan Adler set up his new PI agency in central Manchester, he wasnt expecting his first case to be so high profile investigating the mysterious death of rock star Dylan Vy. Ethan has been avoiding the spotlight ever since his beloved wife Maggies untimely passing. His grief has been complicated by rumours that Maggie was pregnant with another mans child at the time of her fatal accident.

And because said accident took place just hours after Ethan won the lottery, a cloud of suspicion has followed Ethan ever since. With the help of his assistant Amelia, Ethan throws himself into uncovering the truth about Dylan Vy. In a fast-escalating investigation, they uncover a labyrinth of secrets, lies and deadly connections between bandmates, girlfriends and a volatile manager.

The Silent Places - Sarah Mellor
Who dares speak up for the dead? LIVERPOOL, 1981: DS Leigh Borrowdale has a problem with justice. Or rather the lack of it. Not only has she just watched a man shes convinced is a killer walk free from court, but she must also try to keep going despite the lack of leads into the fate of her own missing brother.

But Leighs life is about to change forever. Former partner at work and outside it DI Des Chung, is trying to help, but some things Leigh must face alone. Its a mans world and shes used to fighting her corner but now shes got more to lose than ever before

Chris McDonald is a scriptwriter, co-founder of the Stockport Noir crime festival, and author of several crime novels, including the DI Erika Piper series. Under the festive pen name Chris Frost, he has also written the Kindle Top 20 and Audible Top 10 bestseller The Killers Christmas List. Originally from Northern Ireland, Chris now lives in the appropriately named Marple.

Sarah Mellor is a novelist and therapist based in Liverpool, where she has lived for nearly 30 years. Sarah kickstarted her career as a writer by attending an Arvon crime-writing course and taking part in the Literary Consultancys mentoring programme. Her debut, The Departed, a Liverpool-based historic crime novel, was published by Harper North in 2025. Her second novel, The Silent Places, published in 2026.