It’d be a crime tomiss authors atlibraries festival

Kicking off the Month of Crime Festival on Monday was former SAS man-turned-author Andy McNab who was in Cleckheaton (see Guide review, p35), and lots more events and activities are planned for the rest of November.

Author Diane Janes will be appearing at Birstall Library on Monday November 7 at 7.30pm. Diane was a finalist for a Crime Writers’ Association award in October 2010 for her crime thriller The Pull of the Moon.

Her next novel, Why Don’t You Come For Me? tells the story of Jo, whose baby daughter was abducted, and ever since has received photos of the child bearing the words ‘I still have her’. Despite the police thinking it’s a hoax, Jo continues to believe them to be genuine and holds on to the belief that the daughter will be returned.

Jane Carter Woodrow, author of Rose West: The Making of a Monster, will be at Batley Library on Monday November 21 at 1.30pm. Fred and Rose West are two of the most notorious killers in modern British History and criminologist Jane examines the life of Rose West, piecing together what made her into a killer.

Bestselling author of Gangland Britain and Gangs Tony Thompson will be at Dewsbury Library on Tuesday November 29 at 7.30pm.

Widely regarded as one of Britain’s top true-crime writers, he has twice been nominated for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction, winning the coveted title in 2001 for The Infiltrators.

His latest book, Outlaws, goes inside the violent world of biker gangs, providing a fascinating look at the global underworld subculture of outlaw bikers.

For those looking for inspiration and wanting to develop their own writing skills there is a crime writing day with crime authors Zoe Sharp and Lesley Horton at Dewsbury Town Hall on Saturday November 26 from 9.30am-4pm.

Tickets are £10 (£7.50 concessions) from town hall booking offices. Places are limited.

Tickets to the majority of author events are £2 from town hall booking offices, 01924 324501 or online at www.kirklees.gov.uk/townhalls.