McDermid and Phillips to headline Essex Book Festival

Crime author Val McDermid and Labour MP Jess Phillips will headline this year's Essex Book Festival.

The month-long festival will feature more than 300 speakers taking part in 100 events in 40 venues across Essex, under the theme "Brave New Worlds".

McDermid (pictured) will kick off the festival on 28th February at Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, talking about her latest thriller, How the Dead Speak (Little, Brown) and Labour leadership hopeful Phillips will discuss her book Truth to Power (Monoray) at the University of Essex, Colchester, on 5th March.

Historian and author Dr Simon Targett joins the line-up to discuss his and John Butman's latest book New World Inc (Atlantic) while Lucy Foley will talk about her second novel, The Guest List (HarperCollins). Abi Dare will be talking about her début novel The Girl with the Louding Voice (Sceptre) and Stuart Turton will also take part in an event on his Costa First Novel-winning book The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (Raven).

Organisers say the festival will lead the charge on climate change as part of countywide initiative Essex 2020: A Year of Science & Creativity, working with young people to create "A Manifesto For Essex" which, using words, print, and film, aims to present a greener vision for the county.

Tickets are on sale, and the full line-up can be found here.