Patterson to appear at next year's Harrogate crime festival

Thriller giant James Patterson is to appear at the 2019 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate next July.

Incoming programming chair Mari Hannah described it as "a huge honour" to announce the news. 

Patterson's Detective Cross novel Along Came A Spider (Arrow) was the festival's annual Big Read this year, with Hannah - then the Festival's Reader-in-Residence - touring libraries to talk with reading groups about the book. "Readers loved it," she said.

"Harrogate has featured some colossal names when it comes to giants of the genre, from JK Rowling as Robert Galbraith to Lee Child and John Grisham. I’m thrilled that James Patterson will be joining us in 2019.," Hannah commented.

Patterson said: “I’m really looking forward to coming to Harrogate next year and meeting my UK fans. I was thrilled that Along Came a Spider was chosen as the Big Read at last year’s festival and taken on the road by Mari Hannah to libraries across the North. I firmly believe that better readers become better thinkers, and libraries and book festivals play a key role in spreading the joy of reading.”

Patterson has donated millions to reading initiatives, schools, colleges, independent bookstores and libraries. He is also founding partner with the Duchess of Cornwall of the Children's Reading Fund (UK). 

Hannah is best known for her Kate Daniels crime series which is in development for TV with Sprout Pictures.