Rankin and Cleeves to headline Bute Noir crime writing festival

Ian Rankin and Ann Cleeves will headline this summer's Bute Noir crime writing festival. 

Authors Mark Billingham, Denise Mina, Stuart MacBride, Chris Brookmyre, Ruth Ware and Mick Herron will also join the line-up for the festival in Rothesay, which takes place from Friday 2nd August 2 to Sunday 4th August. 

Organisers have also signed up authors Oscar de Muriel from Mexico, Lilja Sigurdardottir from Iceland, Thomas Enger from Norway, Alexandra Sokoloff from the USA, and Liz Nugent from Ireland as well as leading Scottish talent including Alex Gray, Lin Anderson and Craig Robertson.

Events will be held at Rothesay Library, Bute Museum, Print Point bookshop, and the Discovery Cinema with a crime writers’ putting competition on Rothesay’s putting greens for The Brookmyre Cup.

Bute Noir director and crime writer Craig Robertson said: "I know almost all of the authors personally and that made the process much easier. But I was still amazed at so many of them agreeing to come. I just started at the top, asked them to take part and they just kept saying yes.

"I think a big part of it is that the writers who have come to Rothesay in previous years have enjoyed themselves so much that they’ve gone out and spread the word. The likes of Chris Brookmyre and Steve Cavanagh have been evangelical advocates for us.

"The festival has grown and grown since our first Bute Noir in 2016. We’ve had a great line-up of authors every year, but I think it’s safe to say this is the best yet. I’m not sure how we’re going to top it."

Tickets can be bought from the venues or by telephone from Print Point on 01700503389.