Introduction
The weekend kicks off on Friday 16th October with Detour a 1945 Film Noir introduced by expert Matthew Booth who will explain why this is a cult classic. The evening includes a Pie’n’Peas supper.
Saturday 17th October offers a morning session including: Crafting Puzzles with Martin Edwards and Anthony Johnston; Hidden Histories, is truth stranger than fiction? with Carrie da Silva; and The Long Arm of the Law, three policemen-turned-writers give you the inside story, Roger Price, Nick Oldham & Simon Dinsdale.
Saturday’s afternoon session from 3pm includes: My Local Murder, The Gorse Hall Mystery with Dolores Gordon Smith; Haunted Places with Tom Mead, Victoria Dowd, & Kate Ellis; A Murder Mystery with Martin Edwards, an experience!
On Sunday 18th October we have:. Killer Thrillers with Simon Michael, Catherine Yaffe & David Beckler; The Lady Killers with Deborah Swift, Fiona Veitch Smith, & Priscilla Masters; A Mystery, The Secret History Of Crispin Darke with Matthew Booth.aa
The following authors will be appearing in the festival
- Matthew Booth
- Martin Edwards
- Victoria Dowd
- Tom Mead
- Kate Ellis
- Antony Johnston
- Fiona Veirch-Smith
- Deborah Swift
- Simon Dinsdale
- David Beckler
- Roger Price
- Priscilla Masters
- Nick Oldham
- Dolores Gordon-Smith
- Simon Michael
- Christine Poulson
- Catherine Yaffe
- Carrie de Silva
Event list
Death in the Dales – Festival of Crime
Film Noir – ‘Detour’, with a Pie’n’Peas supper.
View details >Death in the Dales – Festival of Crime
An extended morning session with 3 fascinating features: Crafting Puzzles, Hidden Histories, is Truth Stranger than Fiction?, The Long Arm of the Law.
View details >Death in the Dales – Festival of Crime
An afternoon into early evening session with author’s personal experiences, and Martin Edwards acclaimed raconteur giving us his special Murder Mystery.
View details >Death in the Dales – Festival of Crime
Sunday invites you to relax with Killer Thrillers; Lady Killers and The Secret History of Crispin Darke with Matthew Booth.
View details >Booking info
Advance tickets for all our festival events will be available online from 18th May 2026. There will also be direct links from the detail page for each event on our site which you can use to buy tickets.
Although online advance booking is preferred you can pay at the door for all events.
Location info
The festival events take place in the People’s Hall, Howgill Lane, LA10 5DQ .
The People’s Hall has a small free car park but if full there is nearby street parking, and a short walk away are the pay and display car parks in Joss Lane near the Sedbergh Information Centre and on Loftus Hill to the south of the town.
