Introduction

Sedbergh Booktown Literary Trust logoThe 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

  • Death in the Dales posterMatthew 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

Friday 16th October 2026 6:30pm ‑ 10:00pm

Death in the Dales – Festival of Crime

Film Noir – ‘Detour’, with a Pie’n’Peas supper.

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Saturday 17th October 2026 10:00am ‑ 3:00pm

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.

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Saturday 17th October 2026 3:15pm ‑ 8:00pm

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.

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Sunday 18th October 2026 10:00am ‑ 1:30pm

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.

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Booking info

Advance tickets for all our festival events should be purchased online from Trybooking.com. There are also 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. However for the Friday film, where food will have been ordered in advance, we cannot guarantee that places will be available if you haven’t booked in advance

The following tickets are available:

Friday 16th 6:30pm to 10:00pm- ‘Film Noir at the Bar’ and pie & pea supper £20
Saturday morning 17th 10am to 3:00pm – £15
Saturday afternoon & evening 17th 3:15pm t0 8:00pm – £25
All Saturday sessions morning, afternoon & evening 17th 10:00am t0 8:00pm – £40
Sunday 18th  10:0am – 1:30pm – £25
Special Offer, Season Ticket includes all sessions from 10am Saturday to end of Sunday 1:30 – £58

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.