In March we are hosting special events to celebrate two years of Criminally Good Books, and we’re kicking things off somewhere seriously atmospheric for our Horror & Crime Fiction Panel.

Join us at Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, right in the heart of historic York, for an intimate evening of conversation exploring horror’s current place in the crime genre and why it’s growing so dramatically right now.

We'll look at crime and mystery as plot drivers in gothic and horror novels, and will be digging into what readers are craving and how writers are pushing boundaries to satisfy their audiences, as well as why horror + crime might be the most exciting (and unsettling) match-up on the shelves.

OUR PANEL AUTHORS:

Kat Dunn
Kat Dunn grew up in London and has lived in Japan, Australia and France. She has a BA in Japanese from SOAS and an MA in English from Warwick. She’s written about mental health for Mind and The Guardian, and worked as a translator for Japanese television.

Kat's novel, Hungerstone, is a sapphic retelling of Carmilla, the book that inspired Dracula, set in the industrial Peak District. Lenore, trapped in a stifling marriage to a wealthy industrialist, finds her world upended when the mysterious and magnetic Carmilla arrives at her estate. As a local illness drains the life from young women, Lenore must choose between Victorian societal duty and a dangerous, supernatural awakening.

Jessie Elland
Born in 2000 in Darlington, County Durham. In May 2025, Jessis made her literary debut with the release of The Ladie Upstairs, a dark and visceral work of historical horror fiction.

The Lady Upstairs is a visceral "femgore" horror set in a decaying manor. Ann, a lowly scullery maid, becomes obsessed with the "purity" of the world upstairs. When she is promoted to serve the elegant Lady Charlotte, her obsession turns into a nightmare of body horror and madness. It is a graphic exploration of how the Victorian era commodified and controlled the female form.

India-Rose Bower
India-Rose Bower hails from West Yorkshire and finds her inspiration in the rugged, wild countryside and local folklore. She studied at the University of Manchester, took a year out to discover the real world wasn’t as fun, and went back to study an MA in Creative Writing. India’s surreal short stories and poetry have appeared in several publications, including The Reach and Dear Damsels. In 2023, she was longlisted for the Discoveries Award, and her debut novel, We Call Them Witches, was published in January 2026 and is a queer post-apocalyptic folk horror set on the Yorkshire moors.

Two years after eldritch monsters known as "Witches" destroyed civilization, Sara survives by using ancient pagan rituals. When her brother is taken, she teams up with a mysterious girl named Parsley to trek across a haunted landscape where the boundaries between old folklore and terrifying reality have dissolved.

About the venue: Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is a unique building in the heart of historic York. This stunning timber-framed building was constructed between 1357 and 1361 to provide a base for charity, worship and business in the centre of the city on the banks of the River Foss. The perfect setting for this panel event.

🗓️ Event details
When: Friday 6th March
Where: Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, The Hall, Fossgate, York, YO1 9XD
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (with signing opportunity), doors open 6.30 PM

• Panel discussion
• Audience Q&A
• Book signing opportunity (all authors' books will be available to purchase on the night).

£1 from each ticket goes to our charity partner IDAS.

If you have any accessibility needs, please email hello@criminallygoodbooks.co.uk

See you there!

Tickets are neither exchangeable nor refundable.