Crime, Courts and Cold Nerves

Louise Minchin and Jo Murray in conversation with Lucinda Hawksley A dead judge. A silent defendant. A courtroom full of secrets. Guilty or not guilty? Join two thrilling new voices in crime fiction for an evening exploring the darker side of justice, deception and the stories behind the headlines. Jo Murray's gripping debut Dissection of a Murder became an instant Sunday Times bestseller, a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick and a Sunday Times Book of the Month. Now being adapted for Apple TV, this razor-sharp courtroom drama draws on Murray's own experience as a barrister in Newcastle and Durham Crown Courts. Set in the North East, it delivers a tense, insider's view of a trial where nobody's version of events can be trusted. Former BBC News anchor Louise Minchin also brings her first-hand knowledge of pressure, investigation and human behaviour to crime writing. Her debut thriller Isolation Island takes readers into the ruthless world of reality television, where a competition for survival takes a deadly turn. Her forthcoming novel Final Breath follows a former ice diver pushed to the limits—perhaps fittingly, given Louise's own near-freezing encounter during an Arctic adventure challenge. Putting these two formidable writers in the witness box is acclaimed author, broadcaster and historian Lucinda Hawksley, whose own work spans biography, history and literary storytelling. Expect a gripping conversation about crime, courage, research and the art of keeping readers guessing until the very last page.