3 minute read
In Conversation: Dr James Grieve
Interviewed by Lin Anderson
Dr James Grieve talks to Lin Anderson about his work in forensic pathology and his links with Shetland . Brought up in Motherwell, James Grieve graduated in Medicine from Aberdeen University in 1977 . Following Pathology training in Aberdeen, an RAMC commission saw him spend time in Washington and London . In 1989 he became Senior Lecturer in Forensic Medicine at Aberdeen University where his patch included Shetland . Despite retirement in 2014, he now assists part-time, regularly giving in criminal courts and at FAIs .
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Lin Anderson is best known as the creator of the forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod series of crime thriller novels, and for her part in founding the annual ‘Bloody Scotland’ crime writing festival, dedicated to promoting Scotland’s other great national export .
Mareel, Auditorium
Sunday 18 June, 10am - 11am
For Noir & Sun Card holders or £15/£10
Not quite so noir
Moderated by Dr Jacky Collins
Crime doesn’t have to be gory!
Cosy authors Merrilee Robson , Jonathan Whitelaw and Angela Wren talk to Dr Jacky Collins about how they use setting, characters and situation to make crime fun .
Old bones
Moderated by Dr Val Turner
Lin Anderson’s series protagonist is a forensic scientist working with the police; B K Bryce writes mysteries set in Orkney in Neolithic times; Dr Jason Monaghan’s hero is an archaeology lecturer . Shetland’s own county archaeologist, Dr Val Turner, asks them about their own fascination with ‘old bones’, and how they use the past to get a good story going .
Mareel, Auditorium
Sunday 18 June, 11.30am - 12.30pm
For Noir & Sun Card holders
How to : HowdunnitWays to plot and structure a page-turning mystery
In our ‘How to’ sessions, Shetland Noir guests share their wisdom and advice on the world of writing and publishing – with a chance for you to join in and ask questions . Mysteries can be difficult to structure with so many characters, events, clues and false leads to consider .
David Bishop shares his advice for creating a gripping mystery to stay one step ahead of your reader David (D V ) Bishop writes the award-winning Cesare Aldo historical thrillers set in Renaissance Florence .
Mareel, Auditorium
Sunday 18 June, 2pm - 3pm
For Noir & Sun Card holder
Real Shetland Noir: The Fox Lane murders of 1858
In these sessions, hear from local experts about real life crime and crime-fighting in the UK’s most northerly locations . Brian Smith talks about The Fox Lane murders of 1858, a real-life tragedy which took place behind closed doors just off Lerwick’s Commercial Street, known locally as “Da Street” Brian is Shetland’s Archivist and co-editor of The New Shetlander - Scotland’s longest running literary magazine . He is the author of Toons and Tenants: Settlement and Society in Shetland, 1299 - 1899.
Mareel, Green Room
Sunday 18 June, 11.45am - 1.15pm
For Noir Card holders (priority booking)
Mareel, Auditorium
Sunday 18 June, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
For Noir & Sun Card holders
In Conversation: Shona Maclean
Interviewed by Dr Jacky Collins
Dr Jacky Collins talks to Shona MacLean about the forensic historical detail in her writing and latest novel The Bookseller of Inverness.
Shona was born in Inverness and brought up in a series of small Highland hotels run by her parents She studied History at Aberdeen University and has a PhD in 17th Century Scottish History . She is the author of both the Alexander Seaton and the Damian Seeker historical crime fiction series, as well as the standalone, The Bookseller of Inverness She has been shortlisted four times for the CWA Historical Dagger, winning it twice .
Dr Jacky Collins, lecturer in Spanish and Latin American Studies at Stirling University, is the Festival Director for Newcastle Noir
Mareel, Auditorium
Sunday 18 June, 5pm - 6pm
For Noir & Sun Card holders or £15/£10
And then there were none... final fun & farewells
All good things must come to an end - this event will see a suitable ending for an exceptional week of all things noir .
It’s time to bid farewell to Shetland Noir, but we have just enough time for one more spree Join in with the celebration and have a chance to chat and mingle with the authors and your fellow noir fans before the festival ends .
Complimentary drinks and nibbles provided.
About Ann Cleeves...
Ann Cleeves’ books have been translated into 20 languages. She’s a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany, and her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Twelve series of Vera, the ITV adaptation of her novels starring Brenda Blethyn, have been shown in the UK and worldwide: series twelve ended on an amazing fiftieth episode, based on Ann’s novel The Darkest Evening. There have also been seven series of Shetland, based on the characters and settings of her Shetland novels, and an eighth is in preparation.
About Marsali Taylor...
Mareel, Auditorium & Café Bar
Sunday 18 June, 7.30pm - 11pm
For Noir & Sun Card holders
Marsali Taylor writes puzzle-style crime novels set in contemporary Shetland, starring quick-witted sailor Cass Lynch and Inverness DI Gavin Macrae. Reviewers have praised their clever plotting, lively characters and vividlyevoked setting. Marsali’s interest in history is shown in her self-published Women’s Suffrage in Shetland and Norse-set crime novella, Footsteps in the Dew. Hobbies include sailing her 8m yacht, drama and learning to play the flute. She lives on Shetland’s scenic westside with her composer husband and three extremely spoiled cats.
