Our Golden Age of Crime Weekend has been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
If you have a ticket for any of our Golden Age of Crime events the Box Office will be in touch soon about next steps.

Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March 2020
Park Inn Palace Hotel, Southend-on-Sea

Join us for our annual Golden Age of Crime feasting at the iconic Park Inn Palace Hotel, which overlooks the world’s longest pleasure pier. Whether you fancy indulging in a Criminally Good Afternoon Tea with CL Taylor, honing your crime-writing skills with crime-writer Samantha Lee Howe, or listening in on the fascinating ‘Golden Age’ panel conversation with award-winning crime writers Simon Brett, Ruth Ware and Jared Cade, Southend is the place to be.

Take a look at our Events List for full details and to book tickets.

Make a Weekend of it!
Special Golden Age of Crime Weekend Rates

Essex Book Festival’s Golden Age of Crime Weekend is being hosted by Park Inn by Radisson Palace Hotel in Southend-on-Sea. This Magnificent historic Edwardian Hotel, which sits at the heart of Southend’s seafront, has 137 rooms, all-day dining and a bar with an outdoor terrace giving fabulous views over the seafront and its world famous pleasure pier. As well as hosting the Festival events, the Park Inn By Radisson |palace Hotel has very kindly offered special Festiavl rates during the Golden Age of Crime Weekend.

Bed and Breakfast (single occupancy): £66
Bed and Breakfast (double occupancy): £76

Tel: 01702 455155
Email: [email protected] (Please quote GOLDEN AGE when booking)

Saturday 28 March

11:00am Simon Brett in conversation with Geraldine Perriam: “Nothing wasted.” The Real PD James

1.00pm Simon Brett, Jared Cade and Ruth Ware: Mysteries for ever: the ongoing popularity of PD James and Agatha Christie

3.30pm Samantha Lee Howe: The Stranger in Our Bed, Author Talk

Cancelled: 5.15pm Lucy Foley: The Guest List, Author Talk

Sunday 29 March

10.30am Samantha Lee Howe: Creating a Compelling Opening, Writing Workshop

12.30pm Susannah Stapleton: The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective, Author Talk

Cancelled: 2.30pm A Criminally Good Afternoon Tea – CL Taylor: Sleep