Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March
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.

Picture of Park Inn Palace hotel in Southend

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

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

logo for Park Inn Palace hotel