Killer Weekend 2017
28–29 October 2017 • A two-day residential crime fiction retreat
Panels · Masterclasses · Murder Mystery Dinner · Author Meet & Greets
Event Summary
Following the sold-out success of the 2016 festival, Killer Women took things to the next level with Killer Weekend — a two-day residential crime fiction retreat held over the final weekend of October 2017. The format was deliberately intimate: a carefully curated guest list of crime fiction fans, aspiring writers, and published authors, all under one roof for a weekend of panels, workshops, and social events.
The residential format allowed for the kind of deep conversations and connections that a single-day festival can’t always achieve. Attendees shared meals with bestselling authors, workshopped their manuscripts in small groups, and debated the future of the genre late into the evening over Killer Women cocktails.
The weekend was fully booked within weeks of tickets going on sale, confirming the demand for immersive crime fiction events that go beyond the traditional panel format.
Day One — Saturday 28th October
Arrivals & Welcome
Check-in, welcome packs, and the first round of teas, coffees, and introductions. The Killer Women team set the scene for the weekend ahead with a brief — and suitably dramatic — opening address.
Panel: The Anatomy of a Killer Plot
Four bestselling crime authors dissected the mechanics of plotting a crime novel — from the initial spark of an idea to the final twist. The panel covered structure, pacing, misdirection, and the art of the satisfying reveal, with lively audience Q&A.
Lunch & Book Swap
A communal lunch followed by the Killer Women Book Swap — attendees brought their favourite crime novels to exchange, complete with handwritten notes explaining why each book mattered to them.
Masterclass: Writing Convincing Villains
An intensive workshop exploring what makes a truly memorable antagonist. Participants examined villain archetypes, psychology, and motivation, then workshopped their own characters with feedback from a published crime author and a criminal psychologist.
Panel: True Crime to Crime Fiction
How do real crimes inspire fictional ones? Authors and a former detective discussed the ethics and craft of drawing on true events, the boundaries between fact and fiction, and the responsibilities writers owe to real victims and their families.
Free Time & Author Surgeries
A chance to relax, explore the grounds, or sign up for one-to-one “author surgeries” — fifteen-minute sessions with published authors and literary agents offering personalised feedback on synopses and opening chapters.
Murder Mystery Dinner
The highlight of the evening: a fully immersive murder mystery dinner written exclusively for the event by Killer Women authors. Guests were assigned characters, given sealed envelopes of clues, and challenged to solve the crime before dessert. The victim was, naturally, dispatched between the starter and the main course.
Day Two — Sunday 29th October
Breakfast & Murder Mystery Debrief
Over a full English, the mystery’s solution was revealed — along with the identities of any amateur sleuths who cracked the case. Prizes were awarded to the most perceptive detectives and the most convincingly devious suspects.
Panel: Setting as Character
From the rain-soaked streets of Edinburgh to the sunlit menace of a Mediterranean village, this panel explored how crime writers use location as a narrative force. Authors shared how they research settings, embed atmosphere, and use place to heighten tension.
Masterclass: The Art of the Opening Chapter
Literary agents and editors revealed what makes them read on — and what makes them stop. Participants workshopped their own opening pages and received direct, actionable feedback on hooks, voice, and pacing.
Lunch & Final Signings
A final communal lunch and last chance to grab signed copies. Many of the weekend’s budding friendships — between readers, between writers, between readers and writers — were cemented over these closing hours.
Closing Keynote: Why Crime Fiction Matters
A rousing closing address that argued crime fiction is the literature of morality — the genre that insists, over and over, that every life has value and that justice, however imperfect, is worth pursuing. Attendees left inspired, exhausted, and already asking when the next Killer Weekend would be.
Departures
Fond farewells, exchanged business cards, and promises to keep in touch. Several attendees went on to form writing groups that are still active today.
The Murder Mystery Dinner
The standout moment of the weekend. A bespoke mystery written by Killer Women authors transformed the dining room into a crime scene. Guests interrogated suspects between courses, pieced together alibis, and debated red herrings over wine. The eventual reveal — complete with a dramatic confession — drew a standing ovation.
Author Surgeries
The one-to-one sessions with published authors and agents were hugely oversubscribed. Several aspiring writers who received feedback at Killer Weekend went on to secure agent representation, and at least two have since been published — a testament to the quality of mentoring on offer.
The Book Swap
A simple idea that captured the spirit of the weekend. Every attendee brought a crime novel they loved, wrote a personal note inside the cover, and swapped it with a stranger. The handwritten recommendations became treasured keepsakes and introduced readers to authors they might never have discovered.
Community Connections
More than anything, Killer Weekend was about connection. The residential format broke down the usual barriers between readers and writers. By Sunday morning, first-name friendships had formed that would last for years, and several writing partnerships were born over that single October weekend.
What Attendees Said
“Two days of utter immersion in crime fiction. I came for the panels and left with a writing group, three new favourite authors, and a half-finished first chapter.”
“The murder mystery dinner was the most fun I’ve had in years. Genuinely challenging, brilliantly written, and I still can’t believe I didn’t spot the twist.”
“The author surgery changed everything for me. Fifteen minutes of honest feedback from someone who knows the industry — worth more than any course I’ve taken.”