Crime Scene

Starting tomorrow, the National Film Theatre will host the fourth annual Crime Scene festival devoted to film and literature related to the mystery field. I had the opportunity to go last year, as I was living in London at the time, and there’s nothing quite like drinking with crime writers on a terrace overlooking the Thames. And the panels were great fun as well.

Each year there’s a different theme, and this time Crime Scene focuses on the work of Graham Greene, be it in film or in books. Unsurprisingly, The Third Man and This Gun for Hire will get multiple showings, but there will be some other choice offerings, including a documentary on the making of The Third Man and a discussion of Greene’s work in film by several distinguished types.

On the literary side, a panel on Saturday afternoon about Greene’s “entertainments” boasts John Harey, Giles Foden, Jake Arnott, and Nicholas Shakespeare, while other crime writing luminaries scheduled to be there include Mo Hayder, Simon Kernick, Mark Billingham, Teddy Hayes, Caroline Graham, Val McDermid, Lisa Scottoline and other Usual Suspects.

So for anyone going, enjoy, and report back!