Two more big names added to Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate this summer - find out who and how to get tickets

Australian author Jane Harper - who wrote bestsellers The Dry and Force of Nature and whose The Lost Man is out in hardback - and spy thriller writer Mick Herron were revealed at an exclusive launch party at Browns Courtrooms in London yesterday.

Herron's most famous character is London-based Jackson Lamb, the boss of washed-up spooks who are based in a building called Slough House - nicknamed Slow Horses, the name of the first of Herron's series featuring Lamb and his team.

Chairman of this year’s programming committee, Mari Hannah, revealed a packed line-up for the world’s most celebrated crime writing festival, with authors ‘in conversation’, in action and in the bar.

Now in its 17th year, the festival takes place at Agatha Christie’s old haunt, The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate from July 18 to 21.

Already announced was James Patterson, Jeffrey Deaver, Jo Nesbo Nicola Sturgeon and Ian Rankin.

Other names revealed last night were Scotland’s supernova Denise Mina, and Alex North, the pseudonym behind The Whisper Man pitched as this year’s biggest thriller.

REPUTATION

Mari Hannah, award-winning author and festival reader-in-residence said: “The Theakston programming committee has a reputation for attracting the finest crime writers to the festival from around the world and we’ve done it again. The response to this year’s line-up has been incredible. I’m looking forward to welcoming readers in July.”