Back by popular demand, Alibis in the Archive (in association with the Crime Writers’ Association and The Detection Club) returns for a third year to bring some of the UK’s best-loved crime writers to Hawarden. Over a weekend of talk sessions and murder mystery evenings, this event centres around The Crime Writers’ Association Archive which incorporates the archives and documentation of The Detection Club, the oldest and most august society of crime writers in the world, and for which Gladstone’s Library is the proud home.

The Crime Writers’ Association was founded by John Creasey in 1953 to promote and support the crime writing genre. It runs the prestigious Dagger Awards.

The Detection Club was founded in 1930 by a group of leading detective novelists including Anthony Berkeley, Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and Freeman Wills Crofts. It is the oldest and most august society of crime writers in the world. A social and dining organisation, it currently holds three meetings each year where members are elected by secret ballot and there is an ‘initiation ceremony’.

Full programme coming soon.

Non-residential tickets are priced at £125.  Book online, call Reception on 01244 532350 or email [email protected].

Residential tickets will be released soon. We are now accepting expressions of interest for residential places – please email [email protected] to do so.

Please note that tickets for this event are e-tickets. Book online and have your tickets emailed directly to you – then save the environment by bringing along your e-ticket on your phone or tablet and have it scanned as you enter the event. If you would prefer to print your ticket, black and white is fine.

A print and collect service is available to those without access to email facilities for a small charge to cover our admin costs. Call 01244 532350 or email [email protected] for more information. Printed tickets will be available to collect from Reception before the event.

Please note one full-event PDF will be emailed to you for this event. No dining tickets are required.