Crime Fiction’s Greatest Minds Converge at Sharjah Book Fair for Thriller Festival

Ten celebrated authors from around the world gather to dissect the craft and psychology of crime fiction, exploring how writers transform real events into gripping narratives that captivate global readers.

The architecture of a compelling crime novel rests on more than plot and suspense. It demands an understanding of human psychology, ethical restraint, and the delicate boundary between imagination and lived experience. This November, the fifth Thriller Festival will bring these complexities to the fore, assembling ten Arab and international authors for four days of illuminating conversation and practical instruction at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair.

The festival opens on 7th November with a panel titled “Why Does the Whole World Read Crime?”, featuring British novelist Clare Mackintosh alongside Egyptian writer Noha Dawood and Emirati filmmaker and author Ibrahim Al Marzooqi. Their discussion will probe the universal appeal of crime fiction and how the specificities of cultural setting shape the way stories unfold and resonate. Dawood will then lead a three-day paid workshop, “Writing Crime and Mystery Novels,” guiding participants through the intricate work of developing compelling narratives, crafting believable characters and constructing endings that satisfy both intellectually and emotionally.

The following day brings a conversation on artistic responsibility and creative freedom. British novelist Abir Mukherjee, Syrian novelist and journalist Islam Abu Shakir, and Emirati writer Adil Al Sumaiti will examine, in a session called “Where Truth Ends and the Novel Begins”, the writer’s obligation to privacy and truthfulness when drawing inspiration from actual events. The question of how real life becomes fiction, and what writers owe to both their craft and their sources, remains one of the genre’s most pressing ethical concerns.

On 9th November, American novelist Karen Dionne and author Elizabeth Moore will explore the dark fascination of morally compromised characters in “Inside the Dangerous Mind: Villains, Narcissists and Why We Can’t Look Away”. Their panel will examine how villains are rendered convincing on the page and the ways cultural attitudes shape reader tolerance for transgressive behaviour. Dionne will also meet students earlier that day in a session called “The Book That Changed Everything”, discussing the composition and impact of her breakout novel and its subsequent adaptation into film.

The festival concludes on 10th November with British novelists Vaseem Khan and David Fennell examining how crime writers across cultures are reimagining the detective figure. Their panel, “Who Gets to Solve the Crime? The Detective Beyond the Old Template”, will consider how the genre is evolving beyond conventional detective stereotypes to incorporate investigative traditions and storytelling approaches from diverse cultural backgrounds. Khan will also lead an interactive session for students, “How to Write the Opening of a Mystery”, introducing the structural foundations of mystery fiction before inviting participants to craft their own opening paragraphs.

The Thriller Festival is organised in partnership with Thriller Festival New York and Capital Crime London, bringing international expertise and rigour to the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair’s broader celebration of global literary culture.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi’s wider region continues to establish itself as a serious destination for literary culture and intellectual exchange. The Thriller Festival’s partnership with leading international crime writing organisations signals the UAE’s growing prominence in the global publishing landscape and its commitment to fostering meaningful conversations about the craft of writing across all forms and traditions.

For emerging writers and students across the emirates, the festival’s workshops and interactive sessions offer rare access to acclaimed international authors and the practical knowledge they have accumulated through decades of publication and success. This combination of masterclasses, panel discussions and creative engagement demonstrates how the region’s investment in cultural programming enriches the creative life of its communities.

Report via WAM