Granite Noir 2025: Aberdeen's Thrilling Crime Writing Festival
13 February 2025
Aberdeen’s Crime Writing Festival is back from Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 February 2025 and will be taking place in His Majesty's Theatre, Music Hall, The Lemon Tree as well as venues across the city, including Aberdeen Arts Centre, the Anatomy Rooms, Central Library and Cowdray Hall.
Returning to the Granite City with a jam-packed schedule, hear from some of Scotland’s most talented writers including Nicci French, Ambrose Parry, Lucy Foley, Chris Whitaker, Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling for a weekend of gruesome mystery.
What is Granite Noir?
Classed as one of Scotland’s leading literary festivals, Granite Noir is inspired by the authentic and historical backdrop of Aberdeen. Portraying a clear focus on the love affair between Nordic Noir and the contribution of Scottish writers to the genre, this year’s festival will cover crime fiction in all it’s forms, from espionage and policing to the imaginative and supernatural.
What’s coming to Granite Noir 2025?
From murder, mayhem, guilt and suspense, the 2025 line-up is filled with numerous panel sessions, workshops and screenings perfect for the gruesome true crime enthusiasts out there. For 2025, Granite Noir also aims to showcase the festival on a global stage, with many events being live streamed, allowing anyone from around the globe to join in on the gory fun!
Returning to the festival is the well-admired Short Story Competition as well as a number of family-friendly events and workshops for the little ones including creative writing sessions and children author discussions.
Image: Granite Noir 2023
What to expect from Granite Noir 2025
Criminal duos have a specific focus at this year’s festival, with three husband and wife teams heading to the festival to showcase their passion and talent within the true crime literacy world. Hear from journalists Nicci French and husband Sean French, whose books have sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. The fantastic pair will be joined by Ambrose Parry, Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman as they discuss their latest novels in Partners in Crime.
Live podcast session
If true crime sparks your interest, hear from broadcaster Laura Whitmore and comedian and podcaster Iain Stirling for a live edition of their Murder They Wrote podcast, exploring some of the most astonishing cases in true crime history.
Delve into the North-east’s past
The Granite City’s historical criminal justice system and policing is further explored with the festivals exhibition, Cold Blooded Killers: True Crime Cases from the North East, 1864 – 1963. Dive deep into the dark and twisted past of the North-east from this specially curated exhibition from the North East Police archives.
Hear from top-selling authors
Global No.1 best-selling author Paula Hawkins is coming to the Granite City to discuss her gripping new thriller, The Blue Hour. When a small bone at the centre of a profound sculpture is discovered to be human, three people become severely connected by the secrets and lies that put it there. In collaboration with Belmont Community Cinema, Paula will also introduce the screening of her first thriller, The Girl on the Train at Cowdray Hall.
Image: Granite Noir 2024
With a number of gripping events on throughout the festival, Granite Noir is the perfect opportunity to connect readers to their favourite writers yet also introduce them to new names in crime writing. View the full programme.
Don’t forget to tag us in your experiences at Granite Noir 2025 by using our hashtags #VisitABDN or #BeautifulABDN or tagging us @VisitABDN