THE latest adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel, The Mystery of the Seven Dials, has just dropped on Netflix and is a reminder of the enduring popularity of her ‘locked room mysteries’.

However, a new generation of authors are playing around with the familiar format of crime writing with exciting results, and they are set to share their ideas and advice for those who think they’ve a ‘who dunnit’ in them at an exciting event in Courtmacsherry Hotel on February 21st.

The event is the brainchild of Isobel Creed and Matthew Geden of the Wild Atlantic Way Writers Consultancy, which is based near the Old Head of Kinsale and offers writing courses, retreats and workshops.

The pair first crossed paths 20 years ago at a creative writing course and this is their first crime-writing event.

‘I really enjoy reading crime, and I love Courtmacsherry Hotel and think it’s the perfect setting for an event like this,’ explains former literary agent Isobel.

She heard Louise Hegarty read at last summer’s West Cork Literary Festival and was taken with how she plays with the rules of the murder mystery concept, and gradually the idea for the event came together.

‘It’s a full day of workshops and talks followed by a murder mystery dinner in the atmospheric hotel, overlooking the sea in true Agatha Christie style,’ said editor Isobel.

‘There will be a morning workshop led by Kevin Doyle, author of Cork-based crime novels To Keep a Bird Singing and A River of Bodies, with a chance to write, lunch and a reading/interview and Q&A with Louise, author of the locked room mystery Fair Play, followed in the evening by a murder mystery dinner.’

With invaluable advice on offer it promises to be a superb opportunity for those already working on a book, or even anyone with a kernel of an idea, she said.

‘While many people dream of writing a crime novel, the requirement for complex plotting, following or at least acknowledging the conventions of the form and the need to create and maintain tension, can feel intimidating.

‘This workshop provides a space for writers to come and hear crime writers share their tricks of the trade and to experiment themselves in a supportive environment,’ she said.

Matthew feels that crime writing will always have a strong appeal.

‘Readers are drawn to crime fiction because it combines narrative drive with intellectual engagement: a mystery to solve, a puzzle to unravel, and a sense of order restored at the end.

‘In Cork, where oral storytelling traditions, strong local character, and an awareness of place remain central to cultural life, crime writing offers a way to explore human behaviour, moral choice, and social change through gripping narratives,’ said the poet.

‘Unlike some literary forms, crime fiction invites immediate immersion, encouraging readers to follow clues, question motives, and anticipate outcomes. It creates an active relationship between writer and reader, where the audience becomes part of the investigation.

‘This participatory quality, combined with suspense and pacing, makes crime writing especially engaging across a wide range of ages and backgrounds,’ he added.‘Crime writing also differs from other forms of writing through its structure and discipline. Plot is paramount, requiring careful construction, logical progression, and a balance between revelation and concealment.

‘At the same time, the best crime writing goes beyond the puzzle, using crime as a lens to examine society, justice, power, and personal vulnerability. Contemporary crime fiction often reflects real-world concerns, making it both entertaining and socially resonant,’ he said. Kevin Doyle said that attending the event will be an ideal way to hear what some of the pitfalls in crime writing are and also ‘to learn what your focus points should be if you are writing a first book or just trying to break through’.

‘Possibly the other major benefit is to get feedback on what you have written. Feedback is priceless so there’s that. And lastly you meet other writers at workshops and this can be an opportunity to network and build bridges for the future. Vital again in the age
we are in.’

Kevin admits he didn’t set out to be a crime writer: ‘But one of my early books certainly had a strong plot and a strange mystery at the centre of it, so it certainly had strong elements of what makes up a crime novel.

‘I had won a major short story prize at the time and one of the judges was a publisher. She wasn’t keen to publish a collection of stories of mine, but when I showed her the bones of the book that became To Keep a Bird Singing, she was interested.

‘So, I had an accidental entry into the field, I feel. But it’s an engaging genre and one with huge scope, and of course crime books sell, which is good for the writer and the publisher.’

For more information on the workshop see: www.wildatlanticwaywritersconsultancy.com.