Elly Griffiths and William Shaw in conversation

Wordfest patrons and best-selling crime writers Elly and William are reunited at our annual festival, here this year in conversation to promote their exciting new series.

After three years of hosting Wordfest’s Fatal Shore festival, we thought it was time to focus on their own creative endeavours.  Elly and William will be in conversation and will give readings of their new novels: The Frozen People and The Red Shore followed by questions and a book signing.

Elly Griffiths is the author of the bestselling Dr Ruth Galloway series, the Brighton Mysteries and four stand-alone crime novels. She won the 2020 Edgar Award for The Stranger Diaries and, in 2016, was awarded the Crime Writers’ Association Dagger in The Library. Elly also writes the Justice Jones mystery series for children.

In February 2025, Elly launched The Frozen People, the first in a new series about a time-travelling detective. The book was an instant Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller and TV and film rights have been sold. Elly lives near Brighton with her archaeologist husband, Andy, and has two grown-up children and a cat.

William Shaw has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, longlisted for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year and nominated for a Barry Award. This year he is launching The Red Shore as the first in a brand-new series of Devon-set crime thrillers featuring DS Eden Driscoll.

A regular at festivals, William organises panel talks and CWA events across the south-east. His books include the acclaimed Breen & Tozer crime series set in sixties London, the newest series featuring DS Alexandra Cupidi, and the standalone bestseller The Birdwatcher. He worked as a journalist for over twenty years and lives in Ireland.

Tickets are £15 or £25 combined ticket with Meet The Authors.  They can be bought from: www.shorehamwordfest.com/whats-on