With keynote speakers Charlotte Beyer (University of Gloucestershire, UK) and Elizabeth Mannion (Baruch College, USA).

Crime fiction has been evolving rapidly and finding new exciting forms including queer crime fiction and crime fiction by writers of colour. We have also seen the rise of regional noir, of which the booming Northern Irish crime fiction scene is a splendid example. This symposium provides an opportunity to assess the current transformation of crime fiction and to reflect on the various responses that the genre is receiving from the public, critics and the academy. We will ask questions about the changing status of genre fiction and explore how readers’ perceptions of crime fiction affects their judgement of literary quality. We will also discuss where crime fiction might be headed next.

Conference organisers: Sharon Dempsey (Queen’s University Belfast, UK) and Professor Sebastian Groes (University of Wolverhampton, UK). The event is co-organised and partly funded by the AHRC-funded research project Big Book Review and University of Wolverhampton’s Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research.

CALL FOR PAPERS - Extended deadline 29 April 2022
We invite critical (position) papers, panels, as well as creative responses that contribute to mapping the evolving field of crime fiction (studies). Please send your 150 word proposal and biography to Professor Sebastian Groes at s.groes@wlv.ac.uk mentioning “CrimeFutures” in the subject line.

Note that this hybrid event will be held in person at Queen’s University Belfast whilst virtual contributions are invited as well. 
For further information, please contact Professor Groes.