CRIME writing is sometimes regarded as little more than pulp fiction, a poor relation in the literary hierarchy.

But this does a glib disservice to a genre that encompasses such acclaimed murder stories as Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and Shakespeare's Macbeth.

It has also helped establish many writers' careers over the years. Edgar Allan Poe gave us one of fiction's first detectives in the form of Auguste Dupin, while Arthur Conan Doyle's pipe-smoking detective is so famous that Sherlock Holmes has become a synonym for sleuth.

Today's top crime writers are equally revered by millions of fans all over the world and their books dominate the bestseller lists. It is this huge popularity that has helped establish the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival as the biggest in Europe.

The Harrogate-based event, which was launched in 2003, returns next month with some of the biggest names in the business. Andy McNab, the former SAS commander turned author is among the special guests at this year's event. The ex-soldier who penned Bravo Two Zero will talk about his transition from soldier to writer in a rare public appearance.

Other special guests include Robert Crais, Jeffrey Deaver and Tess Gerritsen, dubbed "the medical suspense queen", whose novels have been translated into 31 languages and sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. They will appear alongside panellists to discuss all manner of themes in crime fiction, with debates ranging from the intriguingly-titled "How To Kill Someone With Small Change" to a look at why female crime writers tend to get away with more violent writing than men. Another panel looks at the trials and tribulations of being a sleuth writer and offers some tips to would-be novelists, while the event also includes a new late night panel game hosted by Radio 4's Mark Lawson.

Festival chairman and author Simon Kernick, whose novels include the best-selling Relentless, says there is something for everyone. "The most important thing is to have as many different events as possible because the crime fiction genre is absolutely massive now.

"So what we've tried to do is make sure there's something of interest to anyone who's a bit of a crime fiction buff."

The comedian and writer Charlie Higson, author of the young James Bond novels, will be among the panellists discussing whether 007 still cuts the mustard.

"We'll be talking about the release of the new James Bond book and whether there's still any need in the 21st century for a secret agent who wears a tuxedo and drinks cocktails. And we're also discussing the enduring appeal of the
so-called cosy crime of writers like Agatha Christie," says Kernick.

Harrogate is known to crime fiction fans all over the world as the town where Agatha Christie was discovered after mysteriously disappearing in 1926, sparking nationwide headlines, and Kernick believes it is the ideal place to host a crime writing festival.

"It's a great place and I think the fact that we have Andy McNab coming is quite a coup because it opens the festival up to a new audience," he says.

"It's undoubtedly getting bigger and I think that's due to the enduring appeal of crime writing. I'm pretty confident if you walked into any airport bookshop at least half of the bestsellers would be crime novels and I can't see that changing."

The 2008 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival takes place at Harrogate's Crown Hotel, July 17-20. For information about accommodation and ticket packages, contact the festival box office on 0845 130 8840, www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime.


What's on at the festival

Friday, July 18, 5-6pm, £8: James Bond – The Spy We Loved: A hundred years after the birth of Bond creator Ian Fleming, panellists Charlie Higson, James Twining, Joseph Finder and Catherine Sampson discuss whether 007 is relevant to the
21st century.

Friday, July 18, 8-9pm, £12: Robert Crais, author of the best-selling Elvis Cole novels, talks to Mark Lawson about his career in Hollywood, writing scripts for top TV shows, and why he became a crime novelist.

Saturday, July 19, 5-6pm, £8: Sam Bourne is a pseudonym for the award-winning journalist and broadcaster Jonathan Freedland. Bourne's debut novel The Righteous Men was a big hit with readers and he has plenty of stories to tell.

Saturday, July 19, 8.30-9.30pm, £12: Andy McNab is a former SAS man who commanded Bravo Two Zero during the first Gulf War. He is now a prolific writer and talks about his remarkable life with writer Laura Wilson.


Win tickets plus 20 crime novels

You could win a weekend ticket for next year's festival as well as the 20 books on this year's Theakston longlist in our exclusive competition. Simply answer the question below correctly for your chance to win.

The winner will be selected from the correct answers received by July 15.

Match up the following characters with the correct author below:

A) Elvis Cole B) Alan Banks
C) Charlie Fox D) Daniel Pell
E) Warren Hoyt F) Carol Jordan

Jeffrey Deaver; Peter Robinson; Robert Crais; Tess Gerritsen; Val McDermid; Zoe Sharp.

Send your answers in the post, with your full name and address, to: Crime Writing Competition, Culture, Yorkshire Post, Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 1RF. Alternatively, click the link to email your entry to yponline@ypn.co.uk>>

Normal competition rules apply. For details see www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/promotions