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Crime fiction can be stereotyped as formulaic, commercial ‘airport reading’ but the best of the genre delivers not only pacy plot, surprising twists and complicated characters but also sharp commentary on society, human frailty and the issues of our time.Join bestselling author Chris Hammer as he interviews two formidable talents about their latest novels, each of which considers the way crime intersects with community, identity, responsibility and justice. In Like, Follow, Die, Ashley Kalagian Blunt unsettles easy narratives about masculinity, parenthood and online influence, and with her second novel Learned Behaviours, 2026 Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist Zeynab Gamieldien delivers a compelling portrait of Western Sydney in a novel about privilege, memory and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.
KEY INFO
Date: Sunday, 1 November 2026
Time: 11:30-12:30pm
Venue: Grand Dining Room, The Carrington Hotel
Tickets & More Info: https://www.bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au/events/crime-is-political
Ashley Kalagian Blunt is the number one bestselling author of Dark Mode, a psychological thriller published in multiple territories and languages. Her latest thrillers are Cold Truth, which was also shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Awards, and Like, Follow, Die.
Zeynab Gamieldien's first novel, The Scope of Permissibility, won the inaugural 2022 Westwords/Ultimo Prize and her second novel, Learned Behaviours, was published in 2025. In 2026, Zeynab was named one of the Sydney Morning Herald's Best Young Australian Novelists.
Chris Hammer is the author of Scrublands, which won was made into a hit television series. His follow-up books are also bestsellers, and many have been shortlisted for major literary prizes. His fourth fiction book, Treasure & Dirt, has now been made into an ABC television series, releasing July 2026. Full Circle is his ninth fiction book.
This event is part of the 2026 Blue Mountains Writers Festival, head to bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au for more information.
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Event venue
The Carrington Hotel, 15 Katoomba St, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia, Katoomba
Tickets
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