News
AUGUST 2026
Elspeth Latimer wins Crime in the Spotlight slot at Bloody Scotland
May 2026
Elspeth Latimer shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association, ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger
April 2026
Elspeth Latimer longlisted for Crime Writers' Association, ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger
About the Author
Elspeth Latimer lives with her family in the Brecks, at the heart of East Anglia. The subtle beauty of this landscape inspired her to write The Lost Detective, which was shortlisted for the Bath Novel Award. Elspeth is originally from Edinburgh, where she ran a successful architecture practice, before her passion for books prompted a career change. She has a Prose Fiction MA along with a PhD on crime series, from the University of East Anglia. As well as being an author, Elspeth is a creative writing tutor and researcher, and her guide to crime series, Writing the Detectives, is published by Cambridge University Press. Elspeth loves photographing and writing about Norfolk and Suffolk. Most weekends she can be found exploring forgotten paths, crumbling ruins, hushed forests, and waterlogged fens, in search of hidden stories.
Featured Publications
The Lost Detective
On a summer’s day, a tiny baby vanishes. The mystery is never solved, leaving a young mother lost in grief. Twenty-one years later, ex-police detective Dan Hennessy is struggling with his own tragic loss. When a neighbour disappears and a body turns up at the solar farm, Dan becomes desperate for answers. The haunted landscape is keeping secrets, and there are dangers lurking in the Brecks. Will he find hope for the grieving mother, and can he save himself?
Events & Readings
Upcoming author appearances, creative seminars and literary festival dates
Sept 19th, 2026, Stirling — Bloody Scotland, Crime in the Spotlight
Elspeth Latimer debuts The Lost Detective before 'Denise Mina presents Tana French'
The Albert Halls, Stirling: 6.30pm
Sept 24, 2026, Old School Bookshop — Masters of Mystery
An Evening with Elspeth Latimer & Heather Peck, in conversation with S E Craythorne
The Old School Bookshop, Old Buckenham: 6pm
October 10th, 2026, Bury St Edmunds — Literature Festival
East Anglian Voices: Midlife Debuts — Elspeth Latimer, Jenny Knight and Camilla Balshaw talk with Georgy Jamieson
United Reformed Church Hall, Bury St Edmunds: 1pm
November 23rd, 2026, Norwich — Cafe Writers
Elspeth Latimer and George Szirtes at Maddermarket, Norwich: 7pm
PREVIOUS Events
Wednesday 29th July, 2026, Holt — The Holt Bookshop
Elspeth Latimer interviews Tim Sullivan and Rob Parker. Holt, 6.30pm.
June 18th, 2026, London — Writing Crime Fiction
Elspeth Latimer with Emma Styles and Bridget Walsh at Books on the Rise, Richmond, London: 7pm
June 14th, 2026, Norwich — Sunday Socials: Crime in the Bookshop
Waterstones, Norwich: 3-4.30pm
A wonderful success!
May 16th, 2026, Cambridge — Dark Deeds in Lonely Places
Bodies in the Bookshop event at Wesley Methodist Church, Cambridge: 3-4.30pm
April 30th, 2026 — The Gliterary Lunch, Edinburgh
Elspeth Latimer & Jill Dawson, Twentieth Anniversary Gliterary Lunch
SOLD OUT - A large, fun, and really warmly welcoming event
February 23rd–27th, 2026 — The Lost Detective Book Launch Tour
Thanks for making it special
Review event highlights
24th October, 2025 — Norwich Book Festival: Opening Night Headline Event
"A superb crime debut – beautifully imagined, beautifully written, stylish, tense and genuinely moving."
Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series
