Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate. July 20-23

THIS annual festival on the pristine lawns of the hotel where Agatha Christie once went into hiding sees authors, readers, stars and publishers get together for the biggest crime writing party in the world.

There's a buzz that keeps its momentum for 48 hours of panels, special guest slots, incident rooms and mocked up crime scenes, book signings and many unexpected encounters and happenings. Big name authors included Kathy Reichs, Ian Rankin, Arne Dahl and Peter May,

Special guest Lee Child was honoured with the outstanding contribution award. The genial tall man, who charmed everyone he met during the weekend, was bowled over when he met a real-life Jack Reacher – a military policeman based at Catterick who is six-foot-seven, like his fictional hero. Child was scouting views from all and sundry as he is chairing the programme committee next year. One suggestion was to get Reacher actor Tom Cruise over.

And that is what people love about this festival; readers for the opportunity to chat with their favourite authors, who in turn mostly enjoy getting feedback and hanging out until the early hours. The solo venue means everyone is there for the duration and its' a social experience so intense that authors say they find it more exhausting than writing.

The biggest book-signing queues were around 90 minutes long and readers waited for selfies too with Grantchester actor Robson Green and author James Runcie, and also Vera actors Brenda Blethyn and Kenny Doughty and writer Ann Cleeves.

Val McDermid’s pick of new talent is always packed as her ‘ones to watch’ are a sure-fire list of the stars of the future. This year’s are Fiona Cummins, Joseph Knox, Jane Harper and Kristen Lepionka.

For a taste of the panel, debut novelist Fiona Cummins discussing why she took up writing, said: ‘I was a show biz journalist, but there comes a time when being in a hotel room with George Clooney just doesn’t cut it any more.’

McDermid’s reply : ‘Do you know George Clooney personally then… because if you do, do you think you get an espresso machine for the green room?’

Entertaining quotes and sessions are a given with the likes of festival regulars Val McDermid and Mark Billingham chairing and their late night quiz is so difficult that competitors spend half the year researching clues.

There were more serious aspects of crime fiction to consider and the world we live in, such as computer hacking, terrorism, Trump and the Russians, touched on in conversation with special guests

However, the final panel concluded that there is less violence in the world than there was in the past, and after all we do have bacon milkshake.

This year’s festival programming chair, author Elly Griffiths, promised to make it a party to remember. She succeeded brilliantly.

Catherine Turnbull