Crime writing is a focus of the 2017 Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF) programme and the Festival will feature several famous crime writers including Ian Rankin, one of the most acclaimed authors of the genre. Rankin is famous for his Rebus novels and this year marks the 30th anniversary of Inspector Rebus’ debut in print.
Bestselling British writer Ruth Ware will participate to coincide with the release of her third psychological thriller, The Lying Game. Ware’s second novel, The Woman in Cabin 10, has been on the New York Times bestsellers list for twenty-six weeks. Joining the international line-up is Hong Kong crime writer, Chan Ho-kei. He received the Soji Shimada Award, the biggest mystery award for writing in Chinese, in 2011 with The Man Who Sold the World. While the film rights to his 2014 novel The Borrowed have been bought by director Wong Kar-wai.
Celebrated Japanese novelist Hideo Yokoyama made waves worldwide with his crime thriller Six Four, the first of his books to be translated into English. It sold over a million copies in six days in Japan.
Two leading female novelists will be appearing at the Festival. Kamila Shamsie was long-listed for The Man Booker Prize with her new novel Home Fire. Her other works, including Burnt Shadows and A God in Every Stone, have received numerous literary awards. Canadian short story and novelist Madeleine Thien was short-listed for The Man Booker Prize last year with Do Not Say We Have Nothing.
The HKILF programme will also spotlight Hong Kong poetry with appearances from Nicholas Wong and Louise Ho, one of Hong Kong’s leading contemporary poets in English. Poet, editor and translator Tammy Ho Lai-Ming also returns to HKILF with new works and perspectives to share.
HKILF’s full author line-up will be released in August.
Hong Kong International Literary Festival
Date: 3-12 November, 2017
Venue: various
Tickets: various