A killer line-up of crime writers will be in Norwich over the next few days as the city hosts its fourth annual festival dedicated to the genre.

Eastern Daily Press: Noirwich Crime Writing Festival - Arne Dahl. Photo: Sara ArnaldNoirwich Crime Writing Festival - Arne Dahl. Photo: Sara Arnald (Image: © Sara Arnald 2011)

Noirwich - a four-day festival presented by Writers' Centre Norwich and the University of East Anglia (UEA) and held at venues across the city - starts today and runs until Sunday.

'There's a dark tide approaching Norwich this week - and we can't wait!' said Chris Gribble, chief executive of Writers' Centre Norwich.

'The Noirwich Crime Writing Festival is growing in scale and ambition each year and the 2017 line-up shows that the best crime writers from around the UK and the world now have us on their map.'

Val McDermid, whose latest book is called Insidious Intent, will feature in the launch event at Jarrold tonight, meanwhile other crime-writing giants who are taking part in this year's festival include Martina Cole, Anthony Horowitz, Mark Billingham, Arne Dahl and Stuart McBride.

Eastern Daily Press: Noirwich Crime Writing Festival - Anthony Horowitz. Photo: supplied by Writers' Centre NorwichNoirwich Crime Writing Festival - Anthony Horowitz. Photo: supplied by Writers' Centre Norwich (Image: supplied by Writers' Centre Norwich)

Throughout the four days there will be an array of different author events taking place. Writer workshops will be held with Mel McGrath, Laura Wilson and Stav Sherez at UEA, which will also host a special guest lecture from Swedish author, literary critic and academic Arne Dahl who will explore how crime fiction can make sense of today's turbulent geopolitical times. Visitors to UEA events will also be able to see an exhibition of original manuscript material from key crime writers, which has been curated by the British Archive for Contemporary Writing.

Also bringing the noir to Noirwich will be two focus panels at Norwich Arts Centre called Dark Shores and Grime Noir. The festival is also collaborating with the Killer Women initiative for another panel at the St Benedict's Street venue focussing on female characters and writers of crime fiction. Norwich Arts Centre will also host Resurrection of Dora Suarez, a musical interpretation of Derek Raymond's novel by Terry Edwards and Cathi Unsworth, and a special screening of the gothic crime drama Real Gods Require Blood which was chosen as Critics Choice at the Cannes Film Festival.

For more details on these and other Noirwich events, including dates and times of events and how to book tickets, visit www.noirwich.co.uk

Eastern Daily Press: Noirwich Crime Writing Festival - Martina Cole. Photo: Charlotte MurphyNoirwich Crime Writing Festival - Martina Cole. Photo: Charlotte Murphy (Image: supplied by Noirwich Crime Writing Festival)