Matt Nixson

Robert Harris will appear at the Cliveden Literary Festival in Berkshire on October 10–11 to discuss his new historical novel Agrippa with historian Tom Holland. The festival lineup also includes Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, crime writer Michael Connelly, investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe and numerous politicians, commentators, writers and historians. Programming will cover British politics, narrative, art, Nazi Germany, Napoleon, demographic change and gardens. The event, now in its ninth year, is associated with Cliveden House’s literary history and offers priority ticket access before general public booking.

David Baldacci argues that the American Dream has been fractured by corporate greed, high education and housing costs, debt, declining living standards and the lack of accountability for powerful institutions. He also warns that artificial intelligence and social media could worsen economic insecurity, undermine creative work and be weaponised by wealthy technology executives. Baldacci is participating in an ongoing copyright lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI alongside other prominent authors. Through his philanthropy with his wife Michelle, he has committed $13 million to a nonpartisan civic initiative involving Virginia Commonwealth University and the Library of Virginia, intended to promote respectful political dialogue and democratic participation. His latest thriller, Hope Rises, continues these themes while he prepares several new books and screen adaptations.

Elly Griffiths won the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year for The Frozen People after a record eight shortlist appearances. The time-travel mystery features detective Ali Dawson investigating murders spanning Victorian London and the modern era. Frances Crawford won the McDermid Debut Award for A Bad, Bad Place, while Mel Pennant was Highly Commended. US thriller writer David Baldacci received the Outstanding Contribution Award, with John Grisham paying tribute to him. The awards opened the Harrogate crime-writing festival.

Restoration work at Bath Assembly Rooms uncovered a large collection of Georgian-era artefacts, including beauty pots, wig curlers, wine bottles and tobacco pipes, offering insight into the social life of 18th- and 19th‑century visitors such as Jane Austen. Archaeologists identified items tied to local craftsmen, evidence of elaborate dining, and decorative Victorian ceramics, many of which will be displayed when the Grade I-listed building reopens after restoration. The National Trust emphasised the finds’ value in illustrating the human stories behind Bath’s historic social spaces.

Former pharmacist and crime writer AA Dhand describes how burnout, drug shortages and unworkable NHS reimbursement rates forced him to sell his busy Leeds pharmacy, channeling the experience into new thrillers featuring a pharmacist-turned-anti‑hero. He reflects on the pressures facing community pharmacies, the impact of Covid‑19, and the decline of the sector, while also discussing his books, including The Chemist and its sequel The Kingpin, and the BBC’s acclaimed but as‑yet unrenewed adaptation of his Bradford‑set detective series.

Several new books receive enthusiastic reviews, including Frank Gardner’s Arctic-set thriller Ballistic, Amen Alonge’s Lagos‑based crime novel, Patrick Worrall’s tense chase story The Aristocracy, and Nige Tassell’s music biography of Prefab Sprout. Each title is praised for strong storytelling, distinctive settings and compelling characters, with reviewers highlighting their originality and enjoyment.

Tributes were invited for Ann Widdecombe following news that police had launched a murder investigation into her sudden death. Colleagues reflected on her long career as a columnist and politician, describing her as outspoken, principled and unafraid of controversy. Readers were encouraged to share memories of her life and impact.

Ann Widdecombe is remembered as a forthright politician, campaigner and media personality whose commitment to her principles shaped a long public career. Tributes highlight her work as a Conservative MP, Brexit Party and Reform UK figure, and long-time Express columnist, as well as her later fame through Strictly Come Dancing and other media roles. Her final political efforts focused on injustices she believed were caused by the Child Maintenance Service. Friends and colleagues recall her strong values, religious conviction, sharp wit and dedication to causes ranging from Brexit to animal charities.

Major meadow‑restoration projects led by the National Trust across England and Wales are reviving biodiversity, restoring hundreds of hectares of grassland and supporting climate‑change mitigation. Techniques such as conservation grazing, heavy‑horse management and pyramidal seed harvesting are helping regenerate habitats that support pollinators, small mammals and endangered species like the Large Blue Butterfly. Regional initiatives in Cornwall, Gloucestershire, the Lake District, Surrey, Norfolk and Devon show significant early success, with newly established meadows improving soil health, aiding flood prevention and promoting wildlife recovery.