The start of autumn usually brings with it a good number of new books, and in the case of crime fiction, the activity isn't limited to bookstore shelves. Festivals, tastings, and workshops are taking place in various locations, confirming the current popularity of a genre that goes far beyond mere entertainment.
The new releases arriving between late September and early October combine established sagas, new voices, and a clear commitment to making the region itself a character in the story. The Basque Country, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, and León appear as settings that shape the narrative, while female authors gain prominence both in the writing and in the portrayal of the characters.
Festivals and gatherings: the genre takes to the streets
The first edition of the La Condená Crime Fiction Festival was held in Villarejo-Periesteban (Cuenca), with all three afternoons of programming drawing full houses. Writers Ana Isabel Fernández Escribano and Inés Plana spearheaded the event, which brought together authors such as Cruz Morcillo, Carlos Augusto Casas, and local writers Alberto Val, Jorge Ortega, and Ana Belén Rodríguez Patiño.
During the event , literary prizes were awarded to Carlos Bassas, Santiago Díaz, Marta Robles, and Mario Ezno, presented by actor Javier Muga. The Villarejo-Periesteban Women's Association contributed hot chocolate and sweets, which were served each afternoon in an atmosphere the organizers described as friendly and relaxed.
The event is already planning its 2027 edition and has the support of the City Council, Adesiman, Globalcaja and other local sponsors, a demonstration of how this type of event strengthens the cultural fabric in rural areas.
Releases with their own unique style: from the courts to Department Q
The selection of new crime novels featured on Casa del Libro 's website between September 25 and October 4 includes a dozen titles with publication dates concentrated around September 28 and 30 and October 1. While not all the works are new to the public in their original language, the selection encompasses historical mystery, psychological thriller, police procedural, and social suspense.
Among the most outstanding proposals are Verdict , by Ane Odriozola, a legal thriller set in San Sebastián; Dead Souls Don't Sing , by Jussi Adler-Olsen, Line Holm and Stine Bolther, which continues the Department Q series; and Low Tide , by Ibon Martín, a suspense story set on the Cantabrian coast.
The list is completed with works by Stephanie Barron, Franck Thilliez, Tom Hindle, Gigi Waldorf, Chris Kraus, Jon Fosse and Jorge Volpi, which gives an idea of the variety of styles that coexist under the label of crime fiction.
Territorial noir and plots that look at reality
One of the most recognizable trends is the consolidation of noir linked to specific regions . Laura Azcona returns with *The Pact of Shadows* , the third installment in the series starring Inspector Julia Arrondo, in which a former elite boarding school in Álava and a mansion on the outskirts of Pamplona serve to uncover secrets. The author belongs to the so-called Basque noir genre, a style that draws on the landscape, mythology, and Basque identity, and which connects with the success of authors like Dolores Redondo and Eva García Sáenz de Urturi.
Further south, Mar Arias Couce makes her debut as a novelist with *The Island in Flames* , a story of burning containers , a charred corpse, and a journalist investigating what's being hidden. Published by Editorial Siete Islas, the book uses Lanzarote, without explicitly naming it, to address issues such as housing, tourism, waste, and social inequality.
Ibon Martín also sets Bajamar in a Cantabrian fishing village where the death of an influencer who championed sustainable tourism exposes real estate interests . In León, the Filandón Holmes Club and the Literatessen bookstore are organizing a literary tasting event centered around Carlos Barros's *Estatuas en la nieve* (Statues in the Snow ), which combines excerpts from the novel with flavors linked to the city and its traditions.
The activities didn't stop at presentations. In Bolea, the workshop " From Trench Coats to High Heels: Women Carry Guns Too ," organized by Adesho and the La Sotonera Town Council, explored the evolution of women in the genre , from Emilia Pardo Bazán and Lourdes Ortiz to Alicia Giménez Bartlett and her detective Petra Delicado. Participants also worked on a simulated crime scene in the town itself.
Authors who use crime to talk about what hurts
Luis García-Rey has published *Chantaje* (Espasa), a story that begins with the disappearance of a young woman in Madrid and becomes a descent into a world of influence, silence, and money. The author, who brings back police officers Axel Nash and Loor, argues that the crime novel is a magnificent tool for explaining social and political issues under the guise of entertainment.
That same idea permeates The Island in Flames , where the journalist-author introduces a reflection on the responsibility of storytelling, and also The Pact of Shadows , which combines mystery with the exploration of abandoned spaces and family secrets. It is no coincidence that several of these works are written by women, a presence that has become increasingly normalized in a genre historically associated with male voices.
Internationally, the publisher of the detective novels about Queen Elizabeth II has released a new installment set in 1961, during a train journey to Italy. Author Angela Clarke describes it as a witty and lively spy thriller in which the monarch investigates a possible murder witnessed from the train window.
A relentless agenda
The publication dates are concentrated in just one week, but the program of festivals and activities extends throughout the autumn. La Condená is already working on its next edition, the León wine tasting has a limited capacity of twenty people, and the Bolea workshop is part of a broader rural development project.
In addition, there were the guided tours of the locations featured in Statues in the Snow , organized this summer, which, according to the club, were very well received. Everything suggests that crime fiction will continue to find new formats to reach readers beyond the printed page.
With festivals filling squares and council chambers, releases ranging from legal thrillers to coastal suspense, and a clear focus on local themes and female perspectives , the crime genre faces the final stretch of the year with a wide and diverse offering. The plots revolve around crimes and disappearances, but also around conflicts such as housing, tourism, and abuses of power, reinforcing their connection to current events.
