IIf you love books that keep you guessing until the final page, the Killer Reads series belongs on your 2026 Virginia Festival of the Book schedule.
Across seven panels, authors of mystery, thriller, historical crime fiction, and true crime will discuss the craft of suspense and the stories that keep readers turning pages. From psychological thrillers set close to home to historical mysteries packed with secrets, these conversations promise sharp insights and plenty of chills.
Broken Trust: Gripping Thrillers
Friday, March 20 | 4PM – 5:30 PM | Residence Inn Event Room
Thriller writers John Gilstrap and Christina Kovac discuss the high-stakes tension at the heart of their work. Gilstrap, author of Burned Bridges and the long-running Jonathan Grave series, is known for action-packed plots and moral dilemmas. Kovac’s latest novel, Watch Us Fall, follows a journalist investigating the disappearance of a young girl in the Appalachian foothills, uncovering secrets that ripple through an entire community.
The Felon’s Ball
Friday, March 20 | 6PM – 7:30PM | Residence Inn Event Room
Author Polly Stewart discusses her debut novel The Felon’s Ball, a Southern mystery set in a fictional Appalachian town where old friendships, buried secrets, and long-held grudges collide. Stewart will talk about writing suspense rooted in place and the complicated loyalties of small-town life.
Historical Mysteries: Seekers and Secrets
Saturday, March 21 | 10AM – 11:30AM | Residence Inn Event Room
Mollie Ann Cox and Nicole Glover bring history and mystery together in their fiction. Cox’s The Widow Hamilton: An Eliza Hamilton Mystery follows the famed widow of Alexander Hamilton as she becomes entangled in a dangerous investigation in early America. In The Starseekers, Glover blends historical intrigue and speculative elements as a group of scholars pursues knowledge while uncovering hidden dangers.
Tales Out of School: Psychological Thrillers
Saturday, March 21 | 12PM – 1:30PM | The Vault
Lacey N. Dunham, Alex Finlay, and Pamela N. Harris explore the dark side of familiar places. Dunham’s The Belles, Finlay’s Parent’s Weekend, and Harris’s Through Our Teeth dive into secrets, shifting loyalties, and the tensions that simmer beneath everyday life. Together, the authors discuss psychological twists, complicated relationships, and the suspense that emerges when the truth refuses to stay hidden.
Ding-Dong-Dead: Murders in the Building
Saturday, March 21 | 2PM – 3:30PM | Old Metropolitan Hall Ballroom
When neighbors live close together, secrets rarely stay hidden. Stacy Hackney, Katherine Schellman, and Harriet Stone discuss mysteries set in tight-knit communities where everyone might be a suspect. Their novels — The Primrose Murder Society, Last Dance Before Dawn, and The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum — bring together amateur sleuths, tangled relationships, and plenty of twists as their characters uncover the truth.
Behind the Screens: True Crime T.V.
Saturday, March 21 | 4PM – 5:30PM | The Vault
True crime dominates television and streaming. Producer Daniel Messina shares a behind-the-scenes look at how real cases become compelling programs, from research and interviews to shaping narratives that captivate audiences while honoring the real stories behind them.
High Stakes and Whatever It Takes: Thrillers
Saturday, March 21 | 6PM – 7:30PM | The Vault
Marisa Kashino, Victor Suthammanont, and Jennifer van der Kleut bring three very different thrillers to the conversation. In Best Offer Wins, Kashino explores ambition and competition in a cutthroat real estate market. Suthammanont’s Hollow Spaces unravels a mystery shaped by buried secrets and the lingering impact of the past. In The Better Mother, van der Kleut examines the pressure and expectations surrounding family and motherhood. Together, the authors discuss the tensions and moral dilemmas that drive suspense.
Explore the full schedule and plan your festival weekend below.
