Guest of Honor

Cara Black
Cara Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 19 books in the Private Investigator Aimée Leduc series, which is set in Paris. Cara has received multiple nominations for the Anthony and Macavity Awards, a Washington Post Book World Book of the Year citation, the Médaille de la Ville de Paris—the Paris City Medal, which is awarded in recognition of contribution to international culture.
Workshop Presenters

Elizabeth Murray
Dr. Beth Murray is a Professor at Mount St. Joseph University. Dr. Murray is certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and has participated in hundreds of forensic cases in southwest Ohio and Kentucky, as well as in national and international investigations. For the past decade, Dr. Murray has worked in cold case identification, including with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Away from her teaching, she writes science books for the young adult market, and has filmed two forensic science series for The Great Courses.

Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, which was named 2020 Media Outlet of the Year by Digital Book World. Learn more at JaneFriedman.com.
Our Panelists

S.A. Cosby
In addition to crime writing, Cosby also writes fantasy and horror. His latest title is Blacktop Wasteland.

Deborah Crombie
Crombie is the best-selling author of the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma Craven series. Her latest title is A Bitter Feast.

Jeffrey Deaver
Award-winning thriller writer Deaver’s latest book is The Final Twist (available May 2021).

Rachel Howzell Hall
Hall has written numerous thrillers. Her most recent title is And Now She’s Gone.

Naomi Hirahara
Hirahara is best known for her series featuring Mas Arai. Her latest title is Clark and Division.

Ausma Zehanat Kahn
Kahn writes the Khattak/Getty Series, with A Deadly Divide being the most recent title.

Isabella Maldonado
Maldonado writes the Agent Guerrera and the Detective Cruz series. Her latest title is The Cypher.

Toby Neal
Neal is the author of the Paradise Crime series, set in Hawaii. Her latest title is Shark Cove.

Anne Perry
Perry is the prize-winning author of several Victorian series. Death with a Double Edge is the latest.

Faye Snowden
Snowden writes the Dr. Kendra Hamilton series and her newest, featuring Raven Burns, A Killing Fire.

Victoria Thompson
Thompson writes two Victorian series. Her latest title is City of Schemes.

Pamela Samuels Young
Young writes legal thrillers. Her latest title is Failure to Protect.
Our Moderators
Bannon is the author of the Old Los Angeles series, with Death of the Chinese Field Hands as her latest title
Bernstein writes the Dr. Hannah Kline series. Her latest title is Murder is a Nightmare
Kaye is an entertainment and publishing attorney, and an award-winning director of audiobooks.