Thriller fest at SIBF shows why readers find villains charming
- Last updated: October 31, 2026 | 14:07
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
Murderers, manipulators and morally compromised detectives have long held a strange fascination for readers. What makes these characters so compelling, and how far can writers push the boundaries of crime fiction?
Ten authors will explore the psychology, moral dilemmas and storytelling techniques behind the genre at the fifth Thriller Festival, taking place during the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair.
Running from Nov.7 to 10 at Expo Centre Sharjah, the festival brings Arab and international crime writers together to examine why disturbing stories captivate millions, the ethical questions raised by fiction inspired by real crimes and how different cultures are reshaping the fictional detective.
The four-day event, organised in collaboration with Thriller Festival New York and Capital Crime London, also features creative writing workshops and interactive sessions for students.
Why does the world love crime fiction?
British novelist Clare Mackintosh will open ThrillerFest's panel discussions on Saturday, Nov.7, alongside Egyptian novelist Noha Dawood and Emirati writer and filmmaker Ibrahim Al Marzooqi, to explore why readers find such pleasure in stories of murder, violence and betrayal.
Titled Why Does the Whole World Read Crime?, the discussion will run from 7.15 pm to 8.15 pm, examining what draws readers to crime fiction and how different cultural settings shape the stories writers tell.
Earlier that day, Dawood will launch a three-day paid workshop, Writing Crime and Mystery Novels, running from 3 pm to 6 pm daily until November 9.
Through practical exercises, participants will learn to develop story ideas, construct intricate plots, create convincing characters and craft endings that keep readers guessing.
When real crimes become fiction
A real murder, a personal tragedy or a stranger's life can inspire a gripping novel. But how much of someone else's story is a writer entitled to tell? British novelist Abir Mukherjee will explore this dilemma alongside Syrian novelist and journalist Islam Abu Shakir and Emirati writer Adil Al Sumaiti on Sunday, November 8.
Their panel, Where Truth Ends and the Novel Begins, will run from 7.15 pm to 8.15 pm, examining the boundaries of artistic freedom, the right to privacy and the responsibilities writers bear towards people whose experiences inspire their fiction.
Inside the minds of fictional villains
The dark side of human nature comes under scrutiny on Monday, November 9, as American novelist Karen Dionne and author Elizabeth Moore explore why readers are drawn to characters they would fear or despise in real life. The writers will examine how villains are brought to life on the page and how cultural attitudes shape the limits of what readers are willing to accept.
Their panel, Inside the Dangerous Mind: Villains, Narcissists and Why We Can't Look Away, will run from 7.15 pm to 8.15 pm.
Earlier that day, Dionne will meet students from 10 am to 11 am for The Book That Changed Everything, sharing how she wrote her breakout novel, the lessons she learned along the way and what happened when the book was adapted into a major motion picture.
Who gets to solve the crime?
The familiar image of the fictional detective faces a fresh challenge on Tuesday, November 10, as British novelists Vaseem Khan joins David Fennell to explore how crime writers across cultures are reimagining the people who solve mysteries.
Their panel, Who Gets to Solve the Crime? The Detective Beyond the Old Template, will run from 7.15 pm to 8.15 pm, examining how the genre is moving beyond traditional detective stereotypes and drawing on investigative figures and storytelling traditions from different parts of the world.
Earlier that day, Khan will lead an interactive session for students from 10 am to 11 am. Titled How to Write the Opening of a Mystery, the session will introduce participants to the structure of mystery fiction before challenging them to write an opening paragraph of their own.
The fifth edition of the Thriller Festival will take place in Forum 4 as part of the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair. The fair will bring together approximately 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries and host 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events, featuring 106 writers and creative figures from 25 countries.