Best-selling crime writer Sophie Hannah to launch her new novel in Chipping Norton

A spokesperson from the festival said: "Queen of the enthralling plot, Sophie is internationally well known for her series of crime novels featuring Simon Waterhouse and Charlie Zailer, and for being chosen by the estate of Agatha Christie to write a new set of novels featuring Hercule Poirot. In Haven’t They Grown, she presents her latest stand-alone mystery.

"The premise, as always with Sophie, is intriguing. A woman drives past the house of a friend she hasn’t seen for 12 years. Watching from the car, she recognises her friend, looking the same only older, but her two children – also recognisable – haven’t changed at all. They haven’t grown!"

"ChipLitFest promises that there will be no spoilers. But Sophie, who has recently helped to create a Master’s Degree in Crime and Thriller Writing at the University of Cambridge, and is also a poet, will talk about her work and how she constructs such astonishing plots."

Tickets for the event, in the town’s theatre at 19:45 on January 23, are on sale now via chiplitfest.com or from the Theatre box office on 01608 642350.

Prue Leith event

In a further festival preview event, Bake Off star, chef, food writer and local author, Prue Leith and her niece Peta Leith, will be presenting The Vegetarian Kitchen, their new vegetarian cookbook, on Thursday March 26 at 7.45. Tickets on sale on January 20.

Full Festival programme

The Chipping Norton Literary Festival, aka ChipLitFest, is an annual highlight in the town’s calendar. This year it runs from April 23-26. The full programme will be published on February 23. Tickets go on sale to Friends of the Festival from February 24 and are on general sale on March 2.

More details on chiplitfest.com