To celebrate World Book Night, Swindon’s Central Library will be staging an evening of crime and intrigue on Thursday 20th April, featuring Sunday Times number one bestselling author Kimberley Chambers.

World Book Night is an annual celebration of reading which aims to reach people who don’t regularly pick up a book.

To mark the occasion, the public are invited to come along for this very special event on Thursday 20th April and be in with a chance of picking up a free book!

Rhonda Dempsie, Swindon Libraries Outreach Officer, said:

“We’re honoured to welcome Kimberley to headline our pre-World Book Night evening of crime and intrigue from 6.30-8.30pm at Central Library, and we’re delighted to have 166 copies of her book ‘Payback’ to distribute around Swindon.

“Kimberley is the author of ‘Tainted Love’, a Sunday Times number one bestseller in hardback, which spent four consecutive weeks in the top ten and is her biggest selling hardback to date. Her new novel ‘Backstabber’ is also out now.

“Join Kimberley for a Q& A session, followed by an opportunity to meet her as she signs her books. The evening will also have a local flavour, provided by discussions with two special guest speakers: Leonard Curtis and Frances Bevan.”

Leonard’s autobiography ‘Two Shades of Blue and a Trilby’ recounts his life and times both as a former detective for Swindon CID, and during service in the Royal Navy.

Respected local Swindon writer and historian Frances Bevan discusses the murder of two local women in the early 1900s: Esther Swinford, at The Ship in 1903 and Frances Hunter, at The Goddard Arms in 1914. For one victim the public paid for a memorial in Radnor Street Cemetery, whilst they showed no sympathy at all for the other.

Rhonda added:

“So why not come along for a fascinating evening? If you can’t make it, get involved in World Book Night in other ways. As well as events taking place nationwide, World Book Night is encouraging readers across UK to celebrate reading by sharing a book that has made a difference to them. Post your own book of choice in your community on the World Book Night 2017 Goodreads page, or take part on social media on 23 April by recommending a book that has made a difference to you, using #WorldBookNight.

“See what else is going on at www.worldbooknight.org or join the World Book Night Goodreads community at goodreads.com/list/show/105983.World_Book_Night_2017.”

Council Leader David Renard added:

“World Book Night is an inspiring way of encouraging people across the country to explore the world of books, and an excellent example of using our library service to support the community. I’m so grateful to Kimberley, Frances and Leonard for coming along for what will be a hugely entertaining evening.”