It was a very special evening as The Bookery welcomed one of its most cherished Patrons, Ann Cleeves OBE, to Crediton for a pre-publication event celebrating her new Matthew Venn novel, The Dying Light. With an audience of 150 people, it was our largest event for three years and we were delighted to bring Ann back to Crediton and to have had such wonderful support from our community for this event. It was a special privilege to be able to provide readers with copies of the book a full week before its official publication date, with its intricate and striking sprayed edges depicting a map of North Devon making it one of the most unique editions we have seen this year.

The magnificent setting of the Crediton Methodist Church provided the perfect backdrop. The venue’s two large TV screens ensured everyone had an excellent view of the stage, helping create just the right atmosphere for an evening that combined laughter, reflection, mystery and storytelling of the highest order. Chaired by bestselling thriller writer C.M. Ewan, Chris ensured the conversation flowed effortlessly from beginning to end. asking thoughtful and insightful questions while allowing Ann’s warmth, humour and remarkable storytelling ability to shine through.

We all enjoyed hearing Ann talk about her deep connection to North Devon, the setting for the Matthew Venn novels. She spoke movingly about moving to the area as an eleven-year-old, discovering its beaches and beauty, making lifelong friendships and developing the affection for the landscape that still influences her writing today. Those personal connections became even more poignant as she reflected on returning to North Devon during a difficult period following the death of her husband, when walks, conversations with old friends and trips to places such as Lundy helped inspire the creation of her Matthew Venn detective.

We were given a tantalising glimpse into the creation of The Dying Light. Ann described beginning with a vivid visual image: an art deco bungalow overlooking the sea, with Lundy visible on the horizon during a sweltering heatwave. From that single image emerged the mystery, the characters and the tensions that drive the novel. It was a fascinating insight into the creative process of a writer whose books have enthralled millions of readers around the world.

Beyond the novels and television adaptations, it was inspiring to hear Ann talk about the real-world impact of her work, particularly the development of The Woodyard project in North Devon and the reading-for-wellbeing initiatives that have grown from it. Her passion for books, libraries, community and the transformational power of reading was evident throughout the evening.

After a lively audience question-and-answer session, the evening concluded with a book signing and many happy readers clutching signed copies of The Dying Light. Our thanks go to Ann, to Chris Ewan for his superb chairing, to the Crediton Methodist Church for hosting us so well, to all our wonderful volunteers  and to everyone who joined us for such a special evening.

Signed copies of The Dying Light available HERE.