Nina Allan ’s A Granite Silence is an expedition to a particular house, in a particular street, at a particular time. In this compelling story set in Aberdeen, we look to a tight-knit community to uncover the layers of mystery that surround the disappearance and murder of young Helen Priestly . In Foday Mannah ’s The Search for Othella Savage when one of their own is found unconscious in the boot of her car, Scotland’s Sierra Leonean community is cast into a state of shock , compounded even further by the disappearance of a second woman . Join these two engaging writers to chat about how real life and true events have inspired their work.
Chaired by Cailean Steed
This show is included in the Granite Noir multibuy deal.
1 hour
Nina Allan is a highly acclaimed and inventive novelist and short story writer, whose work has won multiple prizes including the Novella Award, the British Science Fiction Award and the Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire for Best Translated Work. She lives on the Isle of Bute.
Born in London, Foday Mannah spent his formative years in Sierra Leone before returning to the United Kingdom. He currently lives in Scotland where he works as a teacher of English. His short story, Amie Samba, was shortlisted for the 2019 Bristol Short Story Prize, he has also had stories longlisted, shortlisted or highly commended for the Bridport, Sean O’Faolain, Brick Lane, Commonwealth, Morley, Bloody Scotland and Queen Mary Wasafiri writing competitions. He is available for interviews and events around publication and throughout 2025.
Cailean Steed is a writer, teacher and dog owner who lives near Glasgow with their husband and son. Their debut novel, Home , was published by Bloomsbury Raven in 2023. Their second novel, The Mirror Halls , will be published in 2026.
Cailean’s short fiction has been published by New Writing Scotland, Boudicca Press and Barren Magazine.
Granite Noir is inspired by the incredible popularity of crime fiction in all its forms, by the fantastic contribution that Scottish writers make, by our love affair with Nordic Noir, on the page and on screen. Take a look at our full programme and book your tickets now…do you dare to be there?
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