The Killer Women Story
How a collective of crime writers became a force to be reckoned with.
Killer Women was founded in 2015 by a group of crime writers who believed that the genre deserved a dedicated platform for female voices. What began as an informal gathering over coffee and crime novels quickly grew into one of the most vibrant literary collectives in the UK.
The Beginning
It started with a simple observation: despite women dominating crime fiction as both readers and writers, the genre's public face was overwhelmingly male. Awards panels, festival lineups, and review pages all skewed heavily toward male authors. Something needed to change.
A small group of published crime writers—including several founding members who remain active today—decided to create a collective that would champion women in crime writing. Not as a protest, but as a celebration. Not against anyone, but for something: criminally good writing.
The Mission
Killer Women exists to promote, support, and celebrate women who write crime fiction. Our mission encompasses:
- ☠ Visibility — Ensuring female crime writers receive the recognition and platform they deserve.
- ☠ Community — Creating a supportive network where writers can share knowledge, opportunities, and encouragement.
- ☠ Readers — Connecting crime fiction fans with the best writing the genre has to offer.
- ☠ Mentorship — Supporting the next generation of crime writers through workshops, feedback, and guidance.
Growing the Collective
From those early days, Killer Women has grown into a collective of over 130 published crime writers. Our members include Sunday Times bestsellers, award winners, debut authors, and established icons of the genre. What unites us is a shared passion for crime fiction and a commitment to supporting one another.
We organise events, panel discussions, and workshops at literary festivals across the UK and beyond. Our blog features articles, interviews, and reviews that have become essential reading for crime fiction fans. And our Crime Club brings readers and writers together in a shared celebration of the genre we love.
The Future
As crime fiction continues to evolve—embracing new voices, new formats, and new technologies—Killer Women evolves with it. We remain committed to our founding principles while looking forward to what comes next. The golden age of crime fiction isn't behind us. It's happening right now, and Killer Women is at its heart.