Tucson Festival of Books

Dark Hearts, Darker Deeds


How can such nice people create such dark stories? Come meet James Byrne, Ward Larsen and Delia Pitts, and find out.


Panelists
James Byrne

James Byrne is the author of the Dez Limerick novels "The Gatekeeper," "Deadlock," and his newest, "Chain Reaction." The fourth Dez Limerick series will drop this May. Under various names, he has published 13 other novels in the realm of thrillers and mysteries....

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Ward Larsen

Ward Larsen is the USA Today bestselling author of nineteen novels. He is a former USAF fighter pilot and airline captain and is a trained aircraft accident investigator. He co-authored the new thriller "Cold Zero" with Brad Thor....

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Delia Pitts

As a journalist, former university administrator, and U.S. diplomat, Delia Pitts earned a Ph.D. in African history from the University of Chicago. Her contemporary noir mystery, "Trouble in Queenstown," won the Shamus Award for Best P....

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Books:
Cold Zero
Ward Larsen
Mystery / Thrillers
Atria/Emily Bestler Books
February 2026
ISBN 9781668066379
352 pages
Buy now

Death of an Ex
A Vandy Myrick Mystery
Delia Pitts
Mystery / Thrillers
St. Martin's Publishing Group
July 2025
ISBN 9781250904249
320 pages
Buy now

Chain Reaction
A Dez Limerick Thriller
James Byrne
Mystery / Thrillers
St. Martin's Publishing Group
January 2025
ISBN 9781250319784
400 pages
Buy now