Join debut crime author and crossword setter Alys Cummings at Criminally Good Books for an evening of cryptic clues and puzzles.

On Thursday 19 November, debut crime author and crossword setter Alys Cummings is joining us at Criminally Good Books for an evening of cryptic clues, cosy crime and very good puzzles, to celebrate the publication of her first novel, Murder Most Cryptic. This is a free event, but places are limited, so be sure to book your free ticket.

Expect Alys in conversation about the book, followed by some puzzles created by Alice for guests to complete in the shop or take away. prepare to settle in for a night of head-scratching fun. There will also be beginner-friendly cryptic crosswords on the night, so newcomers are very welcome.

📖 Alys Cummings in conversation about Murder Most Cryptic

🧩 A sit-down puzzle evening, so bring your own puzzles

✏️ Beginner-friendly cryptics welcome

🎟️ Free entry, limited tickets

📍 Venue: Criminally Good Books, 14 Colliergate, York

🗓️ Date: Thursday 19 November 2026

🕖 Time: 7pm-8.30pm

About the author:

Alys Cummings is a writer and journalist based on the north-east coast of England. She worked on local newspapers and for a news agency based at the Old Bailey, before joining BBC Panorama.

She is an Emerging Creative Associate with New Writing North and a member of their North East Novelists group.

Murder Most Cryptic is her debut novel, and won Pitch Perfect at the 2024 Bloody Scotland festival.

About the book:

Nina is a promising young journalist. She’s also an alcoholic.

Once a week, she attends a recovery group in the local church hall. When a stranger walks in one night, the group think they might have a new member. Until he promptly drops dead.

The police believe it’s nothing more than an accident. But the group soon realise there’s more to this mystery than meets the eye, when they discover a cryptic crossword clue hidden in the dead man’s pocket – the answer to which is Murder.

As more mysterious and threatening clues start appearing in a newspaper crossword, Nina and team must work to crack this cryptic case. Can they solve the clues, and catch a killer?

Or will the next crossword spell death for one of them…

A PUZZLING NEW MURDER MYSTERY, PERFECT FOR FANS OF LUDWIG AND RICHARD OSMAN

'If this isn’t a book of the year, I’ll be surprised. It’s where crime and crosswords collide' JANICE HALLETT

'Intriguing and ingenious, Cummings has cracked the code of setting the reader a thrilling mystery with a cryptic edge' HARRIET TYCE

Murder Most Cryptic is published in hardback by Penguin Michael Joseph, out now (£16.99). All guests will receive 10% off Alys' book on the night if they want to buy it.

Description supplied by the event organiser.