We like to do things differently at Venice Noir. Yes, there are plenty of sessions discussing crime and thriller fiction with some top authors. But we also want to delve beneath the surface and investigate some of the things that set the world of dark fiction ticking in the first place. I’m lucky enough to be chairing (in a very light, hands-off way) two fascinating events in this area of the festival, so I thought I’d take time to tell you a little about them.

The Venetian Redemption: A page-turning, atmospheric thriller set in Italy's most beautiful city (Audio Download): Philip Gwynne Jones, Tim Bruce, Little, Brown Book Group: Amazon.co.uk: Audible Books...

Landmark roles were in 50s classics directed by Elia Kazan and Alfred Hitchcock, before going on to play Superman’s adoptive mother in later life

Researchers argue incorrect binding of Voynich manuscript radically changes ideas about its drawings and indecipherable text