‘And the Murderer Is…’

The “Whodunit” crowd will descend on East Hampton Village next month when the inaugural Mystery and Crime Festival comes to town from April 13 to 16. Organized by Mayor Jerry Larsen and the East Hampton village trustees, this is the first-ever multi-media crime event in the Hamptons.

The festival is part of the village’s effort to provide more off-season programming for all members of the community, and will feature thriller and mystery authors as well as true crime panelists, podcasters, journalists and legal experts. Residents and weekend visitors are invited to join in the fun and the weekend will also include programming for the Spanish-speaking population.

“East Hampton is home to a tremendous amount of talented mystery and thriller authors, true crime experts, thriller filmmakers and podcasters,” said Mayor Jerry Larsen. “So it is only natural that we host the first crime festival on the East End.”

The Mystery and Crime Festival begins with a “Hamptons Whodunit Kickoff Cocktail Party” on Thursday, April 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the venerable Maidstone Club. Join Professor Plum for wine, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and mingle with the festival’s guests of honor, panelists, moderators and a gathering of renowned authors, filmmakers and true crime experts. Tickets are $75.

Events follow throughout the weekend, including fiction, film and true crime panels, a Young Adults panel, book signings, a Hamptons crime scenes bus tour, a crime scene challenge “Who Killed the Mayor?” at Village Hall for ages 12 and up, free murder mystery trivia and escape rooms for teens based on “Stranger Things” and Plum Island, as well as free graveyard tours with Town Crier Hugh King. The East Hampton Library, East Hampton Historical Society and Bay Street Theater are also partners in the festival.

Bestselling authors Alafair Burke and A.J. Finn are the festival’s honorary co-chairs, with authors Michael Connelly, Lisa Jewell, Casey Sherman and Anthony Horowitz serving as guests of honor. “60 Minutes” reporter Steve Kroft will be featured in conversation with former New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

Other participating panelists include: Megan Abbott, Janet Albertson, Debbie Babitt, Maiken Baird, Christin Brecher, David Berg, Edward Burke Jr., Anthony DeStefano, Betty Frizzell, Steven Gaines, Kellye Garrett, Alison Gaylin, Joseph Giacalone, Jill Green, Helen A. Harrison, Greer Hendricks, Eve Karlin, Hugh King, Randye Lordon, Clare Mackintosh, Wanda Morris, Richie Narvaez, Liz Nugent, Nita Prose, Riley Sager, Spencer Schneider, John Searles, Alex Segura, Daniel Simone, Jeffrey Sussman, Danielle Valentine, David Wedge, Tessa Wegert and Stacy Willingham.

All events will be held in East Hampton Village at venues within walking distance of each other. For details on the full weekend and to purchase tickets, visit hamptonswhodunit.com.