International crime writing festival, Bloody Scotland, brought a host of famous authors to Stirling from September 18 to 20, including Father Ted and Death in Paradise star Ardal O’Hanlon. The actor is not new to writing, having published his first novel in 1998, but his third and most recent novel A Plot To Die For is his crime fiction debut.
To celebrate its release in April 2026, O’Hanlon was hosted for an in conservation event at the Albert Halls on Saturday 19 with fellow crime author and 2026 Bloody Scotland guest programmer, Denise Mina.
He was introduced to enthusiastic applause from the audience. His comic talent was made clear as he used his Irish charm, turning a book festival into a stand up gig.
“It’s either that, or people genuinely think I’m a real priest!”
Many fans were lured to the event from cult classic shows O’Hanlon had starred in. Whenever he referred to his role as Father Dougal, there was an explosion of applause. Speaking on his decision to write a crime novel, he revealed in his private life in Ireland people have started to confess crimes to him. Mina recounted the challenge that comes with being known as a famous face, often causing strangers to feel more comfortable. O’Hanlon had the audience roaring with his witty response, “It’s either that, or people genuinely think I’m a real priest!”
“That’s one of the great pleasures of crime writing, coming up with ingenious ways to kill people!”
Despite this being his crime writing debut, O’Hanlon is no stranger to a murder mystery. Starring on the BBC’s hit show Death in Paradise for three years as Detective Inspector Jack Mooney, he did draw inspiration from the show which revolves around a whodunnit premise. “I didn’t even have to read the script, I just knew who did it!” he remarked, revealing while he was filming in the Caribbean he tried to come up with “cool murders”, which he included in his novel.
The first murder of the book occurs during a choir practice, where a character drops dead to a rendition of What the World Needs Now.
“I loved creating a town like that, with a microcosm of Irish history, and filling it with characters.”
O’Hanlon’s novel is set in the fictional town of Abbeyford in the sunny south east of Ireland. He remarked that it was important to him to move the novel away from being set in the borders, where he grew up and a previous novel had been set, as it brings complexity with the history of the troubles on the island.
The main character, Finn O’Leary, is a celebrity gardener who has a glamourous life in London, but returns to Ireland to look after his elderly mother. O’Hanlon also revealed at the event that these character’s relationships were somewhat inspired by his own life and relationship with Ireland. O’Hanlon moved away from his home town, but also returned as his parents aged.
O’Leary begins to take on the role of the town’s amateur detective as the murders begin. O’Hanlon commented that there is a culture in Ireland of not speaking to the police, which is further explained in the novel due to force being used in a local protest.
Community is central to this plot, with O’Hanlon leaning into aspects of morale like the Tidy Towns initiative which his main character also becomes embroiled in. This is a real competition, that rewards the upkeep of Irish towns.
“I don’t like the label of cosy crime. It doesn’t do it justice.”
A Plot to Die For has been labelled as cosy crime, a subgenre which has recently performed well due to hits like Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club. However, O’Hanlon revealed he didn’t envision A Plot to Die For as a cosy crime novel, despite aspects which speak to the genre.
He admitted that it is not a novel which is gruesome in terms of deaths, and that sex is implied rather than written. There is also strong family and community themes that are not typically found in a gritty crime novel.
“I don’t like the label of cosy crime. It doesn’t do it justice. It is very warm and humorous and I suppose family is a big part of it, but as a novelist you are setting out to write the best novel you can.”
Mina agreed that upon her reading she would not necessarily list it under cosy crime, commenting that at the end of the day it is a marketing decision.
A Plot to Die For will be the first in a new series by O’Hanlon, and is available to buy now.
Featured Image Credit : Rae Archibald
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