Will Dean
@willrdean
Writer. ADRIFT (Feb 2026)
The Last Passenger is dedicated to libraries and librarians.

10 years ago I was still stuck in the query trenches (lost & confused). Here’s a few things I’ve learned about writing/publishing in the past decade 🧵 1. Resilience. Rejection is part of the job. It gets easier. It’s not that your work isn’t good it’s that it isn’t a good fit.
SoA's Theo Jones will be at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival this week, taking part in Creative Thursday, Cracking the Case. With @willrdean, Theo Jones, @hesutton and @juliawisdom, chaired by @VaseemKhanUK
I’ve just finished #Adrift , by @willrdean and MY GOD, he just gets better and better. ADRIFT is an unbearably tense thriller, a crime waiting to happen - & a love letter to libraries. It’s brilliant and painful and written with so much heart. His best book yet. Out in Feb.
This weeks pick comes from Mussarat who says "Will Dean is an intensely immersive writer and knows how to pull the reader into the plot. With just the right amount of tension and paranoia to make you feel like you’re living the nightmare and enough twists and . . .
Newsletter (with news about Adrift, and maybe a special photo of Bernie) going out in 3… 2… 1… Join here: willrdean.com/about
This is Walter. He was brought to his human's office for take your dog to work day. Does not remember when he expressed any desire to labor. 13/10
I receive a lot of books, but being given #Adrift, my most anticipated release of 2026, by @willrdean at @CapitalCrime1 felt very special indeed. You made an old blogger very happy Will 😍 Out Feb from @HodderFiction amazon.co.uk/Adrift-brillia…
New thought for the day. On simplicity (via Anthony Bourdain & AA Gill).

So excited to read this @willrdean , already hearing so many good things! :)
When you have disappointed your Austrian Art Nouveau vase from 1905.
Twenty years ago I submitted a novel set in Shetland to @panmacmillan . No advance so no guarantee of publication. The book - Raven Black - changed my career. Today a lovely new edition of the novel is published. Still one of my favourites.
Really looking forward to this! In Conversation: Belinda Bauer & Elly Griffiths - 459012 - Bloody Scotland bloodyscotland.com/event/in-conve…
Wildflower meadows at Great Dixter and Sissinghurst this week: andrewswalks.co.uk
So my event in York @crimegoodyork with the brilliant @thestephmerritt which was sold out, has now been moved to a bigger venue, so there are now tickets available! You can order tickets here: stan.store/criminallygood… 💚
If you’d like to pre-order the UK hardback of ADRIFT here are a few links: Bert’s bertsbooks.co.uk/product/adrift… Waterstones waterstones.com/book/adrift/wi… Amazon amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/152938…
Adrift (Feb 26) 1st UK proof copy I hope you’ll enjoy it
Join us tomorrow for a wonderful dystopian #creativewriting workshop with @amy_lilwall Starting at 2pm. Tickets on the link below therabbitholebrigg.com/creativewriting
Really looking forward to delivering my Dystopian Worlds Workshop tomorrow with the lovely @Therabbits21 in Brigg. It's not too late to get your ticket ⬇️🐰✨️ therabbitholebrigg.com/event-details/…
Had a lovely bit of book chat with @DavidHHeadley on Confessions of a Book Collector. Get it in your ears. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/con…