Best-selling novelist Dennis Lehane, who earned his master’s degree in creative writing at Florida International University, keynotes SleuthFest on March 5. SleuthFest is the annual writers conference presented by the Mystery Writers of America’s Florida chapter.

Crime novelist Lehane is the author of Mystic River, which was made into an Academy Award-winning film, and Gone, Baby, Gone, which was adapted into a film that was nominated for an Academy Award. His novel Shutter Island was adapted into a film by Martin Scorsese.

SleuthFest attracts hundreds of mystery and thriller writers and fans each year. This year’s event takes place from March 3 to March 6 in Deerfield Beach. Tickets are still available.

Other speakers include best-selling and award-winning novelists Heather Graham, PJ Parrish, Les Standiford and James O. Born as well as Sun Sentinel mystery/thriller critic Oline Cogdill and agents and editors working the mystery/thriller genre.