In her talk, professeur des universites at Universites Paris-Diderot, Ruth Morse will begin from the disdain in which popular book genres have often been held and argue that crime fiction at its best has always explored key social and geo-political issues, including international threats such as arms, drugs, labor, money, and prostitution, and, through its conventions, has opened its readers to think about the  world's elsewheres, while insisting upon universal moral and ethical ideas.

Morse authored or edited eight books, and has taught at universities across Europe. She frequently contributes to the Times Literary Supplement, and is a judge for the UK Crime Writers Association.