This week's DHH News Roundup begins with the welcoming of a brand new client to the agency. 

Satish Shewhorak joins Hannah Sheppard's list. ​He is passionate about animation and ran the award winning animation studio, moShine, for five years. Satish has a PhD in motion capture and games animation and is a senior lecturer in these subjects at Teesside University.

He co-authors children’s adventure fiction with his wife, Gabrielle, who also writes middle grade novels under the name Gabrielle Kent.

Brian McGilloway's superb standalone, The Last Crossing, was longlisted for the Crime Novel of the Year at the 2021 Theakston Awards. 

Awarded annually at Harrogate Crime Writing Festival, the Award is one of the UK's top crime-fiction awards, and sponsored by Theakston's Old Peculier. The shortlist will be announced in June, and the winner at the opening event for the Festival which, all being well, will go ahead on 22nd July.

​To read more about the Festival and the Awards, click here. 

Brian was also interviewed by this weekend's edition Irish Examiner about his most recent Benedict Devlin novel, Blood Ties.

Clare Whitfield's haunting, page-turning debut People of Abandoned Character, has been given a fabulous quote from her DHH stablemate, Stuart Turton. Of course, we're far too polite to swear ourselves, but see no harm in popping the tweet in question below. Thank you, Stu!

Speaking of Stuart, he will be taking part in the Bath Festival this year on Wednesday 19th May, speaking with fellow author Natasha Pulley about his most recent book, The Devil and the Dark Water, which has recently been selected for series two of BBC's Between the Covers with Sara Cox. 

To book your tickets, and find out more about the event, click here. 

Released in paperback the Saturday before last, the Daily Mail had this to say about the book recently: "[A] vibrant mix of history, fantasy and detective fiction ... With its rollicking plot and swarming cast, Turton's novel invites readers to sit back and embrace its strange enchantments."

Ragnar Jónasson's brand new standalone novel, The Girl Who Died, was released in the US this week, and we cannot wait for it to hit shelves on this side of the pond on 3rd June.

​Una knows she is struggling to deal with her father's sudden, tragic suicide. She spends her nights drinking alone in Reykjavik, stricken with thoughts that she might one day follow in his footsteps.

So when she sees an advert seeking a teacher for two girls in the tiny village of Skálar - population of ten - on the storm-battered north coast of the island, she sees it as a chance to escape.

But once she arrives, Una quickly realises nothing in city life has prepared her for this. The villagers are unfriendly. The weather is bleak. And, from the creaky attic bedroom of the old house where she's living, she's convinced she hears the ghostly sound of singing.

Una worries that she's losing her mind.

And then, just before midwinter, a young girl from the village is found dead. Now there are only nine villagers left - and Una fears that one of them has blood on their hands...

A couple of fantastic quotes for M. W. Craven's forthcoming Washington Poe book, Dead Ground, have landed this week. 

"M. W. Craven is one of the best crime writers working today. Dead Ground is a cracking puzzle, beautifully written, with characters you'll be behind every step of the way. It's his best yet."
Stuart Turton

"Dead Ground is both entertaining and engaging with great characters and storyline. I loved this first dip into the world of Tilly and Poe!"
B. A. Paris

Dead Ground will be released on 3rd June.

Finally, we were delighted to end last week with the news that client Rebecca Griffiths' true crime novel, The Girl at the Door - inspired by the Rillington Place murders - plus one other title, have been acquired by Bookouture, in a deal negotiated by Broo Doherty.

You can read more about the sale here. Congratulations, Rebecca!

Laura Deacon, Publishing Director at Bookouture, has signed a deal with Rebecca Griffiths for World English Rights in two new historical crime novels. The deal was struck with Broo Doherty at DHH Literary Agency.

The first book The Girl at My Door, based on the infamous Rillington Place serial killer John Christie will publish in September 2021 with the second title, The Body on the Moor publishing in February 2022. Rebecca’s previous thrillers The Primrose Path and A Place to Lie were widely praised by reviewers and readers alike and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her to Bookouture for this blend of fictional and true crime.

Laura said, ‘As soon as I started reading The Girl at My Door I was hooked. I have long been a fan of true crime and to find a novelist who was able to get into the mind and motivations of one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers whilst weaving an incredibly rich cast of fictional characters around him was completely thrilling. I called Rebecca and it was immediately clear how much research had gone into her writing and how much I wanted to work with her. This book will be a must-read for crime fans'

Rebecca said, ‘It is a real privilege having my next two crime thrillers published by Bookouture. They are a dynamic and professional team — it’s great to be in such safe hands! I am especially pleased to have Laura as my editor, someone who really believes in what I do and shows such enthusiasm, great insight and expertise — and is surely the nicest person in publishing!’

From the Bookouture website 

We're kicking off this roundup with the absolutely brilliant news that Jo Thomas' gorgeous sunny, Escape to the French Farmhouse, set in the lavender fields of Provence, has sold over a whopping 50,000 eBooks!

A huge achievement, congratulations Jo!

If you're looking for a couple of fantastic reads at an incredible price, then Kindle has got you covered. For the whole of May, these brilliant titles are only 99p each:

Simply click on the book above to take you to the deal.

And US readers, we haven't forgotten about you, either! Included in the US Kindle Monthly Deal is Brian McGilloway's intoxicating and haunting, The Last Crossing.

Joanna Toye's newest in her wonderful and uplifting Shop Girls series, The Victory Girls also had its cover release this week.

Released in July this year, The Victory Girls is set in Spring 1944.

​As the Allied forces push on towards longed-for victory, Lily Collins yearns to join up and do her bit. But where does her duty lie?

Her best friend Gladys faces having her first baby alone, with her new husband back with the Navy.

And their friend Beryl is run off her feet building her bridal-hire business amid the bomb damage.

So while wedding bells are ringing for others at Marlows Department Store, where Lily works, will they be heard for Lily herself – or does fate have another twist in store?

Released only a couple of weeks ago, L. C. Tyler's crime caper, Farewell My Herring, has picked up a fantastic review on the Promoting Crime blog:

"As with all the previous eight books in this series the witty dialogue and humour is wonderful, but in no way detracts from the cleverly constructed plot, which had me foxed up the end. But the clues are there if you can suss them out. There are many secrets to be uncovered before the mystery is solved, and the ends are tied up satisfactorily.  An enjoyable and intriguing read that is most highly recommended." 

The hotly-anticipated debut by Adam Simcox, The Dying Squad, picked up a brilliant review from Inspector McLean series author, James Oswald

​"Adam has crafted something unique with The Dying Squad, mashing fantasy and crime together in a way I've not seen before ... I'm sure it will be a huge success."

​The book is available to pre-order now and will be released by Gollancz in July.

Also released in paperback was Clare Whitfield's spellbinding debut People of Abandoned Character. A Goldsboro Book of the Month, it begs the question: "what would you do if you suspected your husband was the infamous Jack the Ripper?"

​Congratulations to both of our authors.

Florence Hare, assistant editor at Quercus, has signed a historical suspense novel by Victoria Hawthorne, who also writes psychological suspense under the name Vikki Patis. Quercus has world rights from Emily Glenister at DHH Literary Agency, and will published The House at Helygen in hardback, eBook and audio on 14th April 2022.

The House at Helygen is set in Cornwall between the present day and the 1800s, and is described as a 'twisted tale of dark pasts, murderous presents and uncertain futures'. When Henry Fox, the owner of a grand estate in Cornwall, is found shot dead, it is ruled a suicide - but his pregnant wife believes it was a murder, and she embarks on a quest to learn the truth. 

Hawthorne said: "I have always loved to read historical fiction and I'm so thrilled to be entering the genre as Victoria Hawthorne. I'm looking forward to working with Flo and the fantastic Quercus team, and I'm grateful to Emily for her unwavering support. I can't wait for readers to be introduced to the secrets of Helygen House."

Hare said: "The House at Helygen is a deliciously gothic novel about dark family secrets coming to light. When I first read it, I was gripped by the way that Victoria builds tension between her characters and by the Cornish setting that she so beautifully evokes. I love that this is a story told through the eyes of several remarkably strong women across generations and I'm really excited to be publishing such a brilliant book."

From BookBrunch article | Lucy Nathan

We're kicking off this roundup with the excellent news that client Phillipa Ashley has scored another four-book deal with Avon, in a deal negotiated by Broo Doherty. Ashley will continue her series set in Cornwall, as well as writing individual novels set in the Lake District. ​

Ashley has already published 10 books with Avon, and the new deal takes her publishing with the imprint through to 2023. 

Congratulations, Phillipa! To read the full press release, click here.​

The ninth book in L. C. Tyler's Elsie and Ethelred series, Farewell My Herring, was published last week. 

​Ethelred Tressider and his agent Elsie Thirkettle have been invited to lecture on a creative writing course at Fell Hall, a remote location in the heart of ragged countryside that even sheep are keen to shun. While Ethelred’s success as a writer is distinctly average, Elsie sees this as an opportunity to scout for new, hopefully more lucrative, talent. But heavy snow falls overnight, trapping those early arrivals inside, and tensions are quick to emerge between the assembled group.
​
When one of their number goes missing, Ethelred leads a search party and makes a gruesome discovery. With no phone signal and no hope of summoning the police, can Ethelred and Elsie identify the killer among them before one of them is next?

"An outrageously clever parody of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and all those other masters of the whodunit, Farewell My Herring – the ninth book in a series that it would be simply murder to miss – is the equivalent of a sparkling glass of champagne."
Lancashire Evening Post

A couple of brilliant reviews for Brian McGilloway's Blood Ties - the latest in his Benedict Devlin series - landed this week, and we couldn't be more pleased.

"The swiftness with which McGilloway can go from one narrative thread to another so neatly and succinctly is a skill that familiar readers will be aware of but new readers will greatly appreciate. A writer of real intelligence has again created a work of fiction that is both real and emotive basing it within a very familiar world as the fear of a pandemic takes over, but a gripping and entertaining crime read of real nous and skill." Next to the Aisle blog

"What an enthralling, powerful, incredibly moving novel this is. Although a police procedural, Blood Ties does not feel like one." Irish Times

Finally, we received word of Very Exciting News:

Stuart Turton's second novel, The Devil and the Dark Water has been optioned for television by Urban Myth Films. Rights were acquired from Emily Hayward-Whitlock at the Artists Partnership on behalf of Harry Illingworth, director at the DHH Literary Agency. Howard Overman will write the adaptation, with Turton on board as an executive producer. 

Turton's debut, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (Raven Books, 2018), was optioned by House Productions and is being adapted as a seven-part series for Netflix. 

​To read the full press release, click here. 

Stuart Turton’s murder mystery The Devil and the Dark Water (Raven Books, 2020) has been optioned for television by Urban Myth Films.

Rights were acquired from Emily Hayward-Whitlock at the Artists Partnership on behalf of Harry Illingworth, director at the DHH Literary Agency. Howard Overman will write the adaptation, with Turton on board as an executive producer. 

Turton said: "Howard Overman is a ludicrously talented scriptwriter who has spent his career writing things I love. I'm so thrilled he's pointing his pen at Devil. I can't imagine anybody better suited to bringing the book's mysteries, devils, baddies, goodies and sinister boats to screen. It's going to be fun."

Overman commented: "The Devil and the Dark Water is a thrilling story full of unexpected twists and turns. Stuart has created a cast of great characters, and I can’t wait to bring them to life on screen."

Turton's debut, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (Raven Books, 2018), was optioned by House Productions and is being adapted as a seven-part series for Netflix. 

Senior commissioning editor Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks at Avon has signed four more novels by Phillipa Ashley, buying World English Rights from Broo Doherty. Ashley has already published 10 books with Avon, and the new deal takes her publishing with the imprint through to 2023. 

Ashley will continue her series set in Cornwall, as well as writing individual novels set in the Lake District. Ashley's first standalone novel with Avon, A Surprise Christmas Wedding, was a bestseller in 2021.

Faulkner-Willcocks said: "In the past year, readers have needed escapism more than ever, and it's no wonder they have turned to Phillipa's brilliant stories - and their vivid sense of place and community - in droves. With these new books, Avon aims to solidify Phillipa's place among the biggest brands in seasonal women's fiction, which is absolutely where she belongs."

Doherty said: "Phillipa and I are absolutely delighted to be continuing to work with the impressive Avon team; they have done a superb job creating Phillipa' into a Sunday Times bestselling author and I know that Phillipa's reputation can only grow over these next four books."

Ashley, who has also published titles with Penguin, Pitakus Entice, Samhain and Headline Little Black Dress, said: "I couldn't be more thrilled to be working with the talented and enthusiastic Avon team for my next four books. They are a delight to work with and are dedicated to getting my stories into the hands of as many readers as possible."

From Book Brunch article | Lucy Nathan

We're going to kick off this week's DHH News Roundup with a massive congratulations to several of our clients, who have all been longlisted for this year's CWA Awards:

- -

Gold Dagger
M. W. Craven: The Curator (Constable)

Ian Fleming Steel Dagger
Stuart Turton: The Devil and the Dark Water (Raven Books)

John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
Eva Björg Ægisdóttir: The Creak on the Stairs (Orenda Books)

Sapere Books Historical Dagger
A. D. Swanston: Chaos (Bantam Press)

Short Story Dagger
Robert Scragg: A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas in Afraid of the Christmas Lights, edited by Robert Scragg

Victoria Selman: Hunted in Afraid of the Christmas Lights, edited by Robert Scragg

Stuart Turton: Murder Most Vial in First Edition: Celebrating 21 Years of Goldsboro Books (Dome Press)

- -

Honouring the very best in crime writing, the annual awards are the oldest in the genre with previous winners including Ian Rankin, John le Carré, Reginald Hill and Ruth Rendell. 

The shortlists will be announced in May with the awards ceremony taking place at the start of July. 

To read the full Bookseller article, click here.​

Published this week was the eBook for Adam Hamdy's second Scott Pearce book, Red Wolves​. 

The Westhill Whistler featured a lovely interview this week with new client, Caraline Brown, about writing and her novel, The Candlelit Menagerie. 

Set in 18th century London, the story follows Lillian; a young maid struggling to find her place in society, who yearns for something else. When she wakes to hears lions roaring in the distance, her intrigue leads her to discover a candlelit animal emporium – the Menagerie. She quickly begins to find her calling and befriends the exotic animals.

​To read the full article, click here. 

Thank you to Adam Hamdy who gave a brilliant endorsement for G. S. Locke's brand new crime thriller, Six:

“Decades spent atoning for a great wrong. Redemption that is always out of reach. A killer who won’t let go. Six is an enthralling mystery that delivers twists and thrills galore as it builds to its engrossing conclusion. A real page-turner.”

In other Joanna Toye news, one of her more recent Shop Girls book, Heartache for the Shop Girls, is only 99p in eBook for the remainder of this month. 

We are delighted to announce that we have a number of DHH authors included in the CWA Dagger longlists for 2021. 

- -

Gold Dagger
M. W. Craven: The Curator (Constable)

Ian Fleming Steel Dagger
Stuart Turton: The Devil and the Dark Water (Raven Books)

John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
Eva Björg Ægisdóttir: The Creak on the Stairs (Orenda Books)

Sapere Books Historical Dagger
A. D. Swanston: Chaos (Bantam Press)

Short Story Dagger
Robert Scragg: A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas in Afraid of the Christmas Lights, edited by Robert Scragg

Victoria Selman: Hunted in Afraid of the Christmas Lights, edited by Robert Scragg

Stuart Turton: Murder Most Vial in First Edition: Celebrating 21 Years of Goldsboro Books (Dome Press)

- -

Honouring the very best in crime writing, the annual awards are the oldest in the genre with previous winners including Ian Rankin, John le Carré, Reginald Hill and Ruth Rendell. 

The shortlists will be announced in May with the awards ceremony taking place at the start of July. 

To read the full Bookseller article, click here.

Sticking with a bit of glorious Icelandic fiction, Ragnar Jónasson's forthcoming new standalone, The Girl Who Died, has been announced as Goldsboro Books' Prem1er Book of the Month for June. 

Clare Whitfield's debut, People of Abandoned Character, was selected for one of the Library Journal's Best Debuts of Spring & Summer 2021, who also gave it a brilliant review:

"This debut historical mystery contains echoes of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and Jack the Ripper. The unreliable narration combines with richly details writing in a mystery with a shocking conclusion."

To read the full article, click here. 

Congratulations to Adam Hamdy, who this week saw the paperback of his book co-written with James Patterson, hit no.4 in the pb charts and no.5 in the overall charts. 










​Here's what readers are saying about Private Moscow:

​"An unmissable, breakneck ride into Moscow's dark underworld."
James Swallow

"Great action sequences... breathtaking twists and turns."
Anthony Horowitz

"The first Private outing for a couple of years, but its been well worth the wait... As always in a Patterson novel there's lots of action and plot turns as Jack tries to discover the secrets that unite the murder victims as he gets tangled up in the murky world of espionage."
Keighley News

"There's enough action, adventure and excitement to fill two chunky blockbusters in Private Moscow which makes for an exhilarating and totally satisfying read."
NB magazine

"Exhilarating, high-stakes action set in sub-zero temperatures, but so fast-paced, you won't have time to feel the chill."
Lesley Kara

Two fabulous books were published this week:

Chasing the Italian Dream, the gorgeous new summery read from Jo Thomas, is out now in eBook and is an irresistibly feel-good novel set in beautiful southern-Italy. 

Condemned by R. C. Bridgestock is the second in their gritty police procedural DI Charley Mann series - perfect for fans of LJ Ross and Joy Ellis. 

To order your own copy of either book, just click on the title.