We're kicking off this week's DHH News Roundup with the fantastic news that Thomas Mogford's newly-released The Plant Hunter, has been selected as the Sunday Telegraph's Book of the Week!
This follows last week's glowing review from the same publication.
This follows last week's glowing review from the same publication.
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The book was also favourably reviewed in this month's edition of Country Life:
"This novel proves to be, in the best sense, a good old fashioned adventure story ... The story is well researched and packed with intriguing detail ... There's a dash of Jules Verne, a punch of Rider Haggard, a smattering of Robert Louis Stevenson and more than a touch of Indiana Jones. It all adds up to a thoroughly enjoyable whole."
"This novel proves to be, in the best sense, a good old fashioned adventure story ... The story is well researched and packed with intriguing detail ... There's a dash of Jules Verne, a punch of Rider Haggard, a smattering of Robert Louis Stevenson and more than a touch of Indiana Jones. It all adds up to a thoroughly enjoyable whole."
Rebecca Griffiths' news book, The Hidden Child, was released last week - the perfect read for those who like their crime fiction with a side of "based on a true story".
Manchester, England, 1965
In an instant Connie's life has changed. She only left her daughter Kathy alone for a moment but that was enough for her to vanish without a trace. As Connie desperately searches for her, she has to put the news reports of other missing children to the back of her mind. She is determined to find her safe. She will bring her daughter home.
As local farmer Ronald listens to the news, he is shocked by what he hears. He has spent his life away from the spotlight, quietly tending to his farm. But when a young couple begin acting suspiciously on his land, he knows that trouble is about to reach his door.
And then he sees her. A girl in a bright red coat who looks completely lost. Ronald knows he needs to help keep her safe and find her family. But on the wild and desolate farmland, Ronald has buried his own dark secret. Can he risk it coming to light to save her life?
Manchester, England, 1965
In an instant Connie's life has changed. She only left her daughter Kathy alone for a moment but that was enough for her to vanish without a trace. As Connie desperately searches for her, she has to put the news reports of other missing children to the back of her mind. She is determined to find her safe. She will bring her daughter home.
As local farmer Ronald listens to the news, he is shocked by what he hears. He has spent his life away from the spotlight, quietly tending to his farm. But when a young couple begin acting suspiciously on his land, he knows that trouble is about to reach his door.
And then he sees her. A girl in a bright red coat who looks completely lost. Ronald knows he needs to help keep her safe and find her family. But on the wild and desolate farmland, Ronald has buried his own dark secret. Can he risk it coming to light to save her life?
| In other news, Rebecca's previous book, The Girl At My Door (based on the notorious Rillington Place murders) is currently in the US Top 100, and last week hit no.1 in Historical Thrillers, no.2 in Serial Killer Thrillers and no.2 in Historical Mysteries. Congratulations, Rebecca! |  |
Eve Smith's recently-released Off Target was reviewed in SFX last week:
"An effective thriller that will keep you hooked to the very end. But more than that, it's a nuanced, believable examination of how human genetic engineering might play out..."
"An effective thriller that will keep you hooked to the very end. But more than that, it's a nuanced, believable examination of how human genetic engineering might play out..."
Also reviewed last week in SFX, was Richard Swan's debut, The Justice of Kings, published last week and the first in his Empire of the Wolf series:
"A gnarly, knotty and visceral fantasy that plays out in the manner of a historical whodunnit ... author Richard Swan's fictional universe arrived fully formed - internally consistent and utterly believable."
The book was additionally picked up for review in SciFi Now:
"An engrossing story blessed with elegant plotting, considered characters and visceral action, this is a broadsword-brandishing, magically powerful debut that knows what makes fantasy fun."
Get your copy here.
"A gnarly, knotty and visceral fantasy that plays out in the manner of a historical whodunnit ... author Richard Swan's fictional universe arrived fully formed - internally consistent and utterly believable."
The book was additionally picked up for review in SciFi Now:
"An engrossing story blessed with elegant plotting, considered characters and visceral action, this is a broadsword-brandishing, magically powerful debut that knows what makes fantasy fun."
Get your copy here.
| Client Lucinda Hawksley interviewed Damian Le Bas, author of The Stopping Places: A Journey Through Gypsy Britain, for the Goldster Club's Inside Story. You can watch the full interview here. |  |
| The Mist, the third in Ragnar Jónasson's Hidden Iceland series (April 2020, Michael Joseph), has stayed at no.1 on the Crime Fiction Bestseller list in France. Congratulations, Ragnar! |  |
Something you may well have seen on social media, client Vikki Patis has set up Book Fuel, a volunteer-run auction to raise money for National Energy Action, a charity which works to end fuel poverty in the UK.
Inspired by previous campaigns such as Authors for Grenfell, Book Fuel will be an online auction, offering everything from signed books to critiques from agents. Winners will make their donations on a JustGiving page with all the money going towards the charity National Energy Action.
Patis was inspired to set up the appeal earlier this month in response to news about rising energy prices. She originally hoped a few people might be willing to donate signed books, but agents and publishing figures soon started getting involved and “it kept growing”.
She told The Bookseller: “It’s obviously very encouraging and reinforces that there are some generally lovely people out there and people generally want to do good and do what they can. Even though it may seem like a small thing to just offer a signed book, it matters. A lot of authors as well, myself included, have experienced poverty, so I think that is also a big inspiration for a lot of us. If we’re not still in poverty we want to give back because we know what it’s like.”
The auction began on 25th February, and will end on Monday 7th March. To find out more and bid on some truly excellent items, for a truly excellent cause, click here.
Inspired by previous campaigns such as Authors for Grenfell, Book Fuel will be an online auction, offering everything from signed books to critiques from agents. Winners will make their donations on a JustGiving page with all the money going towards the charity National Energy Action.
Patis was inspired to set up the appeal earlier this month in response to news about rising energy prices. She originally hoped a few people might be willing to donate signed books, but agents and publishing figures soon started getting involved and “it kept growing”.
She told The Bookseller: “It’s obviously very encouraging and reinforces that there are some generally lovely people out there and people generally want to do good and do what they can. Even though it may seem like a small thing to just offer a signed book, it matters. A lot of authors as well, myself included, have experienced poverty, so I think that is also a big inspiration for a lot of us. If we’re not still in poverty we want to give back because we know what it’s like.”
The auction began on 25th February, and will end on Monday 7th March. To find out more and bid on some truly excellent items, for a truly excellent cause, click here.
The cover for Eva Björg Ægisdóttir's new Forbidden Iceland book, starring Detective Elma - Night Shadows - has been revealed:
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The small community of Akranes is devastated when a young man dies in a mysterious house fire, and when Detective Elma and her colleagues from West Iceland CID discover the fire was arson, they become embroiled in an increasingly perplexing case involving multiple suspects. What’s more, the dead man’s final online search raises fears that they could be investigating not one murder, but two.
A few months before the fire, a young Dutch woman takes a job as an au pair in Iceland, desperate to make a new life for herself after the death of her father. But the seemingly perfect family who employs her turns out to have problems of its own and she soon discovers she is running out of people to turn to.
As the police begin to home in on the truth, Elma, already struggling to come to terms with a life-changing event, finds herself in mortal danger as it becomes clear that someone has secrets they’ll do anything to hide…
The book will be published in July 2022 (Orenda Books).
A few months before the fire, a young Dutch woman takes a job as an au pair in Iceland, desperate to make a new life for herself after the death of her father. But the seemingly perfect family who employs her turns out to have problems of its own and she soon discovers she is running out of people to turn to.
As the police begin to home in on the truth, Elma, already struggling to come to terms with a life-changing event, finds herself in mortal danger as it becomes clear that someone has secrets they’ll do anything to hide…
The book will be published in July 2022 (Orenda Books).
Finally, we're delighted to be able to announce that Chris McGeorge has signed a new deal with Orion, for his new book, A Murder at Balmoral, a murder mystery, described as "perfect for fans of Knives Out and The Windsor Knot."
Francesca Pathak, publishing director, acquired World Rights from Hannah Sheppard, and the book is due for publication in early 2023.
To read the full press release, click here.
Francesca Pathak, publishing director, acquired World Rights from Hannah Sheppard, and the book is due for publication in early 2023.
To read the full press release, click here.
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