Wildfire signs ‘hilarious’ comedy crime novel from Elly Vine

Wildfire has acquired The Lottery Winner Widows Club, a “quirky and darkly funny” crime novel by Elly Vine, the pseudonym for bestselling author Lucy Vine. Publication is set for 27th March 2026.

World all-language rights, including film and TV, were acquired from Diana Beaumont by Jack Butler in his previous role as fiction publisher, with publication to be led by editorial director Rachel Hart.

The synopsis reads: “The Lottery Winner Widows Club follows Paula, a recently bereaved woman who wins the lottery and is mistakenly approached by a club for widows whose jackpot-winning husbands also died in suspicious circumstances – mistakenly believing that, like them, she is responsible for her husband’s death.

“Something about their world – lavish, secretive, thrilling – is hard to resist. And when word of Paula’s jackpot win spreads, and others come sniffing around for a share, she is faced with the ultimate choice: hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more... unconventional.”

Lucy Vine is the author of novels Hot Mess, What Fresh Hell, Are We Nearly There Yet?, Bad Choices (Orion), Seven Exes, Date with Destiny and Book Boyfriend (Simon & Schuster UK).

Vine said: “It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember to write a crime-com (crim-com?) and I am utterly thrilled the Wildfire gang were up for having me (or, indeed, Elly Vine!). They are such a smart and talented bunch, and I’ve had the most brilliant, joyful, inspiring time working on this book with them. I can’t wait for everyone to read The Lottery Winner Widows Club – and yes, we have spent a lot of time debating apostrophes. Don’t come for me.”

Hart said: “Twisty, mischievous and deliciously dark, The Lottery Winner Widows Club is a story of luck, lies and the dangerous appeal of starting over. It’s been such a huge joy to work with Lucy and I can’t wait for readers to meet Paula and her badly behaved gang of friends in this fabulously fun read next year!”

Beaumont added: “It’s really exciting to see Lucy’s first crime novel out in the world alongside her wonderful romcoms. She’s taken to crime writing with her customary brilliance and the team at Headline have been so supportive and enthusiastic about it.”