Allison & Busby snaps up LC Tyler’s The Murder Planner in two-book deal

Allison & Busby has snapped up LC Tyler’s The Murder Planner in a two-book deal.

Susie Dunlop, publishing director at Allison & Busby, has acquired World English rights to two new books from David Headley at DHH Literary Agency.

Leading the acquisition is The Murder Planner, a "high-concept, darkly comic crime novel set inside a boutique publishing house where fictional murder plots begin to spill into the real world, with deadly consequences".

Tyler’s acclaimed Ethelred and Elsie series has been a longstanding success for the A&B list, according to the publisher, with a new instalment also scheduled for publication in 2027.

Dunlop said: "I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Len back to the list with not one, but two new books. The Murder Planner is inventive, witty and brilliantly executed, it’s a perfect showcase of his unique talent. He remains one of the most distinctive and beloved voices in crime fiction, and this novel is an absolute treat."

Tyler said: "Sometimes you come up with a strange idea and an unruly set of characters and know you simply have to write the book. I hope readers who enjoyed my Herring series will have just as much fun with this one. It’s essentially the same jokes, with the addition of cocktail recipes. I’m hugely grateful to Susie and her team for their enthusiasm, and to David for his invaluable support in bringing the project together."

Headley said: "The Murder Planner is one of those rare concepts that feels instantly compelling: a brilliant hook paired with real wit and precision on the page. Len is writing at the very top of his game here, and this has all the ingredients of a standout crime series with genuine reader appeal."