Viking has agreed a six-figure pre-empt on a The Secret History-style thriller set at Edinburgh University, The Things We Do To Our Friends, by debut author Heather Darwent.

The novel is billed as “an intoxicating upmarket psychological thriller with shades of The Secret History for the Me Too era". A girl hiding from her past turns up at Edinburgh University, where she is lured in by a mysterious foursome who are far from your typical students.
 
Vikki Moynes, assistant editor at Viking, pre-empted world rights from Emily Glenister at the DHH Literary Agency in a six-figure deal. The debut will be published in January 2023.  
 
“Heather Darwent is the fresh new voice in this area I’ve been searching for,” Moynes said. “Heather takes us on a journey from the dazzling spires of Edinburgh to the dripping staircases and dark alleyways of its underbelly. With her absorbing storytelling, observational prowess and absolutely shocking twists, she has written a new kind of psychological thriller that examines age-old concerns in a truly original way: the dark side of friendship and privilege; and that enduring human conundrum of the self we present to the world versus our true nature.”  

She added: “I am so thrilled to be bringing this magnificent writer to the Viking list.” 

Darwent is originally from Yorkshire and now lives in Edinburgh where she works for a technology start-up.  

She commented: “I’m so excited to work with Vikki and the team at Viking. The Things We Do To Our Friends came from a deep fascination with the secrets of student life, paired with an enduring obsession with the gothic city of Edinburgh. As soon as I first spoke with Vikki, I knew she'd be the absolute best person to bring the twists of this dark tale to life, and I hope that everyone who has ever felt that sense of not quite belonging can relate in a way to my cast of flawed and dangerous characters.” 
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Glenister said: “From reading the first page of Heather’s spellbinding debut, I was hooked. Her writing is so evocative and gets right under your skin. The dark and toxic side of the elite is something that will never cease to fascinate and Heather’s book puts a fresh, new spin on things.” 

The cover for L. C. Tyler's next Elsie and Ethelred book, Farewell My Herring has been revealed! 

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.
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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?

The book will be published by Allison & Busby in eBook in April, and paperback in November.

Another superb review for one of our client's books, The Art of Death by David Fennell - this time, from the Daily Mail:

Finally, we are so excited to be able to announce the acquisition of Sean Lusk's debut novel, The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley. 

Doubleday's Eloisa Clegg pre-empted UK & Commonwealth Rights from David Headley for this mesmerising historical tale set against the backdrop of 18th century London and Constantinople. 

In 1754, maker of clocks and automata Abel Cloudesley is stricken when his wife departs the world at the moment of the birth of his son, Zachary. After a fateful accident leaves Zachary nearly blinded, Abel decides that he must leave his son in the care of an eccentric aunt while he completes a precarious job in Constantinople. He is never seen again. As Zachary grows older, he is plagued by visions that reveal the hearts and minds of those around him. It is these visions that will help him complete the journey he must take – to travel across Europe to Constantinople and find out what happened to his father all those years ago.

​Publication is set for summer 2022. To read the full article, click here.

Doubleday has pre-empted The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk, a historical debut set against the backdrop of 18th-century London and Constantinople. 

Editor Eloisa Clegg acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from David Headley at DHH. Publication is slated for summer 2022. 

The novel is billed as a "dazzling and imaginative" tale of a young man’s search for his father. The synopsis reads: "In 1754, maker of clocks and automata Abel Cloudesley is stricken when his wife departs the world at the moment of the birth of his son, Zachary. After a fateful accident leaves Zachary nearly blinded, Abel decides that he must leave his son in the care of an eccentric aunt while he completes a precarious job in Constantinople. He is never seen again. As Zachary grows older, he is plagued by visions that reveal the hearts and minds of those around him. It is these visions that will help him complete the journey he must take – to travel across Europe to Constantinople and find out what happened to his father all those years ago."

Clegg said: "This is a rich, detailed and vibrant tale of a young man finding himself. It has everything you would want: wonderfully realised descriptions, unforgettable characters and a storyline that encompasses the essence of that human yearning for love and acceptance. And with a dash of magical realism, it is original, complex, funny and thoroughly immersive. I cannot wait for readers to fall in love with Zachary Cloudesley."
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Lusk added: "In a back alley in Istanbul a couple of years ago I found a clock made on Leadenhall St, London, in 1750. As soon as I held it I knew it was going to take me on a journey, one which led to the discovery of intrigue in the Ottoman court of the 18th century, of sinister diplomacy in time of war, of fearless women fighting for their rights, and of a chess-playing automaton that was far from what it seemed. The story of Zachary and Abel Cloudesley is of its time and, I hope, of all time."

​From The Bookseller article | Tamsin Hackett

Century is publishing A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle, a debut billed as a "smart, twisting, Golden Age-style crime novel" set aboard a cruise liner.

Slated for in February 2022, Arrow publishing director Emily Griffin acquired world rights, including audio, in the book from Harry Illingworth.

The book is set on board the Endeavour, a cruise liner carrying passengers from Southampton to New York in the winter of 1924. When the body of a passenger is found on board the ship, Timothy Birch, an officer scarred by war and tragedy, and Scotland Yard inspector James Temple work to solve the case, with 2,000 people on board and just days before they reach their destination. 

Griffin said: "From the moment I started reading A Fatal Crossing, I felt transported to the immersive world of the Endeavour. Packed with brilliant characters, fiendish suspects, a twisting mystery and a flawless finish, this book is the perfect literary escape. The continued love for giants of the crime genre, such as Agatha Christie and the phenomenal success of recent releases such as Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, and films such as 'Knives Out', shows that appetite for smart, character-led crime fiction has never been higher. We have big ambitions for Tom’s debut and we can’t wait to bring it to scores of readers next spring."
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Hindle commented: "To think that we’ll soon be welcoming readers aboard the Endeavour is ridiculously exciting. This mystery and these characters have been living for such a long time in my head, and working with the team at Penguin Random House to bring them to life is an absolute joy. There aren’t many things that I love quite as much as losing myself to the twists and turns of a seemingly impossible whodunit. Now, in that same spirit, I can’t wait to draw readers into the glittering, devious world of the Endeavour."

From The Bookseller article | Tamsin Hackett

Julie Caplin's Romantic Escapes series has had a fantastic week with foreign sales:

The Little Teashop in Tokyo has sold to Libri in Hungary

The Little Paris Patisserie and The Northern Lights Lodge has sold to Eksmo in Russia.

For a limited time only, David Wragg's debut historical fantasy, The Black Hawks, is only 99p on Kindle eBook. You can take advantage of the deal here. 

The cover for the second book in David's Articles of Faith duology, The Righteous, has been revealed. 

Rejoin fantasy's most deadly and dysfunctional mercenaries in the sequel to debut sensation The Black Hawks.

​Bound by oath and honour, Vedren Chel found himself drawn to the heart of a deadly rebellion. With him stood the mercenaries of the Black Hawk Company, who were only ever in it for the money.

But the uprising failed. Now, Chel and the sell-sword Rennic languish in prison, watching as their comrades are taken one by one for execution.

A daring escape will set them free, but with the combined forces of vengeful church and voracious crown arrayed against them, Chel and the Black Hawks must embark on a desperate search for new allies.

Journeying from frozen wastes to towering cities, from drug-riddled fleapits to opulent palaces, The Righteous is the thrilling and riotous second adventure from one of fantasy’s most exciting new voices.

Hot on the heels of its UK publication, Georgia Kaufmann's beautiful and sweeping debut The Dressmaker of Paris has been published in Italy and we're a tiny bit in love with the cover. 

The debut adult crime novel by David Fennell shot into the Top 20 hardback charts last week, arriving at no.14, and to say we are delighted is a big, fat understatement.

The Art of Death is the first in Fennell's DI Grace Archer series and is an intensely creepy serial killer thriller, set in London. 

​Buy your copy here.

The cover for Stephen Moss' forthcoming Skylarks With Rosie (March 2021) has been revealed.

The 'Rosie' in question is Stephen's fox-red Labrador, and the book is Stephen's recording of last year's spring equinox as the nation heads into lockdown. 

When old routines fall away, and blue skies are no longer crisscrossed by contrails, they discover the bumblebees, butterflies and birdsong on their local patch.
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This evocative account underlines how a global crisis changed the way we relate to the natural world, giving us hope for the future. And it puts down a marker for a new normal: when, during that brief but unforgettable spring, nature gave us comfort, hope and joy.

Allison & Busby have snapped up World English Language rights to one of Anna Jacobs' backlist titles, Chestnut Lane, and also a forthcoming new title, A Very Special Christmas​ (more about this heartwarming festive read soon).

Two incredibly exciting debuts were published last week: Femi Kayode's Nigerian-set Lightseekers and David Fennell's adult crime debut The Art of Death​. Both books are the first in their series, and we cannot wait to see where they go. 

The Art of Death picked up a fantastic review in this month's Crime Monthly magazine:

"This pacy police procedural had us staying up long past bedtime to find out what happened next."

In addition, Grinstead Books hosted a talk last Monday, between David and fellow author Kate Bradley, and William Shaw hosted a reading party for The Art of Death via Zoom. Sadly, catch-up is not available for either event, but if you missed out, then David will be taking part in another virtual event, Whose Crime Is It Anyway, hosted by the Northern Crime Syndicate. The event will be tomorrow (Tuesday 9th February) at 7.30pm, and you can sign up here.

The first three in Brian McGilloway's Inspector Benedict Devlin series were reissued and published with brand new covers last week. Borderlands, Gallows Lane and Bleed A River Deep are now available in both paperback and eBook. 

Also published in Brian's backlist, was The Last Crossing (originally published in 2020), which also sports a beautiful new jacket. The book has been widely praised by authors, the media, and readers alike & we couldn't be more pleased to see this fantastic story get a second life. 

Femi Kayode's just-published debut Lightseekers has had a very exciting publication week:

It was included in the Independent's Best Books of February 2021 "The suspense is expertly handled"; The Times' roundup of the Best Crime Fiction "Femi Kaydoe is an atmospheric writer", and he was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 by Mariella Frostrup. Miss this one? You can catch up here (2h 36m 18s).

Finally, Femi was interviewed by My Sister, the Serial Killer author Oyinkan Braithwaite for the Los Angeles Review of Books.

The cover for Anna Jacob's forthcoming April 2021 title, In Focus, has been revealed. 

​When a new feature on Pete Newbury s popular TV programme shows his adult image digitally transformed to that of a young child, Beth is shocked to realise that he s her baby brother, who disappeared without a trace thirty-eight years ago. He vanished at the age of three and her family has grieved for him ever since, believing him to be dead. But the path to reunion and happiness is fraught with complications, not least Beth s feelings towards a close friend of her long-lost brother and then the reappearance of her runaway daughter, complete with child. Bridges take time to build, but after so many years of heartache, can Beth manage to keep hold of everything she holds dear?

Finally, the shortlists are in for RNA (Romantic Novelists' Association) Awards 2021, and we're pleased as punch to have three authors included:

• Jules Wake's The Spark (Contemporary Romantic Novel Award)
• Phillipa Ashley's A Perfect Cornish Escape (Popular Romantic Fiction Award)
• Olivia Lara's Someday In Paris (Fantasy Romantic Novel Award)

Congratulations to all!

We're kicking off this week's DHH News Roundup with a fab pre-publication Kirkus review for Ragnar Jónasson's forthcoming standalone, The Girl Who Died:

"An atmospheric, authentically shivery ghost story with criminal trimmings."

​The book will be published in April and you can pre-order your copy here.

We've got a few cover reveals for you today:

The next in Mike Hollow's Blitz Detective series, The Dockland Murder (18th March, Allison & Busby) sees Inspector John Jago uncover a widening circle of secrets ranging across family tensions, the last war and a far-flung corner of the British Empire.

The Pretty One (26th February, Bookouture) is the forthcoming from psychological suspense author Clare Boyd and is a stunning family drama that explores the dark consequences of sibling rivalry and the heart-wrenching emotional cost of keeping secrets from those you love. 

Finally, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir's second book, Girls Who Lie, starring police officer Elma is a breathtakingly chilling psychological thriller and sophisticated police procedural, set against the backdrop of the dark and atmospheric Iceland.

Both Sara MacDonald's Come Away With Me and Anna Jacob's Hallam Square are included in February's Kindle Monthly Deal. Snap them up now before it's too late (click on the title to take you straight to the deal)!

Georgia Kaufmann's stunning debut The Dressmaker of Paris was published in eBook last week and it has already picked up some truly brilliant endorsements:

"Glorious. It really reminded me of the great blockbusters of Judith Krantz, Shirley Conran and Barbara Taylor Bradford - the books that captured my heart and my imagination as a teenager and made me fall in love with reading. An epic, absorbing story spanning the lifetime of one extraordinary woman through hardship, heartbreak and survival. It swept me away."
Iona Grey

"This is a beautifully written novel that sweeps the reader across the globe and through the decades. Rosa is a fascinating yet flawed creation who becomes her own worst enemy in a story of loss and escape, redemption and forgiveness."
S magazine

The book was also selected as a 'Must Read' in Grazia and Bella magazines. 

Endorsements are beginning to come in for S. V. Leonard's forthcoming psych suspense The Islanders:

"What a thrilling ride! | Know What You Did Last Summer meets Love Island! Fast paced and fresh - essential reading for fans of a murder mystery!" 
Carys Jones

"A great locked room mystery debut set on a Greek Island that without a doubt ends with a bang ... It was brilliant!"
It's All About the Books blog

We were delighted to come across a blog taking an in-depth look at Phillipa Ashley's Cornish Cafe series (Summer at the Cornish Cafe, Christmas at the Cornish Cafe and Confetti at the Cornish Cafe). 

​To read the piece, click here.

Finally, we've got a host of award listings which, it's safe to say, made our week!

Debuts by Darren Charlton, James Goodhand and Amy Beashel, Wranglestone, Last Lesson and The Sky Is Mine are all longlisted for the Brandford Boase Award 2021.

Kate Mallinder's YA gems, Summer of No Regrets and Asking For A Friend are longlisted for the 2020 and 2021 Amazing Book Awards. Phyllida Shrimpton's The Colour of Shadows is also longlisted for the 2020 Awards.

Asking For A Friend is also shortlisted for the Oxfordshire Book Awards 2021.

Huge congratulations to all our nominated clients!