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DHH News Roundup 21st - 27th February 2022

2/28/2022

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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. ​
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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."

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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
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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!
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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..."


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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.


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. 
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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!
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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.” 
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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).


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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. 

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Orion Snares Royal Murder Mystery by McGeorge

2/24/2022

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Orion Fiction has signed A Murder At Balmoral by Chris McGeorge, a murder mystery described as perfect for fans of "Knives Out" and The Windsor Knot (Zaffre).  

Francesca Pathak, publishing director, acquired world volume rights to the novel from Hannah Sheppard at D H H Literary Agency. A Murder At Balmoral will be published early 2023. 
 
The synopsis reads: “A Murder At Balmoral opens on Christmas Day at Balmoral Castle where the King is about to step down and recommend a successor. However as he rises to make his speech, he raises a glass of his favourite whiskey from a bottle that has just been unsealed. He takes a sip and drops dead. With it clear that only a family member could have committed the murder, it’s left to the King’s private chef to solve the crime before it’s too late.” 
 
Pathak commented: “Chris McGeorge is a master at a locked room mystery and combining that skill with a Christmas royal story, I knew we had something incredibly special on our hands. A mix of Janice Hallett and S J Bennett with a dash of ’Knives Out’ for good measure, I can’t wait for readers to experience A Murder At Balmoral."
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McGeorge added: “Writing A Murder At Balmoral was an incredibly enjoyable experience. Recently, I have been fascinated with the British monarchy and being able to explore it whilst also paying homage to the golden age of crime was a perfect combination. Also I love a Christmas special!” 

From The Bookseller article | Katie Fraser​

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DHH News Roundup 14th - 20th February 2022

2/21/2022

0 Comments

 
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Congratulations to client Anna Jacobs, who last week saw the publication of her new book, Sarah's Gift, the second in her Waterfront series (Allison & Busby). 

Sarah Blakemere's last will and testament will set a cat amongst the pigeons in the family; Sarah has left her luxurious home in a waterside development in Mandurah, Western Australia, to two female relatives in the UK, on the condition that they live in the house together for a year. After that period they can sell it and split the money between them, but if either of them doesn't last the full year, the next person on the list will be invited to try for the inheritance.

Will the experience do as Sarah had hoped and shake Portia and Fleur out of their ruts? And when they find another surprise bequest from Sarah, what will they do with it?


Amanda Jennings' forthcoming novel, The Haven (March 2022, HQ) has been reviewed in the Financial Times by Barry Forshaw:

​"Amanda Jennings’ hypnotic The Haven has a young couple fleeing their quotidian life for a commune on a remote farm. But things turn nasty, rendering the novel’s title a distinct misnomer."
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Congratulations to Julie Caplin (otherwise known as Jules Wake), who last week saw her most recent book, The Cosy Cottage in Ireland, jump from no.8 to no.3 in the Heatseekers' Chart.


We were delighted to see two fantastic endorsements from fellow authors, Victoria Selman and Anthony Horowitz, for Graham Bartlett's forthcoming  Bad For Good (June 2022, Allison & Busby):

​"Woven with such authenticity and a keen eye for detail, ​Bad For Good is a cracking procedural that quite literally doesn’t pull any punches."
Victoria Selman

"Vicious criminals and dysfunctional police described by a man who who knows.”
Anthony Horowitz
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Also published this week was the paperback for Eve Smith's Off Target (Orenda).

When a one-night stand leads to a long-desired pregnancy, Susan will do anything to ensure her husband won't find out ... including the unthinkable. But when something horrendous is unleashed around the globe, her secret isn't the only thing that is no longer safe...

If you thought Eve's debut novel, The Waiting Rooms, was frighteningly plausible, just wait until you get your hands on this one *bites nails*


Becca Day's debut novel, The Girl Beyond the Gate (March 2022, Embla) has picked up two fantastic endorsements this week:

"Fast-paced and dripping with dark secrets; The Girl Beyond The Gate gripped me from the very start before propelling me towards that powerful ending. Highly recommended."
Sarah Bonner

"Tantalisingly toxic. A fantastic debut with an OMG ending!"
Lauren North
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The final book published in last week's trinity, was T. L. Mogford's The Plant Hunter (Welbeck). 

1867. King's Road, Chelsea, is a sea of plant nurseries, catering to the Victorian obsession with rare and exotic flora. But each of the glossy emporiums is fuelled by the dangerous world of plant hunters - daring adventures sent into uncharted lands in search of untold wonders to grace England's finest gardens. 

The book was given a 4* review from The Telegraph, and called "an engaging adventure ... inventive" by The Sunday Times. 


Oxford's The Herald has published a piece on client Tom Hindle and his debut novel, A Fatal Crossing​ (February 2022, Century). A perfect read for fans of golden-age crime!
Read the full article here.
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Congratulations to client Maddie Please, whose most recent book, Sisters Behaving Badly (November 2021, Boldwood Books), saw an incredible week: it hit no.13 in the US, no.1 in Australia, no.2 in Canada and today, hit its highest point and entered the top 30 in the UK (while still sitting pretty in the top 10 for both Australia and Canada).

​Congratulations, Maddie!
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Finally, after last week's announcement that Pan Macmillan will publish Adam Hamdy's next book, The Other Side of Night, we are delighted to add to this, with the news that Atria (Simon and Schuster) will publish the book in the US in September this year, complete with its gorgeous cover (below).
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The Other Side of Night is a thought-provoking, moving “head-spinner of a novel” (John Connolly) with intriguing narratives and plot swerves that will leave you reeling. By the end, you’ll be shaken as each piece slots satisfyingly into place.
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DHH News Roundup 7th - 13th February 2022

2/14/2022

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Client Lucinda Hawksley took part in Emirates' Literary Festival in Dubai last week, discussing the works of her great-great-great grandfather, Charles Dickens and her own books, including Charles Dickens and His Circle and The Mystery of Princess Louise. Head over to Lucinda's Twitter or Instagram to see just what she got up to.

Included was a Q&A with Lucinda from Arab News.
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We're delighted to welcome Amanda Tuke to the Agency this week. 

Amanda, who joins Tom Drake-Lee's list, is ​a nature writer and naturalist with a particular interest in urban and suburban nature in the British Isles. 
 
An ecologist and teacher by background, she’s passionate about demystifying the natural world for a wide audience and sharing her joy in finding nature in the most surprising and unlikely places.


Victoria Selman's forthcoming novel, Truly, Darkly, Deeply, has been snapped up by Volt in the Netherlands, making it the fifth overall territory. Congratulations!
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The debut from Sean Lusk, The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley (Transworld, July 2022), has picked up a lovely pre-pub endorsement from Essie Fox:

"This delicious feast of a novel is flavoured with characters of Dickensian brilliance, a good dollop of the grime and clamour of eighteenth century London, and a generous infusion of spices of the exotic east. One taste, you’ll be addicted."


Sticking with Sean and Zachary, both he and fellow DHH stablemate, Clare Whitfield - author of Glass Bell Award 2021 winner, People of Abandoned Character​ - will be at Waterstones in Durham on the 18th June, from 11am - 2pm, signing copies of their books. A date for your diary!
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Bookending this wonderful news, Clare's debut is included in Kindle's Monthly Deal for only 99p. Click this link to get your copy.
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We were delighted to see Eve Smith's, Off Target - released this week in paperback - included in The Times' Science Fiction Fantasy roundup last week:

"Off-Target is about the seductions of gene therapy and the steps by which entirely reasonable people can steer into ethically dangerous territory. The first half is a high-concept thriller; the second edges into science fiction as a generation of genetically optimised children respond to the social pressures they are under with self-harm and suicide. It’s an astute, well-researched and convincing novel of ideas."
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Released this week in eBook and hardback, Thomas Mogford's The Plant Hunter has been reviewed in Candis magazine.


Finally, we are over the moon to be able to announce that Adam Hamdy's new book, The Other Side of Night, a "brilliant and genre-bending thriller", has been bought by PanMacmillan.

Vicki Mellor, publishing director in fiction, negotiated UK and Commonwealth rights from Hannah Sheppard. Film rights have been optioned by producer Lee Thomas through his indie company Prodigal. The Other Side of Night will publish in hardback in September 2022 with a mass-market paperback following in June 2023.  

​To read the full press release, click here.
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Pan Macmillan looks to The Other Side of Night with Hamdy

2/7/2022

1 Comment

 
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Pan Macmillan has secured The Other Side of Night, a “brilliant genre-bending thriller” from Adam Hamdy.   

Vicki Mellor, publishing director in fiction, negotiated UK and Commonwealth rights from Hannah Sheppard at The D H H Literary Agency. US and translation rights are being sold by DHH while film rights have been optioned by producer Lee Thomas through his indie company Prodigal. The Other Side of Night will publish in hardback in September 2022 with a mass-market paperback following in June 2023.  

The synopsis reads: “The Other Side of Night asks what links an orphaned child to three mysterious deaths. Former detective Harriet Kealty is determined to find out, particularly once she discovers it involves a man who may or may not be the love of her life. But what starts as a simple investigation becomes something entirely different, in a profound, genre-bending and utterly unforgettable tale of love, loss and redemption that will open readers’ minds and hearts.” 

Mellor said: “I’ve worked with Adam for many years and am more than aware of his abilities to drive pace and tension but I was blown away by this novel. It represents another brilliant strand to his writing and demonstrates his talent at creating emotionally resonant plots that take readers on a journey they could never have envisaged.”  

Thomas commented: “Adam has crafted a potent and brilliant genre-bending thriller, and like the best character-driven thriller mysteries such as ’Memento’ or  ’K-Pax’,  The Other Side of Night  will keep audiences guessing and bedazzled until the very end. I am delighted to be bringing this fabulous story to the screen, and can’t wait to see audience reactions when they realise that nothing is as it seems.” 
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Hamdy added: “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about The Other Side of Night  since the day my son asked me the question that inspired it. I hope it has a similar impact on readers and becomes a book people want to read over and over again. The Pan Macmillan team has a track record of introducing thought-provoking fiction to a wide readership, and I’m thrilled to be published by them in the UK.” 

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DHH News Roundup 31st January - 6th February 2022

2/6/2022

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We're kicking off this week's DHH News Roundup, with a lovely review for Marina Palmer's The Russian Doll, that appeared in the Financial Times last week:

"The Russian Doll is a sharply observed take on the Faustian pact - and contemporary London."


Congratulations to client Mike Hollow, whose next book in his Blitz Detective series, The Camden Murder, has sold to Allison & Busby, in a World English Language rights deal, negotiated by Broo Doherty.

The book follows The Blitz Detective, The Canning Town Murder, The Custom House Murder, The Stratford Murder, The Dockland Murder and The Pimlico Murder. 
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Tania Crosse's touching and emotional saga dramas, The Candle Factory Girl  and The Street of Broken Dreams, are included in Kindle's Monthly Deal for February. 

Both books are available for only 99p - simply click on the titles above to buy.
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The cover for David Fennell's second Grace Archer book, See No Evil ​(April 2022, Bonnier Books), has been revealed. The first, The Art of Death was published in 2021 and went straight into the Sunday Times top 20.
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For this killer, it's death at first sight...

Two men are found dead in London's Battersea Park. One of the bodies has been laid out like a crucifix - with his eyes removed and placed on his open palms.

Detective Inspector Grace Archer and her caustic DS, Harry Quinn, lead the investigation. But when more bodies turn up in a similar fashion, they find themselves in a race against time to find the sadistic killer.

The hunt leads them to Ladywell Playtower in Southeast London, the home to a religious commune lead by the enigmatic Aaron Cronin. Archer and Quinn suspect Cronin's involvement but his alibis are watertight, and the truth seemingly buried. If Archer is to find the killer, she must first battle her way through religious fanatics, London gangsters - and her own demons...


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The Berlin Girl author, Mandy Robotham, has written a piece for the Shetland Times, about the true story that has inspired her next book, The Resistance Girl (March 2022, HarperCollins). Allow Mandy to tell you a bit about it:
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Congratulations to M. W. Craven, whose book, The Curator, has sold to Pegasus in Estonia, the home for the first two in the series, The Puppet Show and Black Summer.

This marks the ninth international territory for the the third in the Washington Poe series
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Eve Smith's recent release, Off Target, was selected by Prima magazine as one of their Books of the Month for February (out in paperback on 17th April, Orenda Books). 

When a one-night stand leads to a long-desired pregnancy, Susan will do anything to ensure her husband won't find out ... including the unthinkable. But when something horrendous is unleashed around the globe, her secret isn't the only thing that is no longer safe...


Another cover reveal for you now, and this time for the debut novel by police procedural and crime advisor, and former Chief Superintendent, Graham Bartlett. Bad For Good will be released by Allison & Busby in June 2022. Graham is also the author of bestselling non-fiction, Death Comes Knocking: Policing Roy Grace's Brighton (PanMac, 2016) and Babes in the Wood (PanMac, 2020).
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How far would you go?

The murder of a promising footballer and, crucially, the son of the Brighton's Chief Superintendent, means Detective Superintendent Jo Howe has a complicated and sensitive case on her hands. The situation becomes yet more desperate following devastating blackmail threats.
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Howe can trust no one as she tracks the brutal killer in a city balanced on a knife edge of vigilante action and a police force riven with corruption.

And finally, congratulations to clients Phillipa Ashley and Anita Frank, who have both been shortlisted for their books at the RNA Awards 2022.

Ashley's An Endless Cornish Summer (Avon) is in The Contemporary Romantic Novel Award, while Frank's The Return (HQ) sits in The Historical Romantic Novel Award. 

​The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms, and winners of the awards will be announced during the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Novel Awards ceremony, which is being held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, 8-14 Cooper’s Row, London EC3N 2BQ, on Monday 7th March 2022 at 6.30pm. Best-selling novelist and DHH client Jo Thomas will compère the ceremony. More information here.
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Romantic Novel Award Shortlists 2022

2/1/2022

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Congratulations to clients Phillipa Ashley and Anita Frank, who have both been shortlisted for their books at the RNA Awards 2022.

Ashley's An Endless Cornish Summer (Avon) is in The Contemporary Romantic Novel Award, while Frank's The Return (HQ) sits in The Historical Romantic Novel Award. 

​The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms, and winners of the awards will be announced during the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Novel Awards ceremony, which is being held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, 8-14 Cooper’s Row, London EC3N 2BQ, on Monday 7th March 2022 at 6.30pm. Best-selling novelist and DHH client Jo Thomas will compère the ceremony. More information here.
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