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DHH News Roundup 20th - 26th February 2023

2/26/2023

Last week, Dee Benson appeared on BBC Radio Merseyside to talk about her YA debut Glow Up, Lara Bloom.

You can catch up here (32m20s).

The cover for The Silent Man, the new book in David Fennell's Grace Archer series has been revealed.

Stay tuned for more info about this *super* creepy instalment, but until then, don't make a sound...

Julie Caplin's The Secret Cove in Croatia reached no.8 on Germany's Der Spiegel bestseller list last week. Congratulations, Julie!

Also revealed this week was the cover for Matt Johnson's No Ordinary Day, a deeply moving account of the truth behind the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.

On 17 April 1984, as police and anti-Gaddafi demonstrators gathered in the street outside the Libyan People’s Bureau in London, they had no way of knowing they were about to become part of one of the greatest tragedies in British policing history. At 10.17a.m. automatic gunfire rained down on them. WPC Yvonne Fletcher was hit in the back and later died from her injuries. Twelve demonstrators were wounded. The gunmen were Libyans, both concealed behind a first-floor window of the Bureau.

Two weeks later, all those present inside the Bureau, including everyone suspected of involvement in the attack, were deported from the UK. Men guilty of terrorism and murder were neither arrested nor prosecuted.

As Yvonne Fletcher lay dying, her colleague and close friend PC John Murray cradled her in his arms. Before she lost consciousness, he promised her he would not rest until those responsible for her murder had been brought to justice.

Published in June this year, Lee Child calls it "an important book, especially now - both an intensely personal story, and a sober analysis of a political scandal."

Victoria Selman is taking her 'On the Sofa' podcast on the road, and the final stop on the tour will be on 13th April, at the Friends Meeting House in Brighton.

Joining her will be fellow crime heavyweights, Peter James, DHH client Graham Bartlett, Simon Toyne and William Shaw.

Book tickets here.

The final cover reveal this week, came in the form of Cate Green's debut, The Curious Kidnapping of Nora W (One More Chapter, August 2023), an original and uplifting novel for fans of Rachel Joyce and Sally Page.

Family matriarch and Holocaust survivor Nora Wojnaswki is about to become the oldest woman in the world, and her family are determined to celebrate in style. Her great grandaughter, Debs, however, is not too happy about being left in charge of the party. It’s been a struggle to get the Rabbi to commit to a date and the large Wojnaswki clan can’t agree on what food should be served.

Only, Debs’ problems are just beginning. Because Nora isn’t your average centenarian, and she has other ideas…

If you love your historical fiction mixed with a little bit of crime or mystery, then we've got the perfect event for you - mark it in your calendar!

Laura Shepherd-Robinson and client Suzie Edge will be getting together on Monday 13th March, at the Museum of London, for a closer look at both social history of women and crime.

For more information, and to book your tickets, click here.

DHH are hiring!

We're looking for a full-time administrative assistant / assistant to the Managing Director to join us here at the Agency in London.

Full details are here, and if you think you'd be right for the role, we would love to hear from you.

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DHH Are Hiring: Full-Time Adminstrative Assistant

2/23/2023

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DHH Literary Agency are looking for a new assistant to provide full-time administrative and creative support to both the Managing Director, David Headley, and the other Agents within our dynamic boutique Literary Agency. The ideal candidate will be confident, enthusiastic, a voracious reader and able to work both independently and as part of the team. They will have excellent organisational and communication skills, with a good manner on both the phone and over email, and be able to work calmly and efficiently under pressure. Please note that this role is London office-based, and remote work is not possible.

Salary
£24k per annum (x5 days per week, Monday-Friday)

Job specification

Administrative support to Managing Director and Agents, in all aspects of their work, including managing the MD’s diary.
Handling client (both authors and industry professionals) queries and requests.
Updating company website regularly.
Answering phones, and general enquiry emails when required.
Reading submissions for the MD and Agents, and providing reports on full manuscript requests / client manuscripts.
Supporting Agency’s social media, keeping it current and timely.
Attending meetings and industry events, often outside of regular office hours.
Any other general tasks required in the day-to-day running of a small and busy office.

Experience & Skills

A good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel & Powerpoint, as well as MacMail / Outlook.
Attention to detail is absolutely key, with an ability to manage several tasks at once.
Discretion, and the ability to maintain confidentiality, is paramount.
A genuine passion for books, with a wide remit (ie. taste not limited to just one specific genre).
Educated to degree level OR have industry experience.

About DHH Literary Agency
We are an editorially-led Agency, run by passionate book lovers. With a range of experience from bookselling and collecting, in-house editorial, and television / film, our Agents are commercially aware, well-connected and skilled at helping authors develop their ideas. Founded by David H Headley in 2008, our Agency is dedicated to discovering and nurturing talented authors, whether debut or established, providing attentive, honest and personalised representation. Find out more at www.dhhliteraryagency.com.

Applicants should send a CV and covering letter to enquiries@dhhliteraryagency.com, placing ‘Full-Time Administrative Assistant’ in the subject line, by the 10th March 2023.

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DHH News Roundup 13th - 19th February 2023

2/17/2023

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We had a bumper crop of publication days to celebrate last week, and in our first wave is The Locker by Adrian Magson (originally published in 2016), reissued by Canelo with a brand spanking new cover.

The Locker is the first in Adrian's Gonzales and Vaslik and is a white-knuckle suspense thriller that will have you gripped until the early hours...

Also published this week was the new gripping heartbreaking wartime women's fiction, The War Pianist by international bestseller, Mandy Robotham.

Blitz-ridden London, and Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Two cities. Two spies. Which woman survives?

We are delighted to welcome Jacob Rollinson to the Agency.

Jacob, who joins Harry Illingworth's list, is the author of horror novella, Late King in Yellow Woods (Muscaliet Press, 2021).

You can find out more about Jacob here.

Our next wave of publication day celebrations comes from Paula's Way, the third in Anna Jacobs' captivating Waterfront series.

An unexpected inheritance is most people's dream, but not for Paula...

The paperback for Victoria Selman's latest novel, Truly, Darkly, Deeply was released last week.

This gripping psychological thriller, which was initially published in summer 2022 became an instant Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller.

We have incredibly exciting news to share with you all: Truly, Darkly, Deeply, along with being published last week, has been revealed as a Richard & Judy Book Club pick for Spring 2023!

Madley and Finnigan praised the author, Victoria Selman, for this “superb, intense and utterly addictive” story about a serial killer, told through the eyes of Sophie, stepdaughter of Matty, the man imprisoned for the murders. Twenty years on, Sophie receives a letter from Matty asking her to visit him in jail and familiar feelings of doubt, unease and guilt come flooding back. This feeling that something’s slightly off continues throughout the plot as the reader tries to piece together the clues that Selman masterfully leaves behind.

The spring Richard and Judy Book Club launches with another series of podcasts on 9th March. WHSmith customers can purchase exclusive special editions of the titles with bonus content.

The new edge-of-your-seat thriller from E. V. Seymour, The Patient (previously published as Beautiful Losers in 2016) was officially released this week.

With a shocking twist that will leave your breathless, this is one you don't want to miss.

Time for some epic fantasy now and the second in Godblind author, Anna Stephens' 'Songs of the Drowned' series, The Jaguar Path, was released in hardback, eBook and audiobook last week.

This is the second in the trilogy, full of freedom and empire, gods and monsters, is the follow-up to The Stone Knife (November 2020).

Congratulations to Sean Lusk, whose debut, The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley, was long listed for the Walter Scott Prize 2023.

First awarded in 2010, and founded by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction aims to “honour the inventor of the historical fiction genre, Sir Walter Scott”. The prize’s judging panel comprises Grant, Elizabeth Buccleuch, James Holloway, Elizabeth Laird, James Naughtie, Kirsty Wark and new judge for 2023, investigative journalist, writer and documentary maker Saira Shah.

Each shortlisted author is awarded £1,500. The shortlist – which usually features six books — will be announced in April, and a winner announced in mid June at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland.

In this weekend's edition of The Observer, Stephen Moss picked the species that have played a key role for humans, from ancient civilisations to today’s climate crisis.

Stephen's forthcoming book, Ten Birds That Changed the World, tells the gripping story of the long and eventful relationship between humans & birds, through ten key species from all seven of the world's continents.

Return to Cornish Bay by Phillipa Ashley was released in paperback. The book was originally published in 2012 as Miranda's Mount.

Take a trip to the spectacular Cornish countryside with this gorgeous summer story is the perfect armchair-escape read.

Another dose of epic fantasy for you; this time in the form of Richard Swan's The Tyranny of Faith.

This is the epic sequel in the 'Empire of the Wolf' series, wherein Sir Konrad Vonvalt - the most powered and feared of the Emperor's Justices - must face down a growing threat to the Empire.

The next book in Graham Bartlett's Jo Howe series, Force of Hate (March 2023), has picked up a phenomenal quote from the bestselling and award-winning S. A. Cosby, author of Razorblade Tears:

"Force of Hate is a masterful examination of the darkness that exists in the souls of the morally broken. Bartlett takes his readers to a dangerous place where the beating black heart of hatred can only be confronted by that most painful of emotions. Hope."

Finally, we were delighted to see the below review from Publishers Weekly, for Thomas D. Lee's forthcoming debut fantasy novel, Perilous Times:

"Debut novelist Lee takes a side-eyed look at both chivalric legends and contemporary eco-warriors in this hopeful eco-fantasy that asks whether Excalibur might be able to slay climate change ... Lee does not skimp on the bleakness of the environmental crisis nor on naming its villains, but he maintains a steady faith in humanity's ability to bring itself back from the brink; swords can do more than cleave if they become rallying symbols for folks who do not recognise their own heroism."

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Richard and Judy Book Club Spring 2023

2/17/2023

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Truly, Darkly, Deeply by Victoria Selman is among the six-strong line-up for the Richard and Judy Book Club this spring.

Madley and Finnigan praised Selman for this “superb, intense and utterly addictive” story about a serial killer, told through the eyes of Sophie, stepdaughter of Matty, the man imprisoned for the murders. Twenty years on, Sophie receives a letter from Matty asking her to visit him in jail and familiar feelings of doubt, unease and guilt come flooding back. This feeling that something’s slightly off continues throughout the plot as the reader tries to piece together the clues that Selman masterfully leaves behind.

The spring Richard and Judy Book Club launches with another series of podcasts on 9th March. WHSmith customers can purchase exclusive special editions of the titles with bonus content.

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Lusk Debut Longlisted for Walter Scott Prize 2023

2/17/2023

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Sean Lusk's debut, The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley, has been included in the longlist for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. In total, 12 novels are in contention for the £25,000 prize.

Novelist and columnist Katie Grant, chair of judges, said: “This year’s submissions to the Walter Scott Prize offered, as ever, many hours of globe-trotting, centuries-spanning pleasure, and our longlist is reflective of the breadth of literary talent, research and imagination displayed by

many fine entries. Our longlist also reflects the development of historical fiction from a relatively straightforward depiction of times past to something more complex and ambitious.

“It’s still true that the past is a ‘foreign country’, but as our 12 longlisted novels illustrate, however ‘foreign’ it seems, the past helps us address the big questions of the present: is art its own justification? What do we leave behind when we die? What is freedom? As well as posing these and many other questions, in the 2023 WSP longlist you’ll find comfort and discomfort, the familiar and the unfamiliar, the heights of love and the depths of obsession, and perhaps a few surprises — in other words, a longlist to read, enjoy, debate and share."

First awarded in 2010, and founded by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction aims to “honour the inventor of the historical fiction genre, Sir Walter Scott”. The prize’s judging panel comprises Grant, Elizabeth Buccleuch, James Holloway, Elizabeth Laird, James Naughtie, Kirsty Wark and new judge for 2023, investigative journalist, writer and documentary maker Saira Shah.

Each shortlisted author is awarded £1,500. The shortlist – which usually features six books — will be announced in April, and a winner announced in mid June at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland.

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DHH News Roundup 6th - 12th February 2023

2/13/2023

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The recently-published mystery from Tom Hindle, The Murder Game, was reviewed in the Peterborough Telegraph last week:

"Unsurprisingly The Murder Game attracts comparisons with the work of Agatha Christie and passes this pretty stiff test with flying colours […] He has the potential to become a major new voice in British crime writing."

The book was also included in the Waterstones Weekly newsletter ("[a] glorious crime puzzle from the author of A Fatal Crossing") and to our utter delight, had a light shone on it during the bookshop's #LooksToBooks set of tweets, which pair book jackets to Awards-season looks - this time, the Grammys!

Joining David Headley's list last week was Anthony J. Quinn.

Quinn is an Irish writer and journalist. His nine novels have received critical acclaim from The Sunday Times, the Guardian, the Independent, the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, the Sunday Express, Der Spiegel, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Sunday Herald, The Irish Times and the Irish Independent. His debut novel Disappeared was shortlisted for a Strand Literary Award in the United States by the book critics of the San Francisco Chronicle, The LA Times, The Washington Post and other US newspapers.

The paperback for Marina Palmer's gripping political thriller, The Russian Doll was published last week.

How much did she just say the salary was?

When Ruth Miller returns a dropped scarf to Elena Shilkov, she is whisked from a dreary shared house to a world of unimagined luxury.

The super-rich Russian wants a new personal assistant and won't take no for an answer.

Ruth gets accommodation, a credit card, and a complete wardrobe makeover. And she's good at the job; distributing gifts, attending galas, dealing with the high-society movers and shakers fighting for Elena's attention. Then the sinister truth begins to reveal itself, that nothing is quite what it seems in Elena's dangerous, deceptive world.

Ruth should get away. But it's already too late.

"Fast-paced and clever, with a pleasing blend of political intrigue and romantic suspense, as well as a whodunnit, this is perfect entertainment for a winter's evening." Guardian

"Elena is a delicious villainess, and the compelling dynamic between plutocrat and and protégée makes an addictive read." The Sunday Times

Also joining the Agency last week was Justin Woolley, who will be working with Harry Illingworth on his next novel.

Justin is the author of the Australian set dystopian trilogy The Territory Series consisting of the novels A Town Called Dust, A City Called Smoke and A World of Ash, the young-adult science fiction adventure We Are Omega, the science-fiction comedy series Shakedowners, and is now adding to the darkness of the 41st millennium for Black Library.

With the highly-anticipated final episode of Happy Valley, consultants to the show's first and second seasons, R. C. Bridgestock, were featured in the Daily Mirror, to talk through their process of being on-call to the show's creator and writer, Sally Wainwright, as well as James Norton, who plays the show's resident villain, Tommy Lee Royce.

R. C. Bridgestock are the acclaimed authors of the DI Jack Dylan and DI Charley Mann series, both set in and around the same areas as the hit BBC One show.

Finally, congratulations to Annie Taylor, whose new novel, The Truth About Her, has been bought in a two-book deal by Michael Joseph PRH.

The Truth About Her is a gripping and voice-driven psychological thriller, with a laser focus on the complexities of female friendships. Set in the coastal town of Whitstable, it follows online influencer Vanessa Lowe. Vanessa shares all aspects of her life with her growing number of fans – from her gorgeous home interiors to candid shots of her beautiful children.

When new friends Rachel and Callie come into her orbit, at first they’re in awe of Vanessa, who is every bit as genuine in person as she appears to be online. But when Vanessa’s youngest son goes missing, the cracks in her seemingly perfect veneer begin to show, and new friends and old enemies begin to question everything they thought they knew about her.

Editor Grace Long secured world rights in a two-book deal from Emily Glenister and it will be published in paperback original, e-book and audio in June 2023.

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Taylor’s 'dark and propulsive' psychological thriller goes to Penguin Michael Joseph

2/6/2023

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Penguin Michael Joseph has acquired The Truth About Her by Annie Taylor, described as a “dark and propulsive” psychological thriller.

Editor Grace Long secured world rights in a two-book deal from Emily Glenister at the DHH Literary Agency. The Truth About Her will be published in paperback original, e-book and audio in June 2023.

The publisher describes The Truth About Her as “a gripping and voice-driven psychological thriller, with a laser focus on the complexities of female friendships".

It adds: “Set in the coastal town of Whitstable, it follows online influencer Vanessa Lowe. Vanessa shares all aspects of her life with her growing number of fans – from her gorgeous home interiors to candid shots of her beautiful children.

“When new friends Rachel and Callie come into her orbit, at first they’re in awe of Vanessa, who is every bit as genuine in person as she appears to be online. But when Vanessa’s youngest son goes missing, the cracks in her seemingly perfect veneer begin to show, and new friends and old enemies begin to question everything they thought they knew about her.”

Long said: “I’m incredibly excited to be launching Annie as a new voice to watch on our Penguin Michael Joseph crime and thriller list. The Truth About Her is an utterly addictive read, and I was immediately drawn to the multi-faceted and compelling female characters and voices, the page-turning writing, and the book’s jaw-dropping final act twist. Annie is an exciting talent, and The Truth About Her is just the beginning for her.”

Taylor added: "I am so excited to have landed at MJ – arguably the home of crime fiction and cannot wait to see what comes next. It feels like the absolute perfect place for me and the stories I want to tell, and Grace has already helped to make me feel right at home."

Glenister commented: “The first thing that drew me to Annie’s superb book, apart from her vivid storytelling talent, was the setting. Whitstable is so evocative and beautiful, and yet could easily conceal a myriad of secrets with all its quaint nooks and crannies. This is an addictive fast-paced thriller, perfect for the digital age that will have you questioning absolutely everything you see on social media.”

From The Bookseller article | Lauren Brown

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DHH News Roundup 30th January - 5th February 2023

2/5/2023

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A very happy publication day to Dee Benson, whose debut YA novel, Glow Up, Lara Bloom, was published last week.

The secret diary of a "teenage catastrophe", this is a heart-warming story of friendship, crushes and learning to love yourself.

Eva Björg Ægisdóttir's debut, The Creak on the Stairs, has sold to Hohe Publishers in Ethiopia, for Amaric rights.

This marks the 13th foreign territory for the first in her Iceland-set DI Elma series.

Also published this week was the new edge-of-your-seat thriller from E. V. Seymour, The Patient (previously published as Beautiful Losers in 2016).

With a shocking twist that will leave your breathless, this is one you don't want to miss.

The cover for the first in the new series from David Wragg, The Hunters, was revealed last week:

Ree is a woman with a violent past – a past she is eager to put behind her. After years of wandering, she and her niece, Javani, have built a small farm in mining country, at the edge of the known world, and Ree is keeping her head down.

But one day two groups of professional killers arrive in town, looking for a young girl and an older woman. A deadly chase through deserts, mountains, and mines begins. And Ree will have to discover her former self if she is to keep them both alive.

The book will be published by HarperVoyager in July 2023.

Two of Jo Thomas' gorgeous escapist reads, The Olive Branch and Coming Home To Winter Island have been snapped up by Meulenhoff Boekrij in the Netherlands.

Released only a few weeks ago, Abi Elphinstone's Saving Neverland reached No.1 on the official Indie Children's Bestsellers Chart last week.

The book was also recorded as the eighth bestselling hardback children's book.

Congratulations, Abi!

Dead Ground, the fourth in M. W. Craven's bestselling Washington Poe series has been sold to Pegasus Kirjastus in Estonia, the eighth foreign territory for the book.

The final book published last week was Tom Hindle's brand new locked room crime mystery, The Murder Game.

One house.
Nine guests.
Endless motives for murder.

It's New Year's Eve, and the owner of Hamlet Hall has organised a 1920s murder mystery party; but someone is playing by their own rules, and in a close-knit community, old rivalries run deep...

In our final foreign rights deal for this week, An Endless Cornish Summer, the sunny Cornwall-set delight from Phillipa Ashley has been sold to Grada in the Czech Republic.

Lastly, we were delighted to welcome Foluso Agbaje to the Agency last week.

Foluso, a freelance HR consultant, joins Emily Glenister's list, and is working on her debut novel, The Parlour Wife, set in 1930s and 40s Lagos, Nigeria.

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DHH News Roundup 20th - 26th February 2023

DHH Are Hiring: Full-Time Adminstrative Assistant

DHH News Roundup 13th - 19th February 2023

Richard and Judy Book Club Spring 2023

Lusk Debut Longlisted for Walter Scott Prize 2023

DHH News Roundup 6th - 12th February 2023

Taylor’s 'dark and propulsive' psychological thriller goes to Penguin Michael Joseph

DHH News Roundup 30th January - 5th February 2023

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