The Lancashire Evening Post gave a fantastic review for T. L. Mogford's recently-released The Plant Hunter last week:

​​"Extraordinary ... a visual, verbal and sensuous feast of reading delights."

If you have yet to get your hands on this gorgeous, sumptuous historical novel, set in 1860s London and China, you can order your copy here.

Joanna Toye was interviewed this week for My Weekly and their 'My Life In Books' feature:

Wedding Bells for the Victory Girls, Jo's new book, will be released at the end of the month, and the magazine also provided a fantastic review:

"Uplifting and full of warmth, this tale of friendship and love is another brilliant installment in this much loved historical fiction series."

The forthcoming novel from David Fennell, See No Evil, and the second in the DI Grace Archer series, has picked up some fantastic endorsements in the last week:

"David Fennell is a master of the macabre. See No Evil is a dark, twisted, crime thriller, that will keep readers hooked until the very last page. I can't wait for Detective Inspector Grace Archer's next chilling investigation."
Adam Hamdy

"Gripping and eye-poppingly gruesome. The next installment in David Fennell's DI Grace Archer series is hugely atmospheric and frighteningly inventive."
Victoria Selman

"It’s got everything you want in a pacy crime thriller - a police woman with a troubled past, an evil serial killer, a religious cult and more twists than a helter skelter"
Araminta Hall

The cover for Erin Green's new book, Sunny Stays at the Shetland Hotel (May 2022, Headline) was revealed last week:

Finally, we are delighted to announce that Kate Mallinder has signed a new deal with current publishers, Firefly Press, for her third book, A Summer Under the Stars, which will follow on from her 2019 debut novel, Summer Of No Regrets. 

​Hannah Sheppard sold Firefly UK & Commonwealth rights, and you can read the full announcement here.

Penny Thomas, publisher at Firefly, has signed a third novel by Kate Mallinder. Summer Under the Stars follows Mallinder's Summer of No Regrets, and follows the four friends as they drive across France; it should be the holiday of a lifetime, but each has problems. Firefly has UK and Commonwealth rights from Hannah Sheppard at DHH Literary Agency.

Thomas said: "This novel is a summer holiday in a book... It's full of Kate's wise understanding of friendship. It's a great read and an escape, and it's also very wise, particularly on difficult families, first love and perfectionism. Readers are going to love it, and it's such a joy to be working with Kate again."

Mallinder said: "I'm thrilled to continue working with the lovely Firefly team, and for the opportunity to write more adventures for Sasha, Hetal, Cam and Nell."
​
Firefly will publish in spring/summer 2023.

We are delighted to be kicking off this week's News Roundup with the wonderful news that Anita Frank, author of The Lost Ones and The Return, has signed a new two-book deal with current publishers, HQ. 

Kate Mills, Publisher at HQ, bought World English Language rights from David Headley and the first in the contract (title TBC) is due to be published in 2023.

​To read the full press release, click here.

We had two gorgeous cover reveals this week. 

The first was for the follow-up to Adam Simcox's 2021 debut, The Dying Squad: The Generation Killer (August 2022, Gollancz).

​On the sixth day, God created MANchester. On the seventh, The Generation Killer intends to tear it down.

There's a new serial killer in Manchester - and it's up to a dead guy to catch him. Joe Lazarus, specifically: his latest Dying Squad assignment demands he bring to justice The Generation Killer, a psychopath who murders the oldest member of a family, as well as the youngest. Joe and his new partner Bits have mere hours to catch the killer and save his latest kidnap victim.

Joe's former partner, Daisy-May has her own problems. Children in the Pen are going missing and Daisy-May resolves to find out who's taking them, one of the many, Warden-of-the-Pen jobs on her to do list. Her predecessor The Duchess won't be able to lighten her load; she's tracked her terrorist-in-waiting sister, Hanna, to Tokyo. The Duchess doesn't know what Hanna's planning, she only knows that unless she stops her, it's going to be very bad news for the living...

Five fabulous books were published this week, from the DHH stable, and we are adamant​ that you go out and buy them immediately!

• Death the the Old Asylum by Adrian Magson (Canelo) paperback
• The Villa by Clare Boyd (Bookouture) eBook and paperback
• The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (Hodder & Stoughton) paperback
• The Haven by Amanda Jennings (HQ) eBook and hardback
• A Valley Secret by Anna Jacobs (Hodder & Stoughton) paperback

Also revealed, was the UK cover for Adam Hamdy's forthcoming standalone, The Other Side of Night (September 2022, Pan Macmillan), a crime novel quite unlike any other:

What would you give for one more moment with someone you love?

David Asha wants to tell you a story about three people:

Elliott Asha, his son, broken by a loss that will redeem him.
Ben Elmys, a surrogate father and David’s trusted friend, a man who might also be a murderer.
Harriet Kealty, a detective determined to find the truth behind three mysterious deaths, investigating a man who might be the love of her life.

Every word David tells you is true, but you will think it fiction . . .

Finally, the news is finally out! 

Abi Elphinstone will pen a magical, all-inclusive retelling of J. M. Barrie's classic favourite, Peter Pan. 

Editorial directors at Puffin, Natalie Doherty and Anthea Townsend acquired world rights from Hannah Sheppard at D H H Literacy Agency. Jane Griffith, editorial director, will be taking the project forward. Saving Neverland is published in hardback and e-book in 2023. Great Ormond Street Hospital will receive a charitable donation from royalties earned from the sale of the novel.  

​To read the full press release, click here.

HarperCollins has signed two more titles by Anita Frank. Kate Mills, publisher at HQ, bought world English rights from David Headley at the DHH Literary Agency, and her as-yet-untitled new novel will be published in 2023.

HQ published Frank's debut, The Lost Ones, in 2018, followed by The Return last year.

Mills said: "Anita is an incredibly skilful historical novelist and having breathed life into the ghost story in her debut, The Return shows Anita is a hugely versatile and brilliant novelist. This glorious, beautifully drawn love story tells the story of Jack, who, on the eve of the Second World War, promises his wife he won't return home when the war is over. Readers have been absolutely falling in love with it. Anita has so many ideas and stories she wants to tell, I can't wait to see what she writes next. Everyone at HQ is very much looking forward to continuing to work with her."

Headley said: "On the strength of Anita's beautiful novel, The Return, I am delighted that Kate and HQ have invested in two more books. Anita is such a gifted writer and I am delighted readers can look forward to reading more from this extraordinary storyteller."

Frank said: "I feel incredibly lucky to be able to carry on working with Kate and the brilliant team at HQ. I am very grateful not only for the support that Kate and David have extended to me over the last couple of years, but also for their unwavering faith in my writing, and thanks to them both, I now find myself in the perfect position to share more of my stories. I am very happy indeed!"

Puffin has swooped for Saving Neverland, a “magical" re-telling by Abi Elphinstone of children’s classic Peter Pan.    

Editorial directors Natalie Doherty and Anthea Townsend acquired world rights from Hannah Sheppard at D H H Literacy Agency. Jane Griffith, editorial director, will be taking the project forward. Saving Neverland is published in hardback and e-book in 2023. Great Ormond Street Hospital will receive a charitable donation from royalties earned from the sale of the novel.  

Griffiths commented: “I’m so excited to be working with Abi again – she’s a dream author whose incredible imagination not only conjures up brilliant characters, but truly vivid landscapes full of magic and wonder where their adventures unfold. I honestly can’t think of anyone better to reimagine the world of Peter Pan and guide a whole new generation of readers up, up, up into the night sky and off to the magic of Neverland.” 

Elphinstone is known for Rumblestar, the first novel in The Unmapped Chronicles, Sky Song and the Dreamsnatcher Trilogy, all published by Simon & Schuster. 

The synopsis reads: “Martha Pennydrop is 10, and desperate to grow up. But growing up is a tricky business. It means turning your back on imagination, fun and magic because those were the things that led to the Terrible Day when something awful nearly happened to Martha’s younger brother, Scruff, which would have been All Her Fault.”  

“But when Martha and Scruff discover a drawer full of mysterious gold dust in the bedroom of their new house — along with a window that’s seemingly impossible to close — it’s the start of an incredible adventure to a magical world: Neverland! The Pennydrops’ new house used to belong to another family — the Darlings — who once visited Neverland themselves. Now Peter Pan is back, and in need of their help. Neverland is in the icy grip of a terrible curse — cast long ago by Captain Hook. And only Martha and Scruff can save it...”  

Sheppard said: “There is a magic to Peter Pan which feels timeless — and Abi Elphinstone is the perfect author to carry that magic into the modern day and onwards to new adventures full of her classic warmth, heart and humour. I love where she’s taken her Neverland inspired tale and can’t wait for children everywhere to meet the Pennydrops.”  
​ 
Elphinstone added: “‘As a child, I was mesmerised by J M Barrie’s Peter Pan because it tapped into one of my deepest childhood longings – that unquenchable thirst for adventure, and magic. On re-reading the book as an adult, the wonder of discovering Neverland felt just as intoxicating, enhanced perhaps by my understanding of what it means to grow up: the joy and ache and thrill of it all. To be asked to write a modern and inclusive re-imagining of this classic story is an honour and a delight and I hope that in Saving Neverland readers will feel as enthralled in Martha and Scruff Pennydrop’s adventure as they did in Wendy, John and Michael Darling’s all those years ago.” ​

Released this week, we are delighted to be able to show you the cover for Clare Boyd's new psychological thriller, The Villa ​(Bookouture), a heartbreaking and totally addictive page-turner about motherhood at its best and its worst, and the lies we tell to protect the ones we love...

Another cover revealed this week, The Other Side of Night, the totally original new crime novel from Adam Hamdy. American readers got a glimpse of what they can expect when the book is released Stateside by Atria Books in September 2022. 

UK readers will have to wait a little longer to see the cover for this side of the pond, but trust us when we say it'll be worth the wait...!

Congratulations to S. V. Leonard, who last week saw the release of her second book, The Influencers (Canelo). 

When budding true crime blogger Maggie Shaw is invited to the Influencer of the Year awards, it feels like everything is finally falling into place. The party is held on a glamorous yacht and presents the perfect opportunity for Maggie to network – the first step towards achieving her dream of turning her hobby into a full-time job. But by the end of the night, there’s one question on everybody’s lips: who killed Stella Knight?

Stella was beautiful and famous. Her life appeared to be perfect. But behind the façade, Stella had made a number of enemies – and all of them were on board.

​Order your copy here.

We are very happy to welcome Richard Stirling to the Agency this week. 

Richard, who joins Tom Drake-Lee's list, ​trained at RADA, which informs rather than dictates All About Alice, the novel he is currently working on. 

​He has acted on West End, European and American stages, as well as in numerous repertory theatres and on tour.
 
His first book Julie Andrews: an intimate biography was a Sunday Times top ten bestseller. His stage adaptation of Compton Mackenzie’s Extraordinary Women is in active development with Tony-winning composer Sarah Travis. He has a current commission to adapt the Cecil Beaton diaries for the theatre in 2022.

​Follow Richard on Twitter here.

Finally, this week revealed the very exciting news that R. C. Bridgestocks' Charley Mann series has been optioned by Hell Fire!, a Leeds-based fledgling indie production company. 

​Hell Fire!’s Andrew Dorée said the production is the result of its “close and longstanding connection” with the Bridgestocks.

“Charley Mann is a character with deep northern and working-class roots – she’s not afraid to disrupt and go against the grain, and neither are we,” he said.

Co-founder Nate Camponi added: “What we want to avoid is a straight up ‘damaged female copper’ trope. She’s actually a lot more layered than that, maybe even a bit Christian Grey. She’s determined, dominant and promiscuous.

“She also shares many of the traits of Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs in terms of drive and fearlessness. She rides this line between super-cop and someone on the edge. And her thought process is often aligned to criminals she’s hunting.”

Read the full press release here.

Leeds-based fledging indie Hell Fire! has optioned a crime trilogy written by two former police officers who consulted on police dramas including Happy Valley. 

The scripted indie, which was set up in 2019 by Andrew Dorée, Nate Camponi and Chief Productions owner Colin Offland, is developing a drama called Mann (w/t) based on the novels Payback, Condemned and Persecution, following Yorkshire-born female detective Charley Mann.

The novels are written by former West Yorkshire Police senior investigating officer Bob Bridgestock and his wife Carol, a former senior clerical officer, who write under the alias R.C. Bridgestock. The pair have previously provided storyline and police procedural consultancy for crime series including BBC1’s Happy Valley, ITV’s Scott & Bailey, and Britbox original The Beast Must Die.

They co-founded TV consultancy Walking The Line in 2020 with production consultant Sarah Jarvis.

Hell Fire!’s Dorée said the production is the result of its “close and longstanding connection” with the Bridgestocks.

“Charley Mann is a character with deep northern and working-class roots – she’s not afraid to disrupt and go against the grain, and neither are we,” he said.

Co-founder Camponi added: “What we want to avoid is a straight up ‘damaged female copper’ trope. She’s actually a lot more layered than that, maybe even a bit Christian Grey. She’s determined, dominant and promiscuous.

“She also shares many of the traits of Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs in terms of drive and fearlessness. She rides this line between super-cop and someone on the edge. And her thought process is often aligned to criminals she’s hunting.”

Bob Bridgestock said the protagonist is “a brew of all the policewomen who had to overcome rampant sexism”.

“To bring her to TV we knew we were looking for an exciting, off-beat, high end scripted northern-connected TV production team, who we could entrust with our name, brand, livelihood, handwork and passion that we’ve built over a lifetime. Our connection with Hell Fire! is built on trust and sharing the same values,” he said.
​
Hell Fire! is also developing a true-crime docu-drama series Murder Box (w/t) fronted by Bob Bridgestock, examining some of his most gripping and high-profile criminal cases, using never seen before evidence and archive police footage mixed with interviews and cinematic reconstruction.

​From Broadcast Now article | Elli Kahn

These fab titles are included in the Kindle Monthly Deal for March - a complete STEAL, at only 99p each! Click on the covers below to take you straight to the deal.

Congratulations to our clients, all of whom saw their books published this week:

• Vikki Patis' Return to Blackwater House
• Morgan Owen's The Girl With No Soul
• James Goodhand's ​Man Down

Jo Thomas' upcoming Retreat to the Spanish Sun (May 2022, Transworld) has picked up a glorious endorsement from fellow author, Milly Johnson:

"A book that is full of zest, warmth and sunshine as a jugful of the best sangria - loved it!"