Karen Sullivan of Orenda Books has acquired the World English Language rights to the new book by Essie Fox, The Fascination, which will publish in June 2023. The deal was brokered by David Headley. The Fascination ​is set in Victorian London and follows twins Keziah and Tilly Lovell and Theo, an orphan raised by a wealthy family. To read the full press release, click here.

Lily Cooper at Hodder & Stoughton pre-empted a two-book deal with Emily Glenister. Louise Swanson (a new direction for established author Louise Beech) will see End of Story published in January 2023, and is a twisty high-concept thriller, with a twist that no one will see coming ... To read the full press release, click here.

Orenda Books has landed Essie Fox’s "glittering" gothic novel, The Fascination.

Publisher Karen Sullivan acquired world English rights from David Headley at D H H Literary Agency for hardback publication in June 2023. 

"Well-known to the publishing industry, Orenda Books is an absolute powerhouse, so when Karen said she wanted to work with Essie on her new book, it just made perfect sense," said Headley. "It is a privilege to represent Essie and her writing, which only goes from strength to strength. I know that The Fascination has found its perfect home." 


The Fascination is set in Victorian London and follows twins Keziah and Tilly Lovell and Theo, an orphan raised by a wealthy family. The publisher wrote: "Coerced into promoting their father’s quack elixir, the girls are eventually sold to a mysterious Italian, known only as ‘Captain’. In a second strand we meet Theo, an orphan raised by his wealthy—and resentful—grandfather in an opulent country home. When his grandfather remarries, Theo is forced to leave his home without a penny to his name and takes on work as an assistant in Dr Summerwell’s Museum of Anatomy. And it is here that the lives of the two sisters and Theo collide, with devastating effect." 

​Of the acquisition Sullivan said: "The Fascination is a glorious, glittering evocation of Victorian London and its obsession with ‘deformo-mania’; it’s sumptuous, visceral and exquisitely written, populated by superbly drawn, often unscrupulous characters, and powered by an unexpected, brooding tension and multiple layers of intrigue and deception. At its heart are universal themes of love and loss and, perhaps most powerfully, an examination of what it means to be unique, to fall outside the physical norm, to be excluded and exploited,and yet retain a fierce and independent spirit. Essie Fox is renowned for her atmospheric, bewitching explorations of Victoriana and this extraordinary, evocative novel showcases a writer at the height of her powers." 
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Fox added: "The Fascination  has been my passion for the last few years. It’s a story that was forming even while I was writing other novels, something bursting to get out. It was an absolute delight for me when Karen at Orenda shared my enthusiasm and had such vision for the project. I hope that readers will now take as much pleasure from the story as I felt when writing it."

Hodder & Stoughton has pre-empted a “twisty, unputdownable” high-concept thriller from Louise Swanson in a two-book deal. 

Lily Cooper, commissioning editor, bought UK and Commonwealth rights to End of Story from Emily Glenister at D H H Literary Agency. It will publish in hardback, e-book and audio in March 2023. "Louise Swanson", a pseudonym for Louise Beech, marks the beginning of a new direction for her as a high-concept thriller writer. 

End of Story is set in a near future, where fiction has been banned and writing is a crime. Once a bestselling author, Fern is now a cleaner in a hospital. Yet despite increasingly sinister visits from government officials, Fern is scrawling her secrets in a notepad she hides under her bed—her work on a phone line, reading bedtime stories to children, a young boy she meets who feels familiar, objects that keep disappearing and reappearing in her house, the resistance network she is part of. But when she has spent her life writing fiction, can she be trusted to tell the whole truth? 

​Beech has  published seven novels with Orenda Books. The Lion Tamer Who Lost (2018) was longlisted for the Polari Prize while Call Me Stargirl (2019) and The Mountain in My Shoe (2016) were both longlisted for the Guardian Not the Booker prize. 

Beech said: “End of Story came from a unique and difficult place. I wrote it during the last lockdown, when writing was my saviour more than it ever had been before. It has been a rollercoaster ride. Emily Glenister and Lily Cooper just got the book and their support of and passion for it has been a joy.” 
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Cooper added: “Tense, imaginative and with a gasp-out-loud twist that will leave you dying to discuss with everyone around you, End of Story is fiction-writing at its most potent and thrilling. Louise is a unique talent and I am delighted to welcome her to Hodder in a deal that marks an exciting new chapter in her career.”  

​From The Bookseller article | Sian Bayley

Over the weekend, we received the fantastic news that Lightseekers, the debut novel Femi Kayode, hit the Saturday Times bestseller charts, with the recent paperback release charting at number two.

Published by Bloomsbury Raven in January 2021, the book is also Waterstones' Thriller of the Month for July.

The cover for Noel O'Reilly's second book, The Darlings of the Asylum​ (December 2022, HQ), was revealed last week and we're a little bit in love:

Finally, Culturefly has reviewed Jo Thomas' recent gorgeous getaway novel, Retreat to the Spanish Sun:

"[A] delightfully summery ... What makes Jo Thomas' novel stand out is its exploration of friendship and the evocative descriptions of food. Whether you're trying to stay cool in a heatwave, lying on a beach abroad, or just dreaming of a summer adventure, you'll enjoy Retreat to the Spanish Sun for exactly what it is: a sweet and simple sun-baked adventure."

Read the full review here.

Published this week in paperback was the gorgeous new reissue of Janie Millman's Sky's the Limit. 

Originally published by the Dome Press in August 2018, Canelo obtained the rights in 2020 and have re-published this sunny, feel-good story about love, loss and new friendships, complete with original cover design. 

Sky is devastated when she finds that her husband is in love with someone else, even more that it is her oldest friend Nick. She has lost the two most important men in her life and can't ever trust either of them again. To escape, she goes alone on a dream trip to Marrakesh and meets Gail, on a mission to meet the father of her child, a man she loved but thought did not want her.

​In Marrakesh, Sky and Gail both find unexpected joys - and surprises. For Sky these lead to France, to a beautiful chateau and a family whose relationships seem as complicated as her own.

Also published last week was Old Friends Reunited by Maddie Please.

Told in her warm and laugh-out-loud trademark style, the book tells the story of struggling bestselling author, Bea, who escapes to a school reunion, held in a beautiful chateau in France. Surely she'll find inspiration there?

Her old school friends Gin and Audrie are in various states of marital distress and to top it off a camera crew has arrived to film the goings on at Chateau De St Cyr. Far from being calm, the trip is total chaos!

​Congratulations, Maddie!

Last week, we heard the utterly brilliant news that client Mandy Robotham held not one, but two Globe and Mail bestseller slots in the historical fiction chart over in Canada, with The Secret Messenger (#2) and The Resistance Girl (#7). 

Huge congratulations, Mandy!

The final cover reveal that took place last week was for Amy Beashel's debut adult fiction novel, Spilt Milk (March 2023, HarperNorth). 

​What if you said the worst thing a mother could say?
What if your husband found out about it in the national press?
And what if after all that, you didn’t regret it…?

‘My life is a tight knot I would like to undo. And, yes, there’s no use crying over spilt milk but, the truth is, I’d rather die than spill any more…’

And now, to wrap up this week's DHH News Roundup, we have a bumper crop of news from client Victoria Selman. 

On Tuesday, Victoria sat down with fellow author, SJ Watson (Before I Go To Sleep) to discuss her new book, Truly, Darkly, Deeply, at Goldsboro Books' Brighton store. This came just hours after signing a mountain of Goldsboro's exclusive slipcase edition of the book - which are now out of stock, but their trade edition (signed) is available here.

Next up, the news was announced that the book has been optioned by See-Saw Films, the same company who brought up Heartstopper, The Essex Serpent, Slow Horses and The Power of the Dog. 

​The deal was negotiated by Emily Hayward Whitlock at the Artists Partnership on behalf of David Headley at D H H Literary Agency and negotiated on behalf of See-Saw Films by Simon Gillis, Chief Operating Officer. To read the full press release, click here.

Finally, Truly, Darkly, Deeply was confirmed as an instant Sunday Times Bestseller, going straight in at No.9 after a half week of sales. 

​Fully deserved for this propulsive and gripping read and we could not be happier for Victoria!

See-Saw Films has signed the film and television rights for Victoria Selman’s Truly, Darkly, Deeply. 

The deal was negotiated by Emily Hayward Whitlock at the Artists Partnership on behalf of David Headley at D H H Literary Agency and negotiated on behalf of See-Saw Films by Simon Gillis, Chief Operating Officer.

Truly, Darkly, Deeply was published as Quercus’ flagship crime thriller on 7th July. Actor Tuppence Middleton is narrating the audiobook.  

The synopsis for the book reads: "Twelve-year-old Sophie and her mother, Amelia-Rose, move to London from Massachusetts where they meet the charismatic Matty Melgren, who quickly becomes an intrinsic part of their lives.

​But as the relationship between the two adults fractures, a serial killer begins targeting young women with a striking resemblance to Amelia-Rose."

"When Matty is eventually sent down for multiple murder, questions remain as to his guilt — questions which ultimately destroy both women. Nearly 20 years later, Sophie receives a letter from Battlemouth Prison informing her Matty is dying and wants to meet. It looks like Sophie might finally get the answers she craves. But will the truth set her free — or bury her deeper?"
Selman commented: "I’m overjoyed that See-Saw is bringing Truly Darkly Deeply to the screen. From the moment I met the team, I knew they would be the perfect people to bring Sophie’s dark story to life and can’t wait to see where they take it!”  

From The Bookseller article | Katie Fraser

Congratulations to M. W. Craven: hot off the heel of his CWA Dagger win, Greek rights for the winning book, Dead Ground (June 2021, Constable Books), have been sold to Harlenic Hellas in Greece, home to the first three in the series. 

Last week, the cover for the David Fennell's Sleeper: The Definitive Collection was revealed and we could not be more excited for this backlist title, which has been given a brand new look and sees the two books in the 'Sleeper' series, curated into one for fans to enjoy. 

The book will be published in October 2022 by Canelo.

The debut novel from T. M. Payne, Already Dead, has been snapped up by Amazon Publishing's Victoria Haslam, who bought World English Language rights to the book (plus two other titles) from Broo Doherty. 

Already Dead is the first in Tina's 'DI Sheridan Holler' series and has already picked up a fantastic quote from fellow author, Elly Griffiths:

"An excellent crime novel, full of humour and pathos as well as utterly realistic action. A stunning debut."

​More news on this very exciting acquisition soon!

The cover for Caroline Lamond's sumptuous forthcoming novel, Well Behaved Women, has been revealed and it is a veritable stunner. 

The book will be published by HarperCollins imprint, One More Chapter, in April 2023 and is the compelling story inspired by the scandalous real life of silent movie icon, Alla Nazimova.

Set ten years before his debut novel, The Justice of Kings, and a tie-in to the Vonvalt thread, Richard Swan has written a short story for Grimdark Magazine. In their own words:

"Grimdark Magazine presents the darker, grittier side of fantasy and science fiction. Each quarterly issue features established and new authors to take you through their hard-bitten worlds alongside articles, reviews and interviews. Our stories are grim, our worlds are dark and our morally grey protagonists and anti-heroes light the way with bloody stories of war, betrayal and action."

​
​You can get your copy from their online store here.

The Dutch rights to the first three books in L. C. Tyler's laugh-out-loud  'Herring' series, has been bought by De Fontein. They are:

The Herring Seller's Apprentice
Ten Little Herrings
Herring in the Library 

Finally, congratulations to Femi Kayode, who has been nominated for the Strand Critic's Awards for his debut novel, Lightseekers. 

With winners announced in early September, the awards recognises "excellence in the field of mystery fiction and publishing" and are judged by a select group of book critics and journalists that hail ​from outlets including NPR, AP, Kirkus, CNN, and The Boston Globe​.

More information here.

If you're looking for a few fantastic summer reads, then look no further! Simply click on the covers of these top-notch books, to take you straight to their promotion:

We're delighted this week, to be welcoming Howard Colyer to the Agency. 

Howard joins Tom Drake-Lee's list, and will be working with Tom on a novel about Kafka during the First World War for a PhD at Hertfordshire Uni.

​To read more about Howard, click here.

With its publication later this week, Victoria Selman's Truly, Darkly, Deeply (Quercus) has been selected as this month's edition of Woman & Home's Book of the Month. 

This is a totally unputdownable thriller, that will be on everybody's lips this summer - perfect for fans of Mindhunter and Girl A.

Published towards the end of last week in the US, Ragnar Jónasson's recent Outside, has picked up a fantastic review from ABC News:

"Jonasson and translator Victoria Cribb do a fine job of setting the scene, developing the characters, and keeping readers in suspense with a tight, clean, noir prose style."

​To read the full review, click here.

Commissioning editor Jennie Rothwell acquired world English language rights from Emily Glenister at D H H Literary Agency in a two-book deal. Well Behaved Women will be published in March 2023. ​

Finally, there were cheers heard within a ten-mile radius of the DHH offices when M. W. Craven's Dead Ground was crowned the winner of the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger at last week's CWA Dagger Awards. 

Dead Ground, the fourth in the 'Poe' series, was praised by the judges for its complex characters and deftly constructed plot. The panel said: “Once again Craven proves himself the master in the art of writing suspense and action.” 

One More Chapter has landed Well Behaved Women, a queer historical novel by Caroline Lamond, in a two-book deal.  

Commissioning editor Jennie Rothwell acquired world English language rights from Emily Glenister at D H H Literary Agency in a two-book deal. Well Behaved Women, the first novel, will be published in March 2023. 

"The moment I sent Well Behaved Women to Jennie, her passion for it was clear," said Glenister. "I don’t think we could have found a better home for this gorgeous, sumptuous and simply fascinating book. Caroline is a huge talent and I cannot wait to see her star rise.”

Well Behaved Women is set in the 1920s, based on the life story of Alla Nazimova, the "founding mother of Sapphic Hollywood". Beginning in 1879 with the birth of Miriam Edez Adelaida Leventon in Yalta, Crimea, the novel tells her story in becoming Nazimova, the "most celebrated film star" of the 1910s. Well Behaved Women also follows Maybelle Crabtree a god-fearing girl from Kentucky who, after being invited to Nazimova’s "Sewing Circle", discovers her sexuality in a world of decadence.

"Alla’s story is fascinating, I found myself completely immersed in her journey from the Crimea to Hollywood and her rising star, she had such a traumatic upbringing that really drove her to escape her beginnings," Rothwell commented. "Caroline has written such a brilliant story and Maybelle’s character blew me away. I couldn’t stop reading and I knew I had to publish this book, so it’s an absolute pleasure to be working with Caroline.”

Lamond added: “I’m overjoyed to be working with One More Chapter. Jennie and the team blew me away with their enthusiasm and the most impressive pitch I’ve ever seen. Well Behaved Women has found its perfect home.”