Congratulations to client Joanna Lyons, who has been shortlisted for the Comedy Women In Print Prize 2021, for her debut unpublished novel, Fools Rush In. 

​In its third year, Comedy Women In Print is the brainchild of comedian, author, actress Helen Lederer. Its aim is to recognise, celebrate and encourage witty women authors. The winner, who will be announced on the 8th November, will receive a publishing contract with HarperCollins, as well as an advance. 

We've got fingers, toes - and all other possible things - crossed for you, Jo!

Happy Publication Day to Rebecca Griffiths, whose latest novel, The Girl At My Door, was published in eBook and paperback last week, from Bookouture.

Inspired by the true crime story of the Rillington Place killer, John Reginald Christie, this is a chilling mystery based on a fictional cast of characters.

The book has already shot to the no.1 spot in Canada's Kobo chart for both Mystery Suspense and Historical Mystery, as well as hitting no.4 in the Amazon audiobook charts, in the Historical Mysteries category.

​Grab your copy here.

The first and second in M. W. Craven's Washington Poe series, The Puppet Show and Black Summer, have sold to L'Archipel in France. 

The most recent, Dead Ground, was published in June this year, with the next in the series, The Botanist out next summer, and available to pre-order now.

Poe and Tilly continue to take the world by storm...!

Huge congratulations to client Morgan Owen, whose YA debut has sold to Scholastic in a two-book deal. 

​Iris has a deadly secret ... she is a hollow, a person with no soul. In Providence, where the Order use soul-casting lanterns to ensure the five elements of the soul are in balance, it’s the worst crime you can commit. Iris must hide from the Order at all costs. But when Iris is sent to steal a ring from a lady of nobility, she is reunited with her Spark – one of the five parts of her own missing soul. Hunted by the Order, she is unexpectedly helped by Shadow-casting scholar Evander Mountebank. Together the pair set out to find the other four missing pieces of her soul and discover the truth of why Iris’s soul was shattered.

Commissioning editors Sophie Cashell and Yasmin Morrissey acquired world rights from Hannah Sheppard at DHH Literary Agency. Publication of The Girl With No Soul is slated for March 2022, and you can read more about this exciting acquisition here. ​

Anita Frank's searingly beautiful The Return is officially a Top 10 Book on NetGalley for November - and frank-ly (sorry), we're not surprised.

The author of the HWA longlisted and Goldsboro Books Glass Bell shortlisted, The Lost Ones, Anita's second book is a stunning historical story with huge heart. This is a glorious tale that weaves together love, loss, secrets and promises - set against the backdrop of WW2's aftermath. 

​Published in November this year, you can pre-order now.

Client Louise Beech contributed a short story to Best magazine last week: The Golden Girl.

Have a sneaky peek here:

Another deal announced last week, was the debut for Becca Day, The Girl Beyond the Gate, which was bought by Bonnier imprint, Embla, in a two-book deal. 

Described as The Hunting Party meets Big Little Lies, the book is set in an exclusive, gated community deemed to be the ‘safest in the UK’, a murder rocks the residents who know the killer must be amongst them. We are soon thrown into the story of two women fighting over one child, Lacey. One is her mother, the other is not. Slowly secrets are unravelled and as the tension builds, the fight for Lacey will end in death.

Due for publication in Autumn 2022, learn more about the news here.

Finally, we are thrilled to show you the cover for Tom Hindle's forthcoming debut, A Fatal Crossing​ (January 2022, Cornerstone). Pre-order here.

​Scholastic UK has signed up two titles from Morgan Owen, including her "tantalising and compelling" YA debut, The Girl With No Soul. 

Commissioning editors Sophie Cashell and Yasmin Morrissey acquired world rights from Hannah Sheppard at DHH Literary Agency. Publication of Owen's debut  is slated for March 2022. 

The synopsis reads: "Prepare to immerse yourself in a world unlike any other. Iris has a deadly secret ... she is a hollow, a person with no soul. In Providence, where the Order use soul-casting lanterns to ensure the five elements of the soul are in balance, it’s the worst crime you can commit. Iris must hide from the Order at all costs. But when Iris is sent to steal a ring from a lady of nobility, she is reunited with her Spark – one of the five parts of her own missing soul. Hunted by the Order, she is unexpectedly helped by Shadow-casting scholar Evander Mountebank. Together the pair set out to find the other four missing pieces of her soul and discover the truth of why Iris’s soul was shattered."

Cashell said: "From the moment I read the first words of Morgan’s vision for this book, I was hooked – Morgan has created an incredibly tantalising and compelling world where the impurities of your soul are displayed for all to see, where objects can contain memories that are relived for years to come, where a girl with no soul can fall in love. Her writing is utterly transfixing and it is a joy to work with such a bright new talent."
​
Owen, a former bookseller, said: "The Girl With No Soul is a story about the mysteries of the mind and the secrets of the heart. I’m overjoyed to be working with the incredible talent at Scholastic to turn this lifelong dream into a reality. I hope readers will lose themselves and find themselves again in this world like I did."

​From The Bookseller article | Tamsin Hackett

Embla Books, the digital-first imprint of Bonnier Books UK, has acquired two thrillers from debut author, Becca Day. Hannah Smith, Editorial Director, acquired world English language rights from Emily Glenister at the DHH Literary Agency.

​The first book in the deal, The Girl Beyond the Gate, will publish in eBook and audio in March 2022 – it’s described as The Hunting Party meets Big Little Lies.

​Set in an exclusive, gated community deemed to be the ‘safest in the UK’, a murder rocks the residents who know the killer must be amongst them. We are soon thrown into the story of two women fighting over one child, Lacey. One is her mother, the other is not. Slowly secrets are unravelled and as the tension builds, the fight for Lacey will end in death.

Smith said: “The moment The Girl Beyond the Gate landed in my inbox, I knew I had something special on my hands. Becca has masterfully woven a story full of tension; the relationship between the three central characters is heart-racing and the setting adds a level of claustrophobia that reminded me of The Hunting Party. This is going to be a terrific debut for early 2022.”

Day added: “I’m so excited to have signed a two-book deal with the amazing team at Embla and to have Hannah Smith as my editor. It’s a dream come true to work with an editor like Hannah, whose enthusiasm and passion for The Girl Beyond the Gate matches my own. It still feels surreal that this story will be read and I’m so excited for these characters to be released into the world.”
​
The second book under contract will publish in Autumn 2022.

David Fennell's The Art of Death​ was published in paperback last week.

This is the first in his DI Grace Archer series and since its first publication in February 2021, has picked up a slew of incredible endorsements:

"A truly extraordinary crime novel." Lynda La Plante
"Unsettling, fast-paced, suspenseful and gripping. EXCELLENT!" Will Dean
"Written with a clear grasp of social media, the story simply bristles with invention - though it is not for the faint-hearted." The Daily Mail

Sean Lusk appeared on The Chris Roberts Show podcast last week, to talk about his upcoming debut novel, The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley (Doubleday, January 2022), and how one develops ideas as an author. 

You can catch up on this fascinating listen here.

DHH agent Emily Glenister took part in a literary agent Q&A with her client, and author, Becca Day. 

Viewers were invited to send in questions beforehand and if you've ever wanted to know the exact function of a literary agent, pro-tips for a submission, and the general do's and don't's of querying, then you can catch up here.

Out later this month, Brian McGilloway's latest Inspector Devlin book, Blood Ties, received a lovely review in the Irish Examiner last week:

"The book is expertly paced and all the characters ring true. It handles all its themes sensitively and McGilloway's style is faultless and unobtrusive ... It is a fine pleasure for a reader to come across such a wonderful protagonist six books into a series and know that the joy of reading the earlier books awaits."

​To pre-order your copy, click here.

Finally, we are delighted to reveal to you the cover for Sarah Bonner's debut psychological thriller, Her Perfect Twin (January 2022, Hodder Studio).

The news is out! 

Marina Palmer's (a pen name for author Imogen Robertson) debut crime thriller novel, The Russian Doll, has been snapped up by Hodder & Stoughton, in a deal negotiated by Broo Doherty.

Billed as "The Firm meets McMafia", the book will be published in November 2021. For more info on this exciting deal, click on any of the links above.

Fantastic news that the 6th Ari Thor book by Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson, Winterkill, was the no.1 best selling crime novel in France last week!

In addition, Ragnar has been confirmed to appear at this year's Cheltenham Literary Festival on Saturday 9th October, in conversation with fellow novelist Will Dean. To book your tickets, click here.

Stuart Turton - author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - took part in the Daily Mail's 'What Book?' feature last week, to mark his shortlisting for the Goldsboro Book Glass Bell Award, for his second novel, The Devil and the Dark Water. 

The winner of the Glass Bell will be announced on the 30th September.

Finally, we could not be happier to announce that the debut from Thomas D. Lee, Perilous Times (plus another title), has been bought by Little, Brown imprint, Orbit, in a three-way auction. Jenni Hill bought UK & Commonwealth rights from Harry Illingworth, with US rights pre-empted in a six-figure deal by Ballantine and German rights sold to Heyne at auction. 

​Perilous Times is billed as a "sharply witty and relevant" novel which mixes Arthurian legend with contemporary fantasy. An extract of the novel was originally submitted as Lee's MA dissertation, which was awarded a distinction and won the PFD Prize for Best Fiction in 2019. It will be published by Orbit in early 2023.

To read more, click here.

Little, Brown imprint Orbit has won a three-way auction for two novels from Thomas D. Lee, including his debut Perilous Times. 

Jenni Hill, editorial director, bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Harry Illingworth at DHH Literary Agency. North American rights were pre-empted in a six-figure deal by Julian Pavia at Ballantine, from Sam Morgan at The Lotts Agency on behalf of Illingworth, while German rights were sold to Heyne at auction.

Perilous Times is billed as a "sharply witty and relevant" novel which mixes Arthurian legend with contemporary fantasy. An extract of the novel was originally submitted as Lee's MA dissertation, which was awarded a distinction and won the PFD Prize for Best Fiction in 2019. It will be published by Orbit in early 2023.

Lee commented: "I'm superlatively happy to be signing with Orbit and Ballantine, and I can't believe I get to work with a pair of accomplished, talented editors like Jenni and Julian. I'm confident that they share my strange, fantastical vision for Perilous Times and will help it to reach the widest possible readership."

Hill said: "As a die-hard Discworld fan with over a decade of commissioning novels behind me, I’ve always had a certain cynicism when comparisons to Pratchett were made. However all doubts disappeared within the first chapter of this witty and vital debut. Thomas’ novel will absolutely delight fans of Good Omens and The Old Guard, while demonstrating a uniqueness that is all Thomas’ own, and a blisteringly contemporary perspective that cements his position in the new generation of writers we are seeing address the issues of the 2020s. Lee’s writing entertains, but it also matters."

​From The Bookseller article | Tamson Hackett

Imogen Robertson has written a thriller billed as "The Firm meets McMafia" under a new pseudonym, Marina Palmer, for Hodder & Stoughton.

World rights were acquired by publisher Nick Sayers from agent Broo Doherty at the DHH Literary Agency. The Russian Doll will be published on 25th November 2021. 

“This thrilling and exciting novel, opens the door on the Russian high life in London and corruption at the heart of British politics, reaching all the way into the Secret Services,” the publisher said. 

The blurb reads: “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 by the time she realises she’s getting too deep into something very sinister, it’s too late to get out.” 

Sayers said: “I jumped at the chance to work with Imogen when I knew that she wanted to develop a new thriller. I absolutely love what she has done with The Russian Doll. Imogen first made her name with historical fiction and although she has written contemporary work too, this seemed like an exciting new direction which we should celebrate with a new name. So, I really believe Marina Palmer is destined to become a major new force in crime and suspense. The Russian Doll is so well named – it just keeps delivering surprises and thrills, right to the last page.” 

Before becoming a full-time writer, Robertson directed for TV, film, and radio. She is the author of several novels, including the Crowther and Westerman series and The Paris Winter (Headline), and has co-written novels with former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson including The House (Little, Brown) as well as with screenwriter Darby Kealey and Wilbur Smith. She has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger three times and for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award.

She commented: “Working with Nick has been a great experience and I'm very grateful for the welcome the whole team has given to Marina Palmer and The Russian Doll. The novel is a departure from my earlier work, and writing it has been invigorating, challenging and a fascinating process which has taken me in new directions as an author. I'm very proud of the result and look forward to seeing where Marina takes us next.” 

From The Bookseller article | Heloise Wood

Starting this week's DHH News Roundup is the cover reveal for Anita Frank's second novel, The Return​​ (HQ, November 2021).

Jack Ellison’s war is over, but the battle for his family has just begun.

When Jack left for the war, he made a parting pledge to his pregnant bride, Gwen, that he would never return. It was, after all, best for everyone that he didn’t.

Now, as celebrations erupt for Victory in Europe, Gwen is terrified that Jack will renege on his promise, threatening the life she has built for herself and their son on the family farm.

But war has changed Jack, and he is coming home, determined to claim a place in Gwen’s life – and her heart.

As events of the past come back to haunt them, Jack and Gwen find themselves facing their greatest battle – and it is a fight neither of them can afford to lose.

In this sweeping historical story with huge heart, Anita Frank weaves a glorious tale of love and loss, secrets and promises.

Hailed as "A truly wonderful novel ... beautifully written" by Jill Mansell, you can pre-order this absolute stunner, from the author of the HWA shortlisted The Lost Ones​, here.

Her Perfect Twin is the debut psychological thriller from Sarah Bonner, and this week, it picked up some fantastic pre-publication quotes:

"A deliciously sticky web of a tale that snared me from the very first page and didn't let me go until the shocking end." C. L. Pattison

"Intense, sharp and surprising. Everything I love in a thriller." ​Jo Jakeman

​Pre-order here (Hodder Studio, January 2022).

Also endorsed this week was Marina Palmer (also known as Imogen Robertson)'s forthcoming The Russian Doll (Hodder & Stoughton, November 2021, pre-order here):

"A dark, glittering thriller that draws you deep into a shadowy world where no one is who they seem. Intricate, brilliantly written & highly compelling." Robyn Young

"Best book I've read this year." Simon Conway

"Gripped me with layer upon dangerous layer." Alison Bruce

"I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day ... Superb!" Mara Timon

- -

Packed with twists, intrigue, betrayal, romance and suspense, The Russian Doll constantly wrong-foots the reader and delivers a perfect narrative, right to the last page.

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.

Jo Thomas' Finding Love at the Christmas Market (a Zoella Book Club pick for December 2020) has been bought by Eesti Raamat in Estonia.

Jo has also sold German rights for Escape to the French Farmhouse and A Winter Beneath the Stars, to Meulenhoff Boekrij.

Eva Björg Ægisdóttir's debut novel, and winner of the CWA John Creasey Award, The Creak on the Stairs has been sold to Shogankukan in Japan.

Congratulations to our clients, all of whom had their glorious books published last week:

• The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara (eBook)
• The Girl Behind the Wall by Mandy Robotham (paperback)
• Celebrations at the Chateau by Jo Thomas (eBook)
• Death of a Shipbuilder by L. C. Tyler (paperback)
• Too Much of Water by L. C. Tyler (eBook and hardback)

Finally, we're welcoming two new clients to the Agency this week:

Rebecca Thorne joins Emily Glenister's list, and has written two best-selling novels under the name Rebecca Tinnelly: Never Go There and Don't Say A Word, both published with Hodder.

Lucy Fulford joins Broo Doherty. Lucy is an Australian-British journalist and filmmaker whose work centres around migration and identity.

To find out more about these exciting new signings, click on their names above.