We've got the first of three cover reveals, to kick off this week's DHH News Roundup! First off, Gaslight, the compelling follow-up to Femi Kayode's gripping bestseller, Lightseekers:
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Bishop Jeremiah Dawodu, pastor of a Nigerian megachurch, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Folasade, the 'First Lady' of the church. The arrest was public, humiliating and sensational - sending shockwaves through Lagos - but throughout it all, Bishop Dawodu maintains his innocence.
Philip Taiwo, an acclaimed investigative psychologist, is asked by his sister, a member of the church's congregation, to clear the pastor's name. With no actual body, it looks to be a simple case and despite Philip's dislike of organised religion, he agrees to take it on as a favour to his sister. Then the First Lady's body is found in a nearby lake just as Philip's beloved family come under attack from someone warning him off the case, and he realises that nothing to do with this investigation will be straightforward.
Was it murder or suicide? Is someone framing the Bishop or the First Lady?
Gaslight will be published by Bloomsbury Raven in November 2023.
Philip Taiwo, an acclaimed investigative psychologist, is asked by his sister, a member of the church's congregation, to clear the pastor's name. With no actual body, it looks to be a simple case and despite Philip's dislike of organised religion, he agrees to take it on as a favour to his sister. Then the First Lady's body is found in a nearby lake just as Philip's beloved family come under attack from someone warning him off the case, and he realises that nothing to do with this investigation will be straightforward.
Was it murder or suicide? Is someone framing the Bishop or the First Lady?
Gaslight will be published by Bloomsbury Raven in November 2023.
| Congratulations to Caroline Lamond, who this week saw her new novel, Well Behaved Women, published in paperback. This gorgeous, sumptuous book delves into the life of Alla Nazimova, one of the highest paid stars of the 1920s silent movie era. It is scandalous, sapphic and deeply sexy - get it now in both eBook and paperback! |  |
The next cover reveal is for Kat Devereaux's debut novel, Escape to Tuscany (Head of Zeus, July 2023), a gripping and moving debut novel about two women, decades apart, whose fates converge in Florence, Italy:
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Only fourteen, Stella Infuriati is the youngest member of her town's resistance network during World War II. Risking imprisonment and death, she relays messages, supplies, and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan Hills. Her parents have no idea, consumed instead by love and fear for their beloved son, Achille, a courier and unofficial mechanic for a communist brigade fighting the fascists.
Then, after 1945, Stella seemingly vanishes from the records, her name and story overshadowed by the tragic death of her brother - until a young writer arrives in Tuscany in the spring of 2019, uncovering long-buried secrets.
Fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage and a lonely life on an isolated estate, Tori McNair has come to Florence, the beautiful city her grandmother, Margaret, taught her to love, to build a new life. As she digs into her family history with the help of Marco, a handsome lawyer, Tori starts to uncover secrets of the past - truths that stretch back decades, to a young woman who risked everything to save her world....
Then, after 1945, Stella seemingly vanishes from the records, her name and story overshadowed by the tragic death of her brother - until a young writer arrives in Tuscany in the spring of 2019, uncovering long-buried secrets.
Fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage and a lonely life on an isolated estate, Tori McNair has come to Florence, the beautiful city her grandmother, Margaret, taught her to love, to build a new life. As she digs into her family history with the help of Marco, a handsome lawyer, Tori starts to uncover secrets of the past - truths that stretch back decades, to a young woman who risked everything to save her world....
 | Massive congratulations to debut author Ola Tundun, who has signed a three-book deal with Storm Publishing. Emily Glenister sold World English Language rights to Storm's Emily Gowers, and the first in the deal, The Chaos of Us, described by the publisher as a "powerful, modern love story", will be published in September 2023. To read the full press release, click here. |
| We were delighted to welcome Stephanie Smith to the Agency last week. Stephanie, who is a showbiz and interiors journalist by trade, joins Broo Doherty's list and will be working with her on her debut novel, Hide and Seek. |  |
It was wonderful to see Sarah K. Jackson's debut novel, Not Alone, featured in the Guardian's 'Best Recent SFF Books' roundup in the last couple of weeks:
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The final cover real for this week comes in the form of Sara Barnes' debut novel, The Winter of our Lives (One More Chapter, November 2023), an ode to Barnes' love and passion for cold water swimming:
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She was the only human being down at the lake. Elbows, in need of a slather of moisturiser, pointed at the clouds; breasts, lifted to pre-children perkiness; baby belly stretched and flattened. She stretched her arms out wide as she started to walk barefoot into the lake. Peering down into the clear water, she pulled down her goggles. It was time to plunge forwards, succumbing to the embrace of the water.
It was as if she were flying.
Since the breakdown of her marriage, Stevie has found freedom and empowerment in cold water swimming. But now she must decide if she is brave enough to take the plunge and open her heart.
Holly feels that time (and gravity) haven’t been kind to her body. Does her husband Simon feel the same, and is he having an affair as she suspects?
Angela sacrificed so much when she became the wife of a farmer – swapping independence for gruelling days and silent nights. Her only moments of peace come when she is in the water.
The three friends must learn to embrace themselves, just as they embrace the waters of the Lake District, and take charge of their own happiness.
It was as if she were flying.
Since the breakdown of her marriage, Stevie has found freedom and empowerment in cold water swimming. But now she must decide if she is brave enough to take the plunge and open her heart.
Holly feels that time (and gravity) haven’t been kind to her body. Does her husband Simon feel the same, and is he having an affair as she suspects?
Angela sacrificed so much when she became the wife of a farmer – swapping independence for gruelling days and silent nights. Her only moments of peace come when she is in the water.
The three friends must learn to embrace themselves, just as they embrace the waters of the Lake District, and take charge of their own happiness.
 | Finally, we are over the moon for Jo Thomas, who has signed a brand new four-book deal with current publishers Transworld, negotiated by David Headley. The first book in the new contract will be published in summer 2024, returning readers to the Provence setting of Thomas’ 2020 novel, Escape to the French Farmhouse (Transworld Digital/ Corgi), which reached the top spot in the Kindle bestseller chart. To read the full press release, click here. |
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