Neal Street options Cara Hunter's first standalone novel

Neal Street Productions have picked up the television rights to Cara Hunter’s first standalone novel, Murder in the Family, set to be published in July by HarperCollins. Cara is the author of the Sunday Times best-selling DI Fawley crime novels, which have sold more than a million copies in the UK and have been published in 27 territories internationally.

Murder in the Family is an ingeniously plotted and addictive novel about an unsolved murder that gripped the nation. When Luke Ryder was found dead in the garden of the family home in London in 2003, he left behind a wealthy, older widow and three step-children. Years later, a group of experts are filmed on the set of a true-crime show as they re-examine the evidence – with shocking results.

Neal Street produces award-winning film, TV and theatre and is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023. Their most recent television slate includes the hugely successful Call the Midwife for the BBC, now in its 13th series, and along with The Franchise, an original TV comedy pilot, which Neal Street will produce for HBO and will be directed by Sam Mendes. Film projects include the newly released Empire of Light, for Searchlight Pictures, written and directed by Sam Mendes, starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth and Toby Jones, as well as the multi-award-winning 1917 starring George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch. Nicolas Brown from Neal Street said: ‘We are delighted to have been fortunate enough to acquire the screen rights and are looking forward to working on an adaptation that does justice to Cara’s uniquely entertaining and thrilling book.’

Remembering D. M. Thomas, 1935 – 2023

Poet, novelist, biographer and long-time friend of J&A Donald Michael Thomas has died, aged 88. Considered one of the greatest contributors to modern literature, Donald’s work has been translated into 30 languages worldwide and received numerous accolades throughout his lifetime.

Born in Cornwall in 1935, he spent some of his childhood in Australia, before returning to the UK to finish his schooling. He studied English at Oxford, graduating in 1958, and worked as a teacher and lecturer for a number of years.

Donald had learned Russian during his National Service in the 1950s, and maintained a lifelong interest in Russian culture and literature. He would go on to publish a number of well-received translations of Russian poetry, including the works of Anna Akhmatova, Alexander Pushkin, and Yevgeny Yevtushenko. He also wrote a biography of novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, which was awarded the Orwell Prize in 1999.

The writer of dozens of poetry collections and fourteen novels, including the Russian Quartet, his best-known work, The White Hotel, was published in 1981 and is regarded as a ground-breaking examination of eroticism and sexuality. It won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction and the Cheltenham Prize and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, coming a close second to Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children. William Golding and Graham Greene were huge fans of the novel, naming it their ‘book of the year,’ and Rushdie himself considered The White Hotel to be a work of ‘blazing imagination and intellectual thought.’

Donald passed away in his beloved Cornwall, and is survived by his fourth wife, Angela Embree, and his three children. Leaving behind a wealth of thought-provoking writing created over a colourful lifetime, he will be sorely missed.

Photo credit: Ken Goff, The Guardian

Dame Professor Sue Black and Kara Gnodde are Barnes & Noble 'Monthly Picks'

Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind by Sue Black and Kara Gnodde’s The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything have been chosen by Barnes & Noble as some of their top titles for March, for fiction and non-fiction respectively. These two books are among six highlights across categories such as mystery and thriller, YA and speculative fiction.

The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything was released by HarperCollins in North America on February 28th, and is set to be launched by Mantle in the UK as one of their lead Spring titles later this month. Written in Bone was published in the UK by Transworld in 2020 to great success, and was made available to North American readers earlier this year from Arcade.

The Marlow Murder Club hits international milestone

The ladies of Marlow are taking over the world! Robert Thorogood’s Marlow Murder Club series has experienced great success in the UK, and is set to be translated in 15 languages worldwide. Rights to the series have been acquired in Danish, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Slovenian and Ukrainian, with more to follow – stay tuned!

Jody Cooksley announced as winner of the 2023 Caledonia Novel Award

Congratulations to Jody Cooksley, the winner of the Caledonia Novel Award 2023! We are delighted that Jody has signed with agent Charlotte Seymour, who judged this year’s award and chose Jody’s Victorian gothic novel, The Small Museum, from a shortlist of seven writers and a longlist of fifteen. Jody wins £1,500 and this year’s specially-designed artwork by Edinburgh artist Lucy Roscoe. As the author of the best novel from the UK and Ireland, Jody also wins the free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.

Excerpts from Jody’s novel and all the shortlisted entries are available to read here.

A tribute to Ronald Blythe, 1922 – 2023

Ronald Blythe, beloved nature writer, editor, essayist and champion of the English countryside, has passed away, a few months after marking his 100th birthday.

Ronald was born and spent his entire life in or near Suffolk, and is perhaps best known for Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village, an evocative account of agricultural life in the county from the turn of the century to the 1960s. He wrote a number of books over the course of his lengthy career, as well as ‘Word from Wormingford,’ a long-running and highly praised weekly column in the Church Times.

Ronald was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1969 and was awarded the prestigious Benson Medal in 2006 in recognition of a lifetime’s achievement. He was appointed CBE in 2017.

Next to Nature: A Lifetime in the English Countryside, a collection of his writings, was published in 2022 to coincide with Ronald’s centenary.

Regarded by many as ‘an English institution’, Ronnie will be missed for his beautiful writing, his fascination with the lives of others, his deep sense of wonder and delight in nature, and the gentle warmth he bestowed on those who were lucky to call him a friend.

Photo credit: Eamonn McCabe, The Guardian

Being a Writer – Getting it Written with Bec Evans and Chris Smith

To celebrate the publication of Written: How to Keep Writing and Build a Habit That Lasts, authors Bec Evans and Chris Smith had a conversation with bestseller Oliver Burkeman to explore what it means to be a writer. Over the course of their conversation, they covered topics such as the pressures of the ‘New Year reset,’ time management, embracing limitations, the lure of productivity gurus, and what it means to write, along with the habits, tips and tricks that have worked for them.

Remembering David Pownall, 1938 – 2022

J&A is sad to report the death of beloved playwright David Pownall, who created a wealth of internationally renowned stage, TV and radio plays over the course of his long career.

Born in Liverpool in 1938, his early memories of the Second World War, in particular The Blitz, would go on to shape much of his work. As a young man he worked in the motor industry and spent his evenings writing, hoping to one day make a career out of it. He moved to Zambia in the early 1960s to work in copper mining, and it was there that some of his early plays were produced.

On his return to England he began to write full time, taking up residency at Coalville’s Century Theatre and then at the Duke’s Playhouse in Lancaster, later co-founding Paines Plough Theatre Company with John Adams. His plays reflected the local environment, as well as meditations on the works of Shakespeare.

David is perhaps best known for his play Master Class, which combined his deep passion for music with his preoccupation with the unending struggle of the artist versus the state. Centring on Stalin bullying Shostakovich and Prokofiev into writing music he deemed fit for the Soviet people, Master Class was first performed at the Haymarket Theatre in 1983 and has been translated into over twenty languages worldwide.

Alongside his sixty stage plays and over one hundred radio plays written for the BBC, David was also a successful novelist and short story writer, publishing over fifteen novels and collections throughout his life. Many of his books were inspired by his time spent living in Africa.

He received numerous awards during his career, including the John Whiting Prize, the New York Theatre Yearbook, the London Stage Directors’ Award, two Edinburgh Festival Fringe First Award, two Giles Cooper Awards and three Sony Awards. David was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1976, and Keele University made him an honorary Doctor of Letters in 2000.

David leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, and he is survived by his wife Alex, his sons Tom and Max, his stepdaughters Dom and Georgie, his brother Barry and his grandson Zayden. In the words of his close friend, writer and actor Torben Betts, ‘He never wrote with an audience or a market in mind. He wrote simply because the ideas and the words and the characters poured joyously out of him. If the work was of any value to others, then so much the better.’

Written in Bone chosen as a Waterstones ‘Paperback of the Year’

Dame Professor Sue Black’s Written in Bone, a fascinating examination of the surprising details recorded in our bones, has been selected as one of Waterstones top paperback titles of 2022. Drawing upon her years of research and a wealth of remarkable experience, the world-renowned forensic anthropologist invites the reader on a journey of discovery, leading to some emotional revelations.

Originally published by Transworld in September 2020, the paperback edition of Written in Bone was released earlier this year to rave reviews and has seen great success. The follow up to her best-selling debut, All That Remains, Written in Bone won the 2021 Gold Dagger award for nonfiction and was named among the best memoirs of the year by The Times.

Dame Professor Black is due to deliver the prestigious Royal Institution Christmas lectures this winter, which will be broadcast on BBC Four between Christmas and the new year.

Sam Holland's The Echo Man shortlisted for Dutch Silver Bat award

The Dutch translation of The Echo Man has been nominated for a Silver Bat award for Thriller of the Year at the prestigious Nederlands Thriller Festival. Originally published in the UK by HarperCollins in April this year, De Echoman was well-received when it was released in the Netherlands in May.

Sam Holland’s gripping debut has been praised among the crime and thriller community, lauded as ‘compelling,’ offering one of the most ‘disturbing, shocking serial killers in recent memory.’

The winner of the Silver Bat award will be announced at the Nederlands Thriller Festival ceremony on October 30th.

Dame Professor Sue Black to give prestigious Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Forensic anthropologist Dame Professor Sue Black is set to deliver the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures this winter. The Christmas Lectures are the world's leading science lectures for young people, and have been held since 1825. Previous speakers include Nobel Prize winners William and Lawrence Bragg, Sir David Attenborough, Carl Sagan and Dame Nancy Rothwell. In her lectures, Dame Black will explore existential questions about what makes us who we are, and how others can identify us, receiving input from lawyers, detectives, pathologists and even dog handlers.

A Sunday Times best-selling author, Dame Black is currently President of St John's College, Oxford and the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, and was previously Pro Vice-Chancellor for Engagement at Lancaster University. Her two books, All That Remains: A Life in Death and Written in Bone – Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind, were published by Doubleday in 2018 and 2020 to critical acclaim.

The Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution will be broadcast on BBC Four between Christmas and the New Year. More information on how to watch the Lectures can be found here.

Sarah Pearse wins the inaugural FingerPrint Awards Crime Book of the Year

Sarah Pearse has been announced as the winner of the FingerPrint Awards Crime Book of the Year for her debut novel The Sanatorium. Published in February 2021, the atmospheric thriller has seen huge success, reaching number one on the Sunday Times best-seller list. The novel was also chosen as a Reese Witherspoon Book Club title.

The Sanatorium was announced as Crime Book of the Year at the Capital Crime Festival, taking place in Battersea Park. Pearse was shortlisted alongside internationally renowned talents Val McDermid, Janice Hallett, Eva Björg Ægisdottir and Mick Herron.

The sequel to The Sanatorium, The Retreat, was published by Transworld in July and quickly became a bestseller in both the UK and US markets.

What a Thing to Say to the Queen to be re-issued

In the wake of the Queen’s death, a number of books concerning the Royals are to be re-issued, including Thomas Blaikie's What a Thing to Say to the Queen: A collection of royal anecdotes from the House of Windsor. Originally published by Quarto in 2015, this edition is due to be available from mid-October with a new cover design and minor updates to the text reflecting the Queen’s passing.

Journalist Blaikie gathered together a number of anecdotes for What a Thing to Say to the Queen, which are presented as illustrated stories providing access to a unique world. Engaging, insightful and sometimes outrageous, the re-release of Blaikie’s book will serve as an affectionate tribute to the late monarch. As the UK’s longest reigning monarch, the Queen met people from all corners of the world. What a Thing to Say to the Queen uncovers what really happened at these meetings and reveals a private side to a very public sovereign.

Professor Turi King to take part in New Scientist Live

Geneticist Professor Turi King is due to feature at the 2022 New Scientist Live festival, taking place from October 7th to 9th at London’s ExCel Centre. A celebration of innovative ideas and discoveries, the festival will include show-floor exhibitors and immersive interactive experiences, as well as talks from a variety of experts at the forefront of scientific discovery.

Professor King is Reader in Genetics and Archaeology at the University of Leicester. She is best known for her work in cracking one of the biggest forensic DNA cases in history during the exhumation and reburial of Richard III of England, the 'King in the car park'. She is currently working on carrying out the whole genome sequencing of Richard III, as well as leading a project examining the genetic legacy of the Vikings in the north of England.

Tickets can be purchased via the New Scientist website.

Sarah Pearse shortlisted for Crime Book of the Year

The nominees for the Fingerprint Awards have been announced, with Sarah Pearse earning a place on the shortlist for her debut novel The Sanatorium. Celebrating the best crime and thriller publications of 2021, the awards are voted for by readers and held as part of the Capital Crime Festival. Pearse is nominated alongside established authors of the genre such as Val McDermid and Mick Herron.

‘My vision for Capital Crime was always to make it a festival for readers, and what better way to celebrate the readers who make it all worthwhile than to give them the power to decide the winners of the Fingerprint Awards?’ said organiser David Headley. ‘I’m confident that these shortlists represent the very best of crime and thriller writing from around the world.’

Readers can vote for their preferred winners until September 19th on the Fingerprint Awards website. The winners will be announced on the evening of September 29th.

HQ acquires three more Marlow Murder Club mysteries

HarperCollins imprint HQ have acquired three new mysteries in the Marlow Murder Club series by Death in Paradise creator Robert Thorogood. Publisher Manpreet Grewal acquired UK & Commonwealth rights from Ed Wilson. The first book in the new contract will be the third in the series, to be published in January 2024, and will see Judith, Becks and Suzie once more helping to solve a crime that has shocked the residents of Marlow.

Thorogood said: “I’m delighted that HQ have asked me to kill more people in my hometown of Marlow. It’s been a joy working with Manpreet and the team, and I’m particularly grateful to all the booksellers who battled to get the book into readers’ hands over the last 18 months. I can’t wait to find out what Judith, Becks and Suzie get up to next.” 

Grewal added: “It’s been wonderful seeing how readers have taken Judith and co to their hearts, and the anticipation for the second book, Death Comes to Marlow, is already at peak levels, so it’s exciting to confirm that there is a third Marlow adventure in the pipeline. Robert has created a wonderful world, brought to life by witty, intelligent characters who are much more adept at solving crimes than the local police, and it’s going to be quite the ride as they tackle their third mystery.”

The Retreat is an instant bestseller

Celebrations are in order for Sarah Pearse, as her second novel, The Retreat, has managed to land a spot on both the UK and US best-seller lists. Within just a few days of publication, the follow up to her best-selling debut, The Sanatorium, has stormed the charts at number 13, and looks set to continue rising. A huge congratulations to Sarah on this fantastic achievement – once again!

Canelo acquires Heather Critchlow's debut Scottish crime series

The rights to three new crime titles by debut novelist Heather Critchlow have been bought by Canelo Crime. Critchlow grew up in rural Aberdeenshire and studied history and social science at the University of Cambridge before training as a business journalist. Her short stories have appeared in crime fiction anthologies Afraid of the Light, Afraid of the Christmas Lights and Afraid of the Shadows.

The series focuses on Cal Lovett, a true crime podcaster whose own experience of violent crime gives him a unique insight into the cases he covers. In the first novel, Unsolved, Cal comes face to face with a serial killer in Broadmoor, and a chain of events unfolds that tears his past to shreds. The novel sees Cal travel from his home near Birmingham to Aberdeenshire in order to seek answers about the disappearance of a young woman named Layla thirty-five years earlier, all the while battling turbulence in his personal life.

Canelo Publishing Director Louise Cullen said: ‘As a true crime fan, the concept for Heather’s series immediately appealed to me. I had come across her writing previously, and the exceptional quality of her debut novel did not disappoint. Unsolved is a thrilling, immersive novel that swept me away to rural Aberdeenshire and events of more than three decades ago, while also delivering bags of grit and drama in the present day for Cal. I could not be more excited about the potential for this series and the prospect of working with Heather on multiple novels.’

‘I am thrilled to be bringing Cal and Layla’s story to readers with Lousie Cullen and the brilliant team at Canelo,’ said Heather Critchlow. ‘Unsolved is a tribute to true crime podcasters and their desire to find answers for families of long-missing loved ones, as well as the chance to write about the beautiful Aberdeenshire countryside where I grew up. I’m so grateful to my wonderful agent, Charlotte Seymour, who has championed this series from the start and found the perfect home for Cal at Canelo.’

Unsolved is due to be published in paperback and ebook in February 2023. Book two in the series will follow in Autumn 2023, and a third novel featuring Cal Lovett is planned for the following year. World English audio rights for the series have been sold to Dreamscape.

The Marlow Murder Club becomes an international bestseller

The Marlow Murder Club is now an international bestseller, have steadily climbed the charts in the UK, France and Germany. Thorogood's debut in the Marlow series held its own in the UK charts for seventeen consecutive weeks, and the novel quickly became hugely successful in France on its release; Les Dames de Marlow was touted as the country's bestselling cosy mystery across all of 2021. The Marlow Murder Club has been sold for translation in eleven languages: Estonian, French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Finnish, Swedish, Ukrainian, Slovenian and Portuguese.

Our three beloved heroines will be back for more – the second novel in the series, Death Comes to Marlow, will be published in the UK in January 2023.

Sarah Pearse and C. K. McDonnell shortlisted for the 2022 Dead Good Reader Awards

In exciting news, The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse and The Stranger Times series by C. K. McDonnell have been shortlisted for this year’s Dead Good Reader Awards. Dead Good has been celebrating crime and thriller novels and related media for the last decade, offering recommendations and reviews, discounted titles and the chance to enter exclusive giveaways to read brand new releases before they hit the shelves.

Thousands of readers narrowed down a list of excellent novels to produce the 2022 shortlist, nominating their favourite books and authors across a variety of categories. Pearse’s atmospheric thriller, The Sanatorium, is up for The Cold As Ice Award for Most Chilling Read, dedicated to the books that ‘send a shiver down your spine,’ while the fantastical The Stranger Times novels by McDonnell have been nominated for The New Kid on the Block Award for Best New Series, celebrating ‘first-class series’ with no more than three instalments already on shelves.

Readers have the chance to choose their favourite finalist in each category until Monday 18th July, so get voting! The winners will be announced on Friday 22nd July at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate. Tickets to attend the awards and see the winners announced in person can be purchased via the Festival website.