LONDON BOOK FAIR 2021 - HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS - WEL RIGHTS FICTION - HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS
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HarperCollinsPublishers
LONDON BOOK FAIR
2021
WEL RIGHTS
FICTION
CONTENTS
Historical 3
Commercial Fiction 8
Romance 14
Literary Fiction 18
Crime + Thriller 21
Psychological Suspense 27
Science Fiction 32
Contact 34
Cover © Radu Marcusu (Unsplash)
HISTORICAL
THE AERIALISTS
PREVIOUS
COVER
Katie Munnik
The Aerialists is a rich historical novel based on the true story of Louisa Maud Evans, a
fourteen-year-old girl who died during the Great Exhibition in Cardiff, 1896, and whose
demise – tumbling 8,000 feet into the Bristol Channel – captured the imagination of the
city.
Imprint: Borough Press Paris, 1891. Laura is living on the streets, far from the American prairies
Editor: Ann Bissell where she was born. When aerialists Ena and August Gaudron, believing
Pub: 14 Apr 2022 Laura to be English, decide to rescue her, she soon finds herself
Format: Hardback ensconced in the family hot air balloon business, and offered the chance
Extent: 400pp
to learn how to fly.
Genre: Historical
Cardiff, 1896. The Gaudrons accept an invitation to be part of the Cardiff
The Author: Katie Munnik is a Fine Art, Industrial and Maritime Exhibition, presenting a show of balloon
Canadian writer living in ascents and parachute descents. Late one night, a young girl, Grace
Cardiff. Her collection of
Parry, knocks on the door. She is desperate to fly, whatever the cost.
short fiction The Pieces We
Keep was published by Wild
Goose Publications and she As Grace’s dreams begin to take wing, can Laura be the one to keep
has also been published in her grounded? Histories real and invented intertwine as the novel explores
several magazines and the many risky ways girls are expected to perform.
anthologies, including The
Cardiff Review, The
Dangerous Women Project
and Echoes of the City. She
is a graduate of the Humber
School for Writers in Toronto,
Canada.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 4THE HOUSE OF FOOTSTEPS
Mathew West
A chilling ghost story that combines the atmosphere of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn
Hardcastle and the suspense of Susan Hill.
Imprint: HarperNorth It’s 1923 and at Mordrake Manor, a forbidding house on the Scottish
Editor: Genevieve Pegg border, the roaring twenties seem not to have arrived. But Simon Christie
Pub: 3 Feb 2022 has – a young man who can’t believe his luck when he gets a job
Format: Demy Hardback
cataloguing the infamous art collection of the Mordrake family. Yet from
Extent: 304pp
the moment he gets off the train at the deserted village station he can’t
shift a headache and a sense that there’s more to the Manor and its
Genre: Ghost story, historical gruesome selection of pictures.
The Author: Mathew West Simon’s host is glad of his company, but he gets the feeling the house is
grew up in Aberdeenshire not so welcoming. As his questions about the Mordrakes grow, he finds
(and very briefly New answers in surprising places. But someone is not pleased that old secrets
Zealand). After a spell as a are stirring.
music journalist he now lives
and works in Edinburgh as a As night falls each evening, and a growing sense of unease roils in the
civil servant. A keen horror shifting shadows around him, Simon must decide what he can trust and
film buff, his novels are born ask if he can believe what he sees in the dusk or if his mind is poisoned
out of love of classic gothic by what has happened before in this place between lands, between
fiction seen through modern light and dark.
eyes.
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 5AN ITALIAN SCANDAL
Cecil Cameron
A debut historical novel full of romance, passion and adventure set in nineteenth
century London and Sicily.
Imprint: HarperNorth London 1859. Carina Temple has put away the stifling black crepe
Editor: Genevieve Pegg demanded by the death of her father – but with it she has also cast
Pub: Nov 2021 aside society’s expectations of what a single young lady should be and
Format: Hardback
do.
Extent: 400pp
When Carina’s uncle summons her to Belgrave Square to tell her
reputation is ruined, thanks to a certain Lord Danby, he tells she must
Genre: Historical romance travel to Italy until the gossip recedes and a suitable match can be
The Author: Cecil Cameron found for her.
is half Scottish and half
But Italy is a tempestuous place – her grandmother and cousins soon tell
Italian, and grew up near
Jedburgh. She read history her of the fault lines between the states and the dangerous rebels
at university, before moving fighting for freedom. Chief among these is Ben Mavrone – and when he
to Vietnam, receiving an and Carina meet, he distrusts her society pedigree, and she considers
OBE for her work in him a violent extremist.
orphanages there. She has
four children and lives in When trouble comes to Carina’s door, it is Ben who saves her –
London. reluctantly – and as they go on the run, they must learn to understand
each other to stay alive.
Meanwhile back in England, Carina’s family has plans for the life Miss
Temple should lead – if she ever returns.
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 6THE RETURN
Anita Frank
Upmarket but accessible historical fiction for fans of Chris Cleave and Lissa Evans.
Imprint: HQ It starts on VE Day, with celebrations breaking out as women working in
Editor: Kate Mills fields down tools to celebrate the imminent return of their husbands and
Publication: 22 Jul 2021 lovers. But the victory church bells strike a note of fear for one young
Format: Hardback woman, Gwen, who has reason to hope that her husband will never
Extent: 400pp
return.
Genre: Historical, WW2
Praise for Anita Frank:
Of note: The Lost Ones was
shortlisted For The Goldsboro ‘A gothic gem of intrigue and atmosphere.’ Historical Writers’ Association
Books Glass Bell Award and Debut Crown Judges
shortlisted for The Historical
Writers’ Association Debut ‘Supernatural and historical intertwine in Anita Frank’s unsettling first novel
Crown … reminiscent of other tales of the supernatural, but conveys its own
frissons and shocks.’ Sunday Times
The Author: Anita Frank was
born in Shropshire and
studied English and ‘If you liked The Woman in Black, you’ll love this utterly gripping and
American History at the atmospheric book.’ Woman & Home
University of East Anglia. She
lives in Berkshire with her ‘Haunting, emotional and exquisitely written.’ Amanda Jennings
husband and three children
and is now a full-time carer
for her disabled son.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 7
Paperback coverCOMMERCIAL FICTION
TOUGH CROWD
Andi Osho
Struggling comedian Abi is used to tough crowds, but step-parenting is going to be her
most challenging gig yet.
Imprint: HQ According to the world, her mum and her last four boyfriends, plus-size
Editor: Katie Seaman powerhouse, aspiring comedian and self-proclaimed legend Abi is too
Publication: 3 Feb 2022 much. Too loud, too woke, too big, too black, too emotional – too
Format: Paperback everything. But then she meets Will and everything changes. He gets her.
Extent: 400pp For the first time she’s not too much because Will can’t get enough,
although Will is a package deal and comes with two daughters from a
Genre: Romantic Comedy previous relationship.
The Author: Andi Osho is an Extrovert Abi has spent her life charming everyone, from wangling
accomplished writer, actress
discounts to even getting extra chicken nuggets at her local takeout.
and award-winning stand-
Nobody is immune to her charisma, except it seems Will’s kids. From the
up comedian and film
maker who has appeared get-go, Abi knows that winning the girls over will be a mammoth task,
on a number of popular TV especially given her current approval rating is zero. Abi is used to playing
panel show formats and to difficult audiences, but this is going to be her toughest crowd yet.
stand-up shows. She has
gained several script Praise for Andi Osho:
commissions from BBC
Comedy, BBC Radio and Fox ‘Wise, witty and warm.’ Richard Osman
US and her triple award- ‘A sparky, spunky, sassy romcom.’ Red
winning short film debut,
‘Funny and written with so much heart.’ Daisy Buchanan
Brit.i.am screened at nine
international film festivals.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 9
• Andi’s debut novel Asking For A
Friend has sold 15k copies in the
first three weeks since publication
and is a bestseller across all
formats.THE ARCTIC CURRY CLUB
Dani Redd
Funny, bittersweet and highly original, this is a powerful story about life, love, family and
belonging – told with a real lightness of touch.
Imprint: Avon ‘For my whole life I had been looking for home. But why would that be in
Editor: Katie Loughnane a place that I’d left? Perhaps I had to keep moving forward in order to
Pub: 9 Dec 2021 find it…’
Format: Paperback
Extent: 400pp Soon after upending her life to accompany her boyfriend Ryan to the
Arctic, Maya realises it’s not all Northern Lights and husky sleigh rides.
Instead, she’s facing sub-zero temperatures, 24-hour darkness, crippling
Genre: Commercial fiction anxiety – and a distant boyfriend as a result.
The Author: Dani Redd has a In her loneliest moment, Maya opens her late mother’s recipe book and
PhD in Creative and Critical cooks Indian food for the first time. Through this, her confidence
Writing from the University of unexpectedly grows – she makes friends, secures a job as a chef, and life
East Anglia. This involved in the Arctic no longer freezes her with fear.
research trips to some of
Europe’s remote islands, But there’s a cost: the aromatic cuisine rekindles memories of her
including Spitsbergen, in the enigmatic mother and her childhood in Bangalore. Can Maya face the
Arctic Circle. past and forge a future for herself in this new town? After all, there’s now
high demand for a Curry Club in the Arctic, and just one person with the
Upon finishing her PhD, Dani know-how to run it.
spent two years living in
India and working as a A tender and uplifting story about family, community, and finding where
freelance travel writer, with you truly belong – guaranteed to warm your heart despite the icy setting!
her articles appearing in
publications such as
National Geographic
Traveller India.
Dani won Words & Women’s
short fiction prize in 2014,
came third in Hinterland’s
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 10
creative nonfiction
competition in 2019 and was
recently longlisted for the
Lucy Cavendish Prize.MOTHERS AND
DAUGHTERS
Erica James
Her first book with HarperCollins, Mothers & Daughters is a rich, rewarding family drama
about a family facing up to a secret in their past from perennial Sunday Times bestseller
Erica James.
Imprint: HQ Since the sudden death of her husband, Naomi has steadily rebuilt the
Editor: Kate Mills life they shared, in the village of Tilsham by the sea.
Pub: 3 Mar 2022
Format: Hardback Her eldest daughter, Martha, is sensible and determined – just like her
Extent: 400pp father was – and very much in control of where her life is going. If she
could just get pregnant with her husband, life would be perfect.
Genre: Commercial fiction Willow, the youngest, was always sunnier and more easy-going, yet
drifted through life, much to her father’s frustration. But now, with
The Author: Erica James is
charming new boyfriend Rick, she has a very good reason to settle down.
the author of fifteen
bestselling novels, The three women are as close as can be. But there are things Naomi has
including Gardens of kept from her daughters.
Delight which won the 2006
Romantic Novel of the Year Like the arrival of Ellis, a long-lost friend from way back, now bringing the
Award, and Sunday Times fun and spark back into her life. And she’s certainly never told them that
top ten bestsellers The
her marriage to their father wasn’t quite what it seemed.
Queen of New Beginnings
and Promises, Promises. The Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James returns with this gloriously
With an insatiable appetite compelling tale of mothers and daughters, secrets and love.
for other people's business,
Erica will readily chat with
strangers in the hope of
unearthing a useful gem for
her writing. She finds it the
best way to write authentic
characters for her novels,
although her two grown-up
sons claim they will never
recover from a childhood
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 11
spent in a perpetual state of
embarrassment at their
mother's compulsion.
Erica now divides her time
between Cheshire and Lake
Como in Italy, where she
strikes up conversation with
unsuspecting Italians.MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
Ciara Geraghty
Set on the wild Irish coast, with an unforgettable cast of characters, this deeply
emotional novel is full of Ciara Geraghty’s trademark heart and poignancy.
Imprint: HarperFiction When Marianne’s carefully constructed life and marriage fall apart, she is
Editor: Lynne Drew forced to return to her childhood home, a ramshackle seaside mansion
Pub: 2 Sep 2021 perched high on a cliff by the Irish Sea. There she must rebuild her
Format: Paperback relationship with her mother, Rita, a flamboyant artist and recovering
Extent: 400pp
alcoholic who lives by her own rules.
Genre: Commercial fiction
Marianne left home when she was 15 following a traumatic and tragic
The Author: Ciara Geraghty incident. She never planned to return, and now she has to face the fact
lives in Dublin with one that some plans don’t work out the way you wanted them to. But she
husband and three children. might just discover that, sometimes, you have to come to terms with the
Make Yourself at Home is story of your past before you can work out the shape of the future.
her eighth novel.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 12
‘Hugely entertaining… an ‘A fabulous read…you’re
instantly engaging read, immediately immersed.’ Sheila
what you might get if you O’Flanagan
mixed Jojo Moyes with ’A superb writer – the Irish Jojo
Moyes.’ Irish Examiner
Marian Keyes.’ Sunday
Independent
Previous rights sold: United Sky New Media (Chinese Simplified), Meulenhoff Boekerij (Dutch), Goldmann
(German), DeAgostini (Italian), Park Row (US)THE BREATH OF SLEEPING BOYS
[WORKING TITLE]
PREVIOUS
COVER
Sara MacDonald
Absorbing, poignant and evocative, this epic story of friendship, loyalty and the
conflicting pull of family ties sweeps the reader from the hill villages of Pakistan to
England’s wild Cornish coast.
Imprint: HarperFiction Pakistan 2007
Editor: Lynne Drew In a small village at the foot of the mountains ten-year-old Raza’s future
Publication: 3 Feb 2022 hangs in the balance. If he remains in Pakistan he will be recruited by his
Format: Paperback Taliban brothers, a gun placed in his hands, his life one of danger.
Extent: 400pp There is another path, but it comes at a high price.
Genre: Commercial fiction Cornwall 2009
In his family’s ramshackle beach house twelve-year-old Finn is unaware
The Author: Sara Macdonald that when summer ends his life will never be the same again. His father
has spent much of her life as
will join British troops in Afghanistan. His mother, who has always struggled
a nomad, travelling all over
with army life, is on the verge of leaving.
the world, first with her
parents, then as an army
wife. Eventually, she put Both boys are about to have their worlds torn apart - but in a twist of
down roots in Cornwall and fate their paths cross. And as family and loyalty pull them towards
started writing professionally, danger, will their powerful bond save not just Raza and Finn, but those
for magazines, then as a full- they love most?
time novelist. She is the
author of the bestselling Sea
Music and In a Kingdom by
the Sea, among many other
novels.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
'Intriguing themes are
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 13
‘Vividly drawn
cleverly woven together…
characters… Thoughtful
I found myself swept
and compelling
along by the sheer
storytelling.’ Choice
interest of every page… it
grips to the end.' Country
LifeROMANCE
WITH THIS KISS
Carrie Hope Fletcher
The brand new high-concept love story from the Sunday Times bestselling author and
award-winning theatre actress, Carrie Hope Fletcher.
Imprint: HQ When their lips touch, will she seal his fate?
Editor: Manpreet Grewal
Pub: 5 Aug 2021 From the outside, Lorelai is an ordinary young woman with a normal life.
Format: Hardback She loves reading, she works at the local cinema and she adores living
Extent: 400p with her best friend. But she carries a painful burden, something she’s
kept hidden for years; whenever she kisses someone on the lips, she sees
how they are going to die. But she’s never known if she’s seeing what
Genre: Romance was always meant to be, or if her kiss is the thing that decides their
The Author: Carrie Hope destiny. And so, she hasn’t kissed anyone since she was eighteen.
Fletcher is an actress, singer,
Then she meets Grayson. Sweet, clever, funny Grayson. And for the first
author and vlogger. Carrie's
first book, All I Know Now, time in years she yearns for a man’s kiss. But she can’t… or can she? And
was a number one Sunday if she does, should she try to intervene and change what she sees?
Times bestseller and her
debut novel, On the Other Spellbinding, magical and utterly original, With This Kiss is one love story
Side, also went straight to you will never forget.
number one.
Carrie played the role of
Eponine in Les Misérables at
the Queen's Theatre in
London's West End for
almost three years.
She has since starred in and Praise for Carrie Hope Fletcher:
received awards for a
number of productions ‘Reminded me so much of Cecelia Ahern.’ Ali McNamara
including The War of the
’Utterly enchanting.’ Jill Mansell
Worlds, The Addams Family
and Heathers: The Musical. ‘Our go-to for spellbinding stories.’ Heat
She will soon star in Andrew
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 15
Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella in ‘Enchanting . . . charming romance.’ Woman
the lead role.UNDER A GREEK MOON
Carol Kirkwood
Jackie Collins meets Mamma Mia in this highly entertaining and compulsive novel filled
with surprises and twists.
Imprint: HarperFiction Nineteen-year-old Shauna O’Brien fell for a charismatic playboy during
Editor: Kate Bradley one summer in Greece in the 1980s. The dream turned into a nightmare,
Pub: 8 Jul 2021 and now, as one of the world’s most in-demand actresses, she’s still trying
Format: Hardback
to escape her past.
Extent: 400pp
Grace Taylor never knew her real mother but is determined to follow her
dreams, no matter where they take her.
Genre: Escapist, Romance
Demitrius seems to have led a charmed life, though few people know
The Author: Carol Kirkwood is
the sorrow and heartache that lie beneath his unruffled exterior.
best known as a BBC
weather presenter. Trained Three people linked by a secret, and a search for the truth will take them
by the Met Office, she is the from Hollywood to Monaco, and back to a magical Greek summer years
current top draw not just in
ago that seemed to hold so much promise.
terms of the weather but as
a TV household name. She
joined BBC News as a
presenter in 1998 and has
consolidated her positioning
as a fan favourite with
appearances across all of
BBC Weather’s outputs as
well as extending her reach
across the BBC’s popular
programming. She does the
Praise for Under a Greek Moon:
weather on Zoe Ball’s
Breakfast Show and also ‘Utterly engaging, deliciously escapist, with a heart as warm as its
presents the live broadcasts author's.’ Cathy Kelly, bestselling author of The Family Gift
during the Wimbledon Tennis
fortnight. 'Carol's book is a real treat… with heart and drama - marvellous!’ Anton
Du Beke
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 16THE ART OF LOVING YOU
Amelia Henley
A beautiful and sophisticated love story about starting over when the love of your life is
gone. Perfect for fans of Rosie Walsh, Catherine Isaac and Josie Silver.
Imprint: HQ They were so in love. And then life changed forever.
Editor: Manpreet Grewal Will they find happiness again?
Pub: 22 Jul 2021
Format: Paperback Libby and Jack are the happiest they’ve ever been. Thanks to their dear
Extent: 400p friend, eighty-year-old Sid, they’ve just bought their first house together,
and it's the beginning of the life they've always dreamed of.
Genre: Emotional
But the universe has other plans for Libby and Jack and a devastating
The Author: Amelia Henley is twist of fate shatters their world.
a hopeless romantic who
has a penchant for
All of a sudden life is looking very different, and unlikely though it seems,
exploring the intricacies of
relationships through writing might Sid be the one person who can help Libby and Jack move
high-concept love stories. forward when what they loved the most has been lost?
Amelia also writes The Art of Loving You is a beautiful love story for our times. Romantic and
psychological thrillers under uplifting, it will break your heart and then put it back together again.
her real name, Louise
Jensen. She has sold over a
million copies of her global
number one bestseller.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 17
‘A love story with a definite ‘Intriguing, unusual and
difference… intensely intensely romantic.’
emotional.’ Best Sunday Mirror
Previous rights sold: Grand Central (US)LITERARY FICTION
WATCHING WOMEN
& GIRLS
Danielle Pender
Each story in this collection will examine how women in society are viewed and the
impact that constant surveillance has on all of our lives. Perfect for fans of Three
Women, Expectation and My Dark Vanessa, this collection of short stories heralds the
arrival of an exciting new storyteller.
Imprint: 4th Estate Women understand what it feels like to be watched – Watching Women
Editor: Michelle Kane & Girls dissects this omnipotent gaze and investigates what happens
Publication: 28 Apr 2022 when it is returned, and what life can be like when you stare back.
Format: Demy Hardback
Extent: 176pp
Short stories
Via a range of relationships from mother and daughters through to lovers,
difficult colleagues, deep friendships and an online dominatrix and her
Genre: Literary fiction client, this collection deals with wider issues of sexuality, race,
gentrification and class, and aims to make the point that no matter how
The Author: Born in long we look at ourselves or each other we very rarely see the truth that
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, is right in front of us.
Danielle gained her BA in
History of Modern Art, Design Observationally acute, darkly funny and totally relatable, Watching
& Film at Northumbria
Women and Girls moves back and forth between different lenses of
University and MA in
Creative Writing at perception in an often disquieting and unsettling way.
Newcastle University. In 2013
she founded Riposte, a
biannual print publication
that offers a diverse and
nuanced reflection on the
lives of modern women
which has attracted a loyal
readership and following
world-wide. She has written
for other publications
including Refinery 29, It’s
Nice That, Apartamento,
amongst others. This is her
debut collection of short
stories.
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 19GOODBYE HORSES
[WORKING TITLE]
Rebecca Pert
In the Shetland Isles, where the grey cliffs plunge into the grey ocean, and the wind
roars, Jane Douglas enjoys a simple, quiet existence – far from the terrors of her
childhood.
Imprint: Borough Press When the police show up at her door one day with the news that
Editor: Carla Josephson they’ve found her mother’s body in an abandoned quarry, Jane’s entire
Pub: 3 Mar 2022 life is upended. Her mother disappeared when Jane was a teenager,
Format: Hardback
following a violent death in the family. Jane has spent her life running
Extent: 400pp
from her past, living in fear that she has inherited her mother’s
demons. Now, Jane must face what actually happened on that fateful,
Genre: Literary thriller tragic day twenty years ago.
Of note: Winner of the A beautifully written, atmospheric story of trauma, grief and redemption,
Cheltenham Festival First Goodbye Horses is a debut from a bright new voice in literary fiction.
Novel Competition
The Author: Rebecca Pert is
the winner of the
Cheltenham Festival First
Novel Competition. She lives
in Gloucestershire with her
husband, and Goodbye
Horses is her debut novel.
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 20CRIME + THRILLER
THE GAME
COVER
NOT
FINAL
Scott Kershaw
Set between Europe and North America, The Game is John Marrs’ The One meets The
Hunger Games . For fans of Line of Duty , Steve Cavanagh, Adrian McKinty and Harlan
Coben, this is a pitch-black, high-stakes international thriller that asks: are you
prepared to pay the ultimate price to save someone you love?
Imprint: HQ When five players are drawn into a mysterious and deadly game, they
Editor: Abby Parsons
swiftly realise the stakes are higher than they could ever have imagined.
Pub: 3 Mar 2022
Format: Paperback [text message]
Extent: 400pp
DEAR PLAYER,
Genre: Thriller THE PERSON YOU LOVE MOST IS IN DANGER.
The Author: Scott Kershaw TO SAVE THEM, YOU MUST BECOME A PLAYER IN THE GAME.
lives in Lincolnshire in a
Victorian cottage that was THE RULES ARE, THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE WINNER.
formerly ruled by mice. He
likes the crackle of vinyl, the AND IF YOU LOSE, YOUR LOVED ONE WILL DIE.
smell of paperbacks, the
taste of a stiff drink and the WELCOME TO THE GAME.
view from a front row barrier.
He’s getting too old and YOU’VE JUST STARTED PLAYING.
heavy for crowd-surfing, but
that rarely stops him from [end of message]
trying. His first real love was
cinema. His beagle, Darwin,
is the one true king of dogs.
As a child, Scott believed in
monsters. Sometimes he still
does. The Game is his debut
thriller. HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 22NEXT OF KIN
Kia Abdullah
A gripping, brave and tense court-room drama which will keep you on the edge of
your seat until the final, heart-stopping page, perfect for fans of Anatomy of a
Scandal and He Said/She Said.
Imprint: HQ Leila Syed is nearing the end of a busy day at work when she receives a
Editor: Manpreet Grewal call that cleaves her life in two. Her brother-in-law’s voice is filled with
Publication: 2 Sep 2021 panic. He’s at his son’s nursery to pick Max up but he isn’t there.
Format: Royal Hardback
Extent: 384pp
It’s only now, six hours later, that Leila realises with horror what she’s done.
Genre: Courtroom drama,
She was supposed to drop Max off this morning but she forgot he was in
legal thriller the back seat – she’s left him locked in her car on the hottest day in
London for two decades. Leila races down to the carpark, but she’s too
The Author: Kia Abdullah is late.
an author and travel writer.
She has contributed to What comes next is an explosive trial that will tear two sisters apart. But as
the Guardian, BBC, and the case progresses it soon becomes clear that there’s more to this than
Channel 4 News, and most meets the eye.
recently The New York Times.
Kia currently travels the
world as one half of the
A gripping, brave and tense courtroom drama, Next of Kin will keep you
travel blog Atlas & Boots, on the edge of your seat until the final, heart-stopping page.
which receives over 200,000
views per month. Praise for Kia Abdullah:
www.kiaabdullah.com
‘A deeply profound and thought-provoking read.’ Heat
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
‘Gripping, sensitive, ‘A superb legal
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 23
nuanced and thriller… crackles
heart-breaking, it with tension.’
will stay with you Guardian
long after you read
it.’ Roz Watkins,
author of Cut to the
Bone
Previous rights sold: St Martin’s Press (US)A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO
MURDER
Rosalind Stopps
A highly original coming-of-old novel about three women in their seventies who set out
to save a young girl’s life through murder.
Imprint: HQ Grace, Meg and Daphne, all in their seventies, are minding their own
Editor: Manpreet Grewal business while enjoying a cup of tea in a café, when seventeen-year-old
Pub: 22 Jul 2021 Nina stumbles in. She’s clearly distraught and running from someone, so
Format: Royal Hardback the three women think nothing of hiding her when a suspicious-looking
Extent: 384pp
man starts asking if they’ve seen her.
Genre: Literary fiction, black
comedy, crime Once alone, Nina tells the women a little of what she’s running from. The
need to protect her is immediate, and Grace, Meg and Daphne vow to
Of note: Rosalind’s first book, do just this. But how? They soon realise there really is only one answer:
The Stranger She Knew, was murder.
shortlisted for the Paul
Torday Memorial Prize 2020. And so begins the tale of the three most unlikely murderers-in-the-
making, and may hell protect anyone who underestimates them.
The Author: Rosalind Stopps'
short stories have been
published in five anthologies
Praise for Rosalind Stopps:
and read at live literature
events worldwide. A ‘A tense page-turning thriller… powerful.’ The Times
Beginner’s Guide to Murder ‘A masterful feat of storytelling.’ Tim Pears, author of The West Country
is her second novel. trilogy
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 24
Paperback coverHOW TO KILL YOUR FAMILY
Bella Mackie
From the Sunday Times bestseller Bella Mackie, How to Kill Your Family is an
outrageously funny, compulsive and subversive fiction debut. Perfect for fans of Killing
Eve and My Sister, the Serial Killer
Imprint: Borough Press I have killed several people (some brutally, others calmly) and yet I
Editor: Ann Bissell currently languish in jail for a murder I did not commit.
Pub: 22 Jul 2021
Format: Hardback When I think about what I actually did, I feel somewhat sad that nobody
Extent: 400p will ever know about the complex operation that I undertook. Getting
away with it is highly preferable, of course, but perhaps when I’m long
gone, someone will open an old safe and find this confession. The public
Genre: Crime would reel. After all, almost nobody else in the world can possibly
Of note: Named as one of understand how someone, by the tender age of 28, can have calmly
Cosmopolitan’s best books killed six members of her family. And then happily got on with the rest of
of 2021 and Grazia’s best her life, never to regret a thing.
books of 2021
A wickedly dark romp about class, family, love… and murder.
The Author: Bella Mackie has
written for the Guardian,
Vogue and Vice. Her non-
fiction debut in 2018, Jog
On, was a Sunday Times
bestseller. How to Kill Your
Family is her fiction debut.
Praise for How to Kill Your Family :
‘Funny and furious and strangely uplifting. Grace is a bitter and beguiling
anti-hero with a keen eye for social analysis – even in her most grisly
deeds, you never stop rooting for her.’ Pandora Sykes
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 25THE COFFIN MAKER’S
GARDEN
Stuart MacBride
The stunning new thriller featuring Ash Henderson from No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller
Stuart MacBride.
Imprint: HarperFiction A village on the edge.
Editor: Julia Wisdom
Publication: 7 Jan 2021 As a massive storm batters the Scottish coast, Gordon Smith’s home is
Format: Hardback falling into the North Sea. But the crumbling headland has revealed what
Extent: 400pp he’s got buried in his garden: human remains.
Standalone novel
A house full of secrets.
Genre: Crime
With the storm still raging, it’s too dangerous to retrieve the bodies and
The Author: Stuart MacBride waves are devouring the evidence. Which means no one knows how
is the Sunday Times No. 1 many people Smith has already killed and how many more he’ll kill if he
bestselling author of the can’t be stopped.
Logan McRae and Ash
Henderson novels. His work An investigator with nothing to lose.
has won several prizes and
in 2015 he was awarded an The media are baying for blood, the top brass are after a scapegoat,
honorary doctorate by and ex-Detective Inspector Ash Henderson is done playing nice. He’s got
Dundee University. Stuart a killer to catch, and God help anyone who gets in his way.
lives in the north-east of
Scotland with his wife Fiona,
cats Grendel, Onion and
Beetroot, and other assorted
animals. Praise for Stuart MacBride:
Rights sold: Goldmann ‘Dark and brilliantly written.’ Linwood Barclay
(German), Newton Compton
(Italian) ‘A satisfying read and a hugely thoughtful novel… there’s no let-up for
the reader.’ Scotland on Sunday
Previous rights sold: in 20
territories, details available ‘A tense and gritty thriller.’ Irish Sunday Independent
upon request.
‘The pages turn effortlessly. His best work yet.’ i paper
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 26
‘A tour de force… smartly paced and vividly pungent.’ Laura Wilson,
Guardian
‘Dark and gripping. A riveting page-turner.’ Independent on Sunday
‘MacBride is a damned fine writer.’ Peter James
‘A satisfyingly compelling thriller.’ Sunday Mirror
‘Skilful storytelling… strong characterisation… both intriguing and
engrossing.’ Guardian
‘MacBride’s thrillers just keep getting better.’ Express
‘Exciting… a guaranteed bestseller.’ Literary ReviewPSYCHOLOGICAL
SUSPENSETHE LIGHTHOUSE
Fran Dorricott
A chilling, gripping and powerfully atmospheric suspense novel with a gothic edge.
Imprint: Avon Six friends travel to a remote island north of the Scottish Highlands for an
Editor: Katie Loughnane old school reunion. They’ve rented The Lighthouse – a stunning, now-
Publication: 3 Feb 2022 abandoned building that was once notorious for deaths at sea.
Format: Paperback
Extent: 400pp
On the first evening, someone goes missing. The group search all through
the night to no avail. But when the five remaining friends return to the
Genre: Thriller, suspense lighthouse early the next morning, they are shocked to find James inside.
The Author: Fran Dorricott is
He looks terrified – but won’t say a word about where he’s been.
an author based in Derby.
She holds a degree in
The party vow to put the strange night behind them and enjoy the rest of
American Literature with
their stay, but when more unexplained things begin to occur, tensions
Creative Writing from the escalate. It’s clear James knows something, but nothing will persuade him
University of East Anglia and to give up the secrets of the island. Is he protecting his friends from a
an MA with distinction in terrible truth, or leading them into more danger?
Creative Writing from City
University London.
Fran is also a bookseller,
which is secretly just a way
for her to fuel her ridiculous
book-buying addiction.
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 28THE WOMAN IN THE WOODS
Lisa Hall
Bestseller Lisa Hall’s The Woman in the Woods is full of creeping unease and nerve-
racking tension. It will have readers on the edge of their seat.
Imprint: HQ When Allie moves to a quaint old cottage with her husband, it’s their
Editor: Kate Mills dream home. Nestled in the village of Pluckley, it seems a perfect haven
Publication: 14 Oct 2021
Format: Paperback
in which to raise their two children. But Pluckley has a reputation. It’s
Extent: 400pp known as England’s most haunted village. And not long after the birth of
their new son, Allie begins to notice strange things.
Genre: Thriller, suspense
For: Fans of Louise Jensen, What’s the flash of white she sees moving quickly through the woods to
BA Paris and Katerina the back of their house? And what’s the strange scratching noise from
Diamond. the chimney?
The Author: Lisa Hall is the
bestselling author of As Allie discovers more about the history of their new home, she uncovers
Between You and Me, which a story of witchcraft and superstition which casts a long shadow to the
sold over a quarter of a present day. And not everything is as it seems. Her family might well be in
million copies and was the danger, but it’s a danger none of them could have foreseen.
fifth top selling title on
Amazon in 2016.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 29
Previous rights sold: HarperCollins (Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish), Eksik Parka (Turkish)ALL FOR YOU
Louise Jensen
All For You is a psychological thriller about a family, all with secrets to hide – but which
secret has led to the most deadly of consequences?
Imprint: HQ MEET THE WALSH FAMILY
Editor: Manpreet Grewal
Pub: 30 Sep 2021 Lucy: Mother. Wife. Falling to pieces.
Format: Paperback
Extent: 400pp Aidan: Father. Husband. In too deep.
Genre: Psychological thriller Connor: Son. Brother. Can never tell the truth.
The Author: Louise Jensen is Everyone in this family has something to hide, but what are they trying to
a global No.1 bestselling
protect, and at what cost?
author who has sold over a
million copies of her books.
Her novels have been sold All For You is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena, Lesley Kara,
for translation in twenty-five Heidi Perks and Jane Corry.
countries, as well as being
featured on the USA Today
and Wall Street Journal
bestseller lists. Louise was
nominated for the
Goodreads Debut Author of
2016 Award and the
Guardian’s Not the
Booker 2018.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
‘A clever,
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 30
addictive thriller
‘The queen of high-
about family, loss
tension grip lit delivers
and lies. Packed
a twisted tale that
full of secrets and
won’t let you go.’
twists, it will keep
Sunday Times Crime
you guessing until
Club
the final page.’
Alice Feeney,
bestselling author
of Sometimes I Lie
Previous rights sold: Grand Central (US)THE HOUSE OF WHISPERS
Anna Kent
Page-turning psychological suspense that is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Erin
Kinsley and Linda Green.
Imprint: HQ When Grace returns to Abi’s life, years after they fell out at university, Abi
Editor: Cicely Aspinall can’t help but feel uneasy. Years ago, Grace’s friendship was all-
Publication: 5 Aug 2021 consuming and exhausting.
Format: Paperback
Extent: 384pp Now happily married, Abi’s built a new life for herself and put those days
behind her. And yet as Grace slips back into her life with all the lethal
charm she had before, Abi finds herself falling back under her spell.
Genre: Thriller, suspense
Abi’s husband, Rohan, can’t help but be concerned as his wife’s
The Author: Anna Kent has
behaviour changes. As their happy home threatens to fall apart, he
worked as a journalist,
realises that there’s something deeply unnerving about Grace. Just what
magazine editor and book
editor as well as enjoying a influence does this woman have over his wife, and why has she come
stint as a radio producer. back now?
She’s written for numerous
publications at home and
abroad, including the Daily
Telegraph, where she was a
contributor for six years.
Praise for The House of Whispers :
‘A nail-biting read that absolutely gripped me. A real page-turner!’
Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Lewis
‘Unsettling and creepy, The House of Whispers is a gothic yet very
modern tale of a descent into madness. But whose decline are we
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 31
witnessing? Anna Kent kept me guessing at every turn, right up until the
last shocking page.’ Alice Clark-Platts, author of The Flower Girls
‘Unsettling, tense and thought-provoking…this is a fresh new
psychological thriller that – like Grace – completely got its hooks into me!’
Philippa East, author of Little White Lies
'A brilliant tale of artistic temperament and toxic friendship but so much
more than that too. Just fabulous.' Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times
bestselling author of The Chalet
‘Dark, creepy and atmospheric. I loved it.’ Melanie Golding, author of
Little DarlingsSCIENCE FICTION
THE EDGE
James Smythe
Sharp, gripping, and disturbing, The Edge is the third book in The Anomaly Quartet.
Imprint: HarperVoyager Years ago, a vast and mysterious object known as the Anomaly was
Editor: Natasha Tanczos discovered in deep space. All missions to explore and explain it failed.
Pub: 18 Feb 2021
Format: Paperback Now, the Anomaly has almost reached Earth, threatening to swallow the
Extent: 400pp
planet whole. On an orbital research station, a team of scientists
Genre: Sci-Fi
desperately search for a way to stop it or destroy it.
The Author: James Smythe is One of the crew, Ali, has lost faith in the mission. Following the death of a
the winner of the Wales close friend, her only interest is returning to the ground – to her young
Fiction Book of the Year son. But strange events, both inside the station and in the void beyond,
2013 and shortlisted force Ali to pursue a new mystery.
nominee for the Arthur C.
Clarke Award 2014. He is the As the truth starts to make itself clear, as deadly secrets are uncovered,
author of the Anomaly
Ali is forced to ask if she can trust anybody: her crewmates, her friends,
Quartet which includes The
Explorer and The Echo. even herself.
James currently lives in
London and teaches
creative writing. Twitter
@jpsmythe
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
HARPERCOLLINSPUBLISHERS • LBF21 • 33
Previous rights sold: Host (Czech), Bragelonne (French), Gabo (Hungarian), Insignis (Polish)Contact Zoe Shine – Head of Rights • zoe.shine@harpercollins.co.uk Emily Yolland – Rights Assistant • emily.yolland@harpercollins.co.uk Assistant to Zoe Shine
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