Tag: Corvus

Coming Soon: UK Paperback Edition DISPLEASURE ISLAND by Alice Bell

Posted on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024

In case you missed it, Corvus has unveiled the new cover for the paperback edition of DISPLEASURE ISLAND by Alice Bell! Due to be published in the UK on January 2nd, 2025, here’s the synopsis…

Group holidays are always murder…

An unfinished wellness retreat was not Claire’s first choice of holiday destination, but it turns out that amateur murder investigation pays even less well than professional mediumship.

So Claire, her oldest friend Sophie (a 17-year-old ghost) and their new friends, Basher and Alex, head for Spike Island (off the coast of Ireland) for some R&R.

But when one of the other guests turns up dead, Claire finds herself the chief suspect.

Can she solve the murder, clear her name and escape the group holiday from hell before it becomes permanent incarceration?

DISPLEASURE ISLAND is the sequel to Bell’s acclaimed debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS, which is also published by Corvus Books. Both novels are available in North America, published by Vintage Books.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the series has received so far…

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch on GRAVE EXPECTATIONS

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett  on GRAVE EXPECTATIONS

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride  on GRAVE EXPECTATIONS

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard  on GRAVE EXPECTATIONS

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne on GRAVE EXPECTATIONS

‘In Bell’s winning second supernatural whodunit featuring Claire Hendricks (after Grave Expectations), the British medium and her ghost companion investigate shady happenings off the coast of Ireland… With the stakes suitably raised, and Sophie distracted by her pursuit of a handsome and potentially sinister pirate ghost, Bell puts a clever spin on a time-tested conceit. It’s a fast and funny romp.’ — Publishers Weekly on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘End summer with a treat: this cozy paranormal mystery has all the Saturday-afternoon comforts of a Scooby-Doo rerun, but Bell’s writing shakes you awake with its bracing humor.’ — Conner Reed, Publishers Weekly (mystery and memoir reviews editor) on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘What a cracking romp of a read! A bunch of self entitled millennials, a troop of pirate ghosts, a treasure hoard, a whole slew of secrets and at its heart an engaging and satisfying murder mystery – Agatha Christie meets Ghosts came to mind! I loved the way Alice Bell effortlessly dealt with the problems that beset mystery writers today. i.e. blanket technology- the results was a sort of ‘locked island’ mystery. As before I love the main protagonist chaotic Claire, and her sardonic sidekick (who just happens to have been dead for some fifteen years) It was great to see them both back in action again.’ — J. M. Hall on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘Contrary to its title, Alice Bell’s second novel is a complete pleasure to read, full of witty writing, loveable characters and page-turning twists.’ — Culturefly (“Spring Reads: 14 of the best new books to read this month”) on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

Alice Bell’s DISPLEASURE ISLAND out now in North America!

Posted on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024

The highly-anticipated North American edition of Alice Bell‘s DISPLEASURE ISLAND is out today! Published by Vintage Books, here’s the synopsis…

In the hilarious follow-up to Grave Expectations, Claire and the gang are back, getting their timbers shivered by a mystery involving feuding ghost pirates, buried treasure, and murder…

Claire Hendricks can see ghosts, but she can’t see herself having a fun vacation. Yet when her new friends/found family, Basher and Alex, insist, Claire and her dead BFF, Sophie, pack themselves off to a remote Irish island. This tempest-tossed isle is indeed full of noises: not only is the hotel where the gang is staying double booked with a posh private party, the island’s crumbling old fort is being fought over by rival ghost pirates. In death, as in life, they’re vying over a legendary stash of loot, supposedly hidden somewhere on the island or in the surrounding rough seas…

… which, inevitably, are whipped up into a terrific storm, stranding everyone — living and dead — on the island. Claire is already fighting off anxious And Then There Were None vibes before one of the other guests turns up murdered. With Basher distracted by a handsome Irish seaman and Sophie stretching the limits of her tether to flirt with a dead pirate with dubious intentions, it’s up to Claire to solve the mystery of three-hundred-year-old buried treasure and figure out who’s picking off party guests — before the whole gang meets a grim, Agatha Christie-like fate.

As mentioned in the synopsis, this is the follow-up to Bell’s widely-acclaimed debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS — which is also published in North America by Vintage Books. Both novels are also available in the UK, published by Corvus.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the series has received so far…

‘What a cracking romp of a read! A bunch of self entitled millennials, a troop of pirate ghosts, a treasure hoard, a whole slew of secrets and at its heart an engaging and satisfying murder mystery – Agatha Christie meets Ghosts came to mind! I loved the way Alice Bell effortlessly dealt with the problems that beset mystery writers today. i.e. blanket technology- the results was a sort of ‘locked island’ mystery. As before I love the main protagonist chaotic Claire, and her sardonic sidekick (who just happens to have been dead for some fifteen years) It was great to see them both back in action again.’ — J. M. Hall on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘Contrary to its title, Alice Bell’s second novel is a complete pleasure to read, full of witty writing, loveable characters and page-turning twists.’ — Culturefly (“Spring Reads: 14 of the best new books to read this month”) on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

North American Edition of Alice Bell’s DISPLEASURE ISLAND out in Four Weeks!

Posted on Wednesday, August 7th, 2024

The highly-anticipated North American edition of Alice Bell‘s DISPLEASURE ISLAND is out in four weeks! Due to be published by Vintage Books, on September 3rd, here’s the synopsis…

In the hilarious follow-up to Grave Expectations, Claire and the gang are back, getting their timbers shivered by a mystery involving feuding ghost pirates, buried treasure, and murder…

Claire Hendricks can see ghosts, but she can’t see herself having a fun vacation. Yet when her new friends/found family, Basher and Alex, insist, Claire and her dead BFF, Sophie, pack themselves off to a remote Irish island. This tempest-tossed isle is indeed full of noises: not only is the hotel where the gang is staying double booked with a posh private party, the island’s crumbling old fort is being fought over by rival ghost pirates. In death, as in life, they’re vying over a legendary stash of loot, supposedly hidden somewhere on the island or in the surrounding rough seas…

… which, inevitably, are whipped up into a terrific storm, stranding everyone — living and dead — on the island. Claire is already fighting off anxious And Then There Were None vibes before one of the other guests turns up murdered. With Basher distracted by a handsome Irish seaman and Sophie stretching the limits of her tether to flirt with a dead pirate with dubious intentions, it’s up to Claire to solve the mystery of three-hundred-year-old buried treasure and figure out who’s picking off party guests — before the whole gang meets a grim, Agatha Christie-like fate.

As mentioned in the synopsis, this is the follow-up to Bell’s acclaimed debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS — which is also published in North America by Vintage Books. Both novels are also available in the UK, published by Corvus.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the series has received so far…

‘What a cracking romp of a read! A bunch of self entitled millennials, a troop of pirate ghosts, a treasure hoard, a whole slew of secrets and at its heart an engaging and satisfying murder mystery – Agatha Christie meets Ghosts came to mind! I loved the way Alice Bell effortlessly dealt with the problems that beset mystery writers today. i.e. blanket technology- the results was a sort of ‘locked island’ mystery. As before I love the main protagonist chaotic Claire, and her sardonic sidekick (who just happens to have been dead for some fifteen years) It was great to see them both back in action again.’ — J. M. Hall on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘Contrary to its title, Alice Bell’s second novel is a complete pleasure to read, full of witty writing, loveable characters and page-turning twists.’ — Culturefly (“Spring Reads: 14 of the best new books to read this month”) on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

Alice Bell’s DISPLEASURE ISLAND Out in Four Weeks!

Posted on Monday, April 1st, 2024

The UK edition of DISPLEASURE ISLAND, Alice Bell‘s follow-up to the widely-acclaimed GRAVE EXPECTATIONS, is out in four weeks! Due to be published in hardcover and eBook by Corvus, on May 2nd, here’s the synopsis…

‘There are apparently a lot of ghosts on Spike Island,’ said Basher. ‘So perhaps one more can’t hurt.’
Claire sighed and looked at Sophie. She was standing in the sunlight beaming through the windows, so she was washed out and almost see-through – but still very clearly sticking her tongue out at Claire. ‘Oh,’ said Claire, ‘I think you’d be surprised.’

Professional medium turned detective Claire, her best friend Sophie (a 17-year-old ghost) and their pals are enjoying a much-needed cheap holiday in an unfinished hotel on Spike Island off the coast of Ireland. Claire is flattered to be asked by the local ghost of a pirate captain to investigate the theft of treasure from the shipwreck that stranded him there several hundred years ago.

But just when she thinks she is closing in on the culprit, a murder takes place, and Claire and her friends quickly become the chief suspects. Can they recover the treasure, solve the murder and clear their names before all is lost?

DISPLEASURE ISLAND is also due to be published in North America, by Vintage, on September 3rd. (We’ll share more details and the cover, as soon as we can.) GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is out now in paperback, in the UK (Corvus) and North America (Vintage).

Here are just a few of the many great reviews the first novel received…

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

Alice Bell Will be a Guest at Murder One Festival!

Posted on Friday, September 15th, 2023

Alice Bell‘s acclaimed debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is out now in the UK (Corvus) and North America (Vintage). Next month, the author will be a guest at Ireland’s Murder One Festival. Specifically, Bell will be participating on the New Blood panel, on Saturday October 7th. It is a ticket event, so you’ll have to book if you want to attend — you can do that, here.

The UK paperback edition edition of GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is due to be published by Corvus, on October 5th. Here’s the synopsis…

Claire and Sophie aren’t your typical murder investigators…

When 30-something freelance medium Claire Hendricks is invited to an old university friend’s country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire’s side, because she’s been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of seventeen.

On arrival at The Cloisters it quickly becomes clear that this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire learns someone has recently met an untimely end at the house.

Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family – depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage radical Alex – Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.

Together they must race against incompetence to find the murderer – before the murderer finds them… in this funny, modern, media-literate mystery for the My Favourite Murder generation.

Here’s just a little bit of that aforementioned critical acclaim…

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

Alice Bell’s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS Out Now in North America!

Posted on Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

Alice Bell‘s critically-acclaimed debut mystery, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is out now in North America! Published by Vintage on September 5th, here’s the synopsis…

A fast-paced and hilarious debut crime novel, in which a burnt-out Millennial medium must utilize her ability to see ghosts and team-up with a band of oddball investigators to figure out which member(s) of a posh English family are guilty of murder.

Almost-authentic medium Claire and her best friend, Sophie, agree to take on a seemingly simple job at a crumbling old manor in the English countryside: performing a seance for the family matriarch’s 80th birthday. The pair have been friends since before Sophie went missing when they were seventeen. Everyone else is convinced Sophie simply ran away, but Claire knows the truth. Claire knows Sophie was murdered because Sophie has been haunting her ever since.

Despite this traumatic past, Claire and Sophie are still unprepared for what they encounter when they arrive at the manor: a ghost, tragic and unrecognizable, and clearly the spirit of someone killed in a rage at the previous year’s party. Given her obsession with crime shows—not to mention Sophie’s ability to walk through walls—Claire decides they’re the best people to solve the case. And with the help of the only obviously not-guilty members of their host family—sexy ex-policeman Sebastian and far-too-cool non-binary teen Alex—they launch an investigation into which of last year’s guests never escaped the manor’s grounds.

What follows is somewhat irregular detective work involving stealing a priest’s cassock, getting too drunk to remember to question your suspect, and of course, Chekhov’s sparkly purple dildo. As Claire desperately tries to keep a lid on the shameful secret that would definitely alienate her new friends, the gang must race against their own incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them.

The UK edition of the novel is published by Corvus, and out now!

Here are just some of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

North American edition of Alice Bell’s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS Out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Monday, August 14th, 2023

The North American edition of Alice Bell‘s critically-acclaimed debut mystery, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is due out in three weeks! To be published by Vintage on September 5th, here’s the synopsis…

A fast-paced and hilarious debut crime novel, in which a burnt-out Millennial medium must utilize her ability to see ghosts and team-up with a band of oddball investigators to figure out which member(s) of a posh English family are guilty of murder.

Almost-authentic medium Claire and her best friend, Sophie, agree to take on a seemingly simple job at a crumbling old manor in the English countryside: performing a seance for the family matriarch’s 80th birthday. The pair have been friends since before Sophie went missing when they were seventeen. Everyone else is convinced Sophie simply ran away, but Claire knows the truth. Claire knows Sophie was murdered because Sophie has been haunting her ever since.

Despite this traumatic past, Claire and Sophie are still unprepared for what they encounter when they arrive at the manor: a ghost, tragic and unrecognizable, and clearly the spirit of someone killed in a rage at the previous year’s party. Given her obsession with crime shows—not to mention Sophie’s ability to walk through walls—Claire decides they’re the best people to solve the case. And with the help of the only obviously not-guilty members of their host family—sexy ex-policeman Sebastian and far-too-cool non-binary teen Alex—they launch an investigation into which of last year’s guests never escaped the manor’s grounds.

What follows is somewhat irregular detective work involving stealing a priest’s cassock, getting too drunk to remember to question your suspect, and of course, Chekhov’s sparkly purple dildo. As Claire desperately tries to keep a lid on the shameful secret that would definitely alienate her new friends, the gang must race against their own incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them.

The UK edition of the novel is published by Corvus, and out now!

Here are just some of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

Out Now: UK Edition of Alice Bell’s “fabulous” GRAVE EXPECTATIONS!

Posted on Thursday, May 4th, 2023

Alice Bell‘s highly-anticipated debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is out today in the UK! Published by Corvus, here’s the synopsis…

Claire and Sophie aren’t your typical murder investigators…

Claire Hendricks is a hapless 30-something true crime fan working as a freelance medium. When she is Invited to an old university friend’s country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire’s side, because she’s been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of 17.

When the pair arrive at The Cloisters it’s clear this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire realizes someone has recently met an untimely end at the house. Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family – depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage reactionary Alex – Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.

Together they must race against incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them, in this funny, modern, media-literate mystery for the My Favourite Murder generation.

Fans of mystery and the supernatural will definitely want to check this out! The novel has already received plenty of great responses and blurbs…

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

The North American edition of the novel is due to be published by Vintage Books, on September 5th.

Alice Bell’s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS Out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Thursday, April 13th, 2023

In three weeks, Corvus are due to publish Alice Bell‘s highly-anticipated debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS! Due out on May 4th, it’s a fantastic blend of mystery and the supernatural. Here’s the synopsis…

Claire and Sophie aren’t your typical murder investigators…

Claire Hendricks is a hapless 30-something true crime fan working as a freelance medium. When she is Invited to an old university friend’s country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire’s side, because she’s been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of 17.

When the pair arrive at The Cloisters it’s clear this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire realizes someone has recently met an untimely end at the house. Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family – depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage reactionary Alex – Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.

Together they must race against incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them, in this funny, modern, media-literate mystery for the My Favourite Murder generation.

Fans of mystery and the supernatural will definitely want to check this out!

We’re also very happy to share the news that the novel has been selected as a BBC2 Book Club pick!

Here are just a few of the great responses GRAVE EXPECTATIONS has received so far…

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

Coming Soon: GRAVE EXPECTATIONS by Alice Bell

Posted on Monday, December 19th, 2022

In May 2023, Corvus are due to publish the debut novel from Alice Bell, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS! Today, in addition to the cover (above), we can also share with you the synopsis…

Claire and Sophie aren’t your typical murder investigators…

Claire Hendricks is a hapless 30-something true crime fan working as a freelance medium. When she is Invited to an old university friend’s country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire’s side, because she’s been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of 17.

When the pair arrive at The Cloisters it’s clear this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire realizes someone has recently met an untimely end at the house. Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family – depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage reactionary Alex – Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.

Together they must race against incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them, in this funny, modern, media-literate mystery for the My Favourite Murder generation.

Fans of mystery and the supernatural will definitely want to check this out!

Alice Bell’s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS Sells to Corvus!

Posted on Monday, July 25th, 2022

Today, we wanted to share the news (in case you missed it) that Alice Bell‘s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS has been acquired (in a two-book deal) by Corvus Books in the UK! Described as a murder mystery ‘full of heart and humour’, it is Bell’s debut novel. The deal was announced last week in the Bookseller.

GRAVE EXPECTATIONS will be a lead title for Corvus in May 2023 (hardback, trade paperback and e-book). The paperback will follow in October 2023. Here’s a short synopsis for the novel…

How do you solve a murder when the ghost of a 17-year-old keeps telling you you’re doing it wrong?

Claire Hendricks is a hapless 30-something true crime fan treading water in the gig economy working as a medium. When she is invited to an old university friend’s country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire’s side, because she’s been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of 17.

We’ll be sure to share more information as we have it (e.g., the cover). North American rights to the novel have also gone to Knopf.

Congratulations, Alice!

Erika Swyler’s THE BOOK OF SPECULATION Out Tomorrow in Paperback

Posted on Wednesday, July 6th, 2016

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Erika Swyler‘s critically-acclaimed THE BOOK OF SPECULATION is out tomorrow in paperback! Published in the UK by Corvus, here’s the synopsis…

A sweeping and captivating debut novel about a young librarian who discovers that his family labours under a terrible curse.

Simon Watson lives alone on the Long Island Sound. On a day in late June, Simon receives a mysterious book connected to his family.

The book tells the story of two doomed lovers, two hundred years ago. He is fascinated, yet as he reads Simon becomes increasingly unnerved. Why do so many women in his family drown on 24th July? And could his beloved sister risk the same terrible fate?

As 24th July draws ever closer, Simon must unlock the mysteries of the book, and decode his family history, before it’s too late.

The novel has received some fantastic reviews since it was first released in ??. Here’s just a few of them…

‘Whimsically dark’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Abounds with imaginative flourishes’ — NPR

‘Debut novel by Erika Swyler fits into a tradition that includes The Name of the Rose and The Club Dumas… entertaining… With its puzzling story, circus sideshow and romantic plot lines, THE BOOK OF SPECULATION has plenty of attractions and will appeal to many. And if you’re a lover of books about books, you’ve got another fun tome to add to your to-be-read list.’ — Toronto Star

‘[Swyler’s scenes have a cinematic quality… Her writing is crisp and carefully crafted…’ — Star Telegram

‘Haunting and unique tale about family and the power of the past…’ — Go! North East Oregon

Zeno represents Erika Swyler in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Michelle Brower and Melissa Sarver White at Folio Literary Management.

Cover & Details: THE BOOK OF SPECULATION by Erika Swyler

Posted on Friday, May 13th, 2016

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Above is the stunning paperback cover for Erika Swyler‘s acclaimed THE BOOK OF SPECULATION. Published in the UK by Corvus on July 7th, here’s the synopsis…

A sweeping and captivating debut novel about a young librarian who discovers that his family labours under a terrible curse.

Simon Watson lives alone on the Long Island Sound. On a day in late June, Simon receives a mysterious book connected to his family.

The book tells the story of two doomed lovers, two hundred years ago. He is fascinated, yet as he reads Simon becomes increasingly unnerved. Why do so many women in his family drown on 24th July? And could his beloved sister risk the same terrible fate?

As 24th July draws ever closer, Simon must unlock the mysteries of the book, and decode his family history, before it’s too late.

Here is just a small sample of the reviews the novel has received…

‘Whimsically dark’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Abounds with imaginative flourishes’ — NPR

‘Debut novel by Erika Swyler fits into a tradition that includes The Name of the Rose and The Club Dumas… entertaining… With its puzzling story, circus sideshow and romantic plot lines, THE BOOK OF SPECULATION has plenty of attractions and will appeal to many. And if you’re a lover of books about books, you’ve got another fun tome to add to your to-be-read list.’ — Toronto Star

‘[Swyler’s scenes have a cinematic quality… Her writing is crisp and carefully crafted…’ — Star Telegram

‘Haunting and unique tale about family and the power of the past…’ — Go! North East Oregon

Zeno represents Erika Swyler in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Michelle Brower and Melissa Sarver White at Folio Literary Management.

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Erika Swyler’s THE BOOK OF SPECULATION Out Tomorrow in UK

Posted on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016

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Erika Swyler‘s critically-acclaimed debut novel, THE BOOK OF SPECULATION, is out tomorrow in the UK! Published by Corvus Books, here’s the synopsis…

Simon Watson lives alone on the Long Island Sound. His parents are long dead, his mother having drowned in the water his house overlooks. On a day in late June, Simon receives a mysterious book from an antiquarian bookseller; it has been sent to him because it is inscribed with the name of Simon’s grandmother. The book tells the story of two doomed lovers who were part of a travelling circus more than two hundred years ago. He is fascinated, yet as he reads Simon becomes increasingly unnerved. Why do so many women in his family drown on 24th July? And could his beloved sister, who has suddenly turned up at home for the first time in years, risk the same terrible fate?

As 24th July draws ever closer, Simon must unlock the mysteries of the book, and decode his family history, before it’s too late.

THE BOOK OF SPECULATIONS has been described as ‘whimsically dark’ (Publishers Weekly), filled with ‘wonderful descriptions’ (EW), and ‘abounds with imaginative flourishes’ (NPR). Swyler’s ‘scenes have a cinematic quality… Her writing is crisp and carefully crafted,’ wrote the Star Telegram.

Zeno represents Erika Swyler in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Michelle Brower and Melissa Sarver White at Folio Literary Management.

Out Tomorrow: MEDUSA’S WEB by Tim Powers

Posted on Wednesday, January 20th, 2016

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MEDUSA’S WEB, the highly-anticipated new novel from Tim Powers, is out tomorrow! Published by Corvus in the UK, here’s the synopsis…

In the wake of their Aunt Amity’s suicide, Scott and Madeline Madden are summoned to Caveat, the eerie, decaying mansion in the Hollywood hills in which they were raised. But their decadent and reclusive cousins, the malicious wheelchair-bound Claimayne and his sister, Ariel, do not welcome Scott and Madeline’s return to the childhood home they once shared. While Scott desperately wants to go back to their shabby south of Sunset lives, he cannot pry his sister away from this old house that is a conduit for the supernatural.

Decorated by bits salvaged from old hotels and movie sets, Caveat hides a dark family secret that stretches back to the golden days of Rudolph Valentino and the silent film stars. A collection of hypnotic abstract images inked on paper allows the Maddens to briefly fragment and flatten time — to transport themselves into the past and future in visions that are both puzzling and terrifying.

As Madeline falls more completely under Caveat’s spell, Scott must fight to protect her. But will he unravel the mystery of the Madden family’s past and finally free them… or be pulled deeper into their deadly web?

Corvus publish five other novels by Tim Powers: ON STRANGER TIDES, THE STRESS OF HER REGARD, THREE DAYS TO NEVER, DECLARE and HIDE ME AMONG THE GRAVES.

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Gollancz has also published three of Powers’s classic novel, the Fault Lines Trilogy, as part of its Fantasy Masterworks series: LAST CALL, EXPIRATION DATE and EARTHQUAKE WEATHER.

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Zeno represents Tim Powers in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Russell Galen at the Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency in New York.