Crime - Zeno Agency Ltd.

US Publication Day: THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD by Simon R. Green

Posted on Friday, May 1st, 2015

Today, Severn House publish Simon R. Green‘s latest novel, THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD, in the US. The novel was published in the UK in January, also by Severn House. Here’s the synopsis…

Introducing Ishmael Jones – a detective with a difference – in this compelling murder mystery.

Ishmael Jones can’t afford to be noticed. He’s employed to search out secrets and shine a light in dark places. Sometimes he kills people. Invited by his employer, the enigmatic Colonel, to join him and his family for Christmas, Ishmael arrives at the grand but isolated manor in the midst of a blizzard to find that the Colonel has disappeared…

Simon R. Green is the New York Times-bestselling author of the Nightside and Secret Histories series — both of which were recently published in the UK as eBooks by Jo Fletcher Books. Green is also the best-selling ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES tie-in novel.

Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, and negotiated this deal, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency.

Cover: THE UNNOTICEABLES by Robert Brockway

Posted on Monday, April 27th, 2015

Above you can see the striking cover for Robert Brockway‘s latest novel, THE UNNOTICEABLES. The first in a planned trilogy, the novel is due to be published in the UK by Titan Books on July 7th, 2015. Here’s the synopsis…

There are angels, and they are not beneficent or loving. But they do watch over us. They watch our lives unfold, analyzing us for repeating patterns and redundancies. When they find them, the angels simplify those patterns, they remove the redundancies, and the problem that is you gets solved.

Carey doesn’t much like that idea. As a punk living in New York City, 1977, Carey is sick and tired of watching the strange kids with the unnoticeable faces abduct his friends. He doesn’t care about the rumors of tarmonsters in the sewers, or unkillable psychopaths invading the punk scene—all he wants is drink cheap beer and dispense asskickings.

Kaitlyn isn’t sure what she’s doing with her life. She came to Hollywood in 2013 to be a stunt woman, but last night a former teen heartthrob tried to eat her, her best friend has just gone missing, and there’s an angel outside her apartment.

Whatever she plans on doing with her life, it should probably happen in the few remaining minutes she has left of it.

There are angels. There are demons. They are the same thing. It’s up to Carey and Kaitlyn to stop them. The survival of the human race is in their hands.

We are, all of us, well and truly screwed.

When he’s not writing gritty, off-beat novels, Brockway is a Senior Editor and columnist for Cracked.com.

‘THE UNNOTICEABLES has phenomenal voice… [it] manages to get in, make its point, and get out. It never bogs down, never slows down, and never fails to be interesting.’ — Staffer’s Book Review

Zeno represents Robert Brockway in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

A Soundtrack for Detecting in Hell…

Posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2015

Today, we want to share a little something from Doubleday Books. Composed and produced to celebrate the release of Simon Kurt Unsworth‘s debut novel, THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, it’s ‘an absolutely hellish, rather haunting bit of the blues’ — “Playing the Fool”…

In case the plug-in, above, doesn’t work, you can listen to the song over on Soundcloud.

Simon was also recently interviewed by the Qwillery, as part of their series of 2015 Debut Author interviews. In the wide-ranging interview, Simon talks about when he first caught the writing bug…

‘… in school, at 13, I wrote a story for an English class and the teacher gave it a high mark. It was a Stephen King rip-off, but the teacher’s praise made me think I could write and from then on I was hooked.’

… and also his writing processes, influences and inspirations, his favourite moments in the novel, the importance of feathers, and more.

THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, the first in a two-part series, is published in North America by Doubleday and in the UK by Del Rey.

THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE by Simon K. Unsworth Out Tomorrow in the UK

Posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Simon Kurt Unsworth‘s debut novel, THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, is out tomorrow in the UK! The first in a new horror-crime duology set in hell, it is published by Del Rey UK.

Welcome to hell…

… where skinless demons patrol the lakes and the waves of Limbo wash against the outer walls, while the souls of the Damned float on their surface, waiting to be collected.

When an unidentified, brutalised body is discovered, the case is assigned to Thomas Fool, one of Hell’s detectives, known as ‘Information Men’. But how do you investigate a murder where death is commonplace and everyone is guilty of something?

A stunningly original blend of crime, horror and suspense, The Devil’s Detective is a bold new thriller that will shock and amaze.

The novel was published in North America by Doubleday last week. Here is just a selection of the reviews the book has received so far…

‘Hell as the setting for a noir investigation turns out to be as fun as it sounds in THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE. Inventive and pacy, Simon Kurt Unsworth has created a world – underworld? – distinctly his own.’ — Andrew Pyper

‘Unsworth’s care in constructing an imaginary world enables him to make the most of his debut’s challenging concept: a hard-boiled detective novel set in Hell itself… Unsworth offers intriguing variations on traditional themes and some memorably hair-raising prose…’ — Publishers Weekly

‘The debut novel from prolific short story writer Simon Kurt Unsworth depicts a very modern hell. There’s still suffering but it’s mostly to be found in the drudgery of the daily grind. Gruesome medieval tortures have given way to endless toil, confounding bureaucracy and arbitrary cruelty. Once you accept the logic of this underworld, what follows is an entertaining Dantean spin on the police procedural… Appropriately awash with gore and bodily fluids, THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE is damned good.’ — Financial Times

‘There is much to love with THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE. The depiction of Hell is original, with it being less of a torture chamber and more of a place for continued hard work for the unworthy, and the world building is great… The novel is dark and full of twists and originality, and it’s suitable for anyone wanting to get into fantasy with a supernatural element.’ — Starburst

But wait! There’s more: This Saturday (14th), Forbidden Planet in London will be hosting Simon for a signing from 1pm-2pm. You can find details of the event here.

US Publication Day: THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE by Simon K. Unsworth

Posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015

Today, Doubleday publish Simon Kurt Unsworth‘s critically-acclaimed debut novel, THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE. The first in a duology of crime novels set in Hell, here’s the synopsis…

A sea change is coming to Hell… and a man named Thomas Fool is caught in the middle.

Thomas Fool is an Information Man, an investigator tasked with cataloging and filing reports on the endless stream of violence and brutality that flows through Hell. His job holds no reward or satisfaction, because Hell has rules but no justice. Each new crime is stamped “Do Not Investigate” and dutifully filed away in the depths of the Bureaucracy. But when an important political delegation arrives and a human is found murdered in a horrific manner—extravagant even by Hell’s standards—everything changes. The murders escalate, and their severity points to the kind of killer not seen for many generations. Something is challenging the rules and order of Hell, so the Bureaucracy sends Fool to identify and track down the killer… But how do you investigate murder in a place where death is common currency? Or when your main suspect pool is a legion of demons? With no memory of his past and only an irresistible need for justice, Fool will piece together clues and follow a trail that leads directly into the heart of a dark and chaotic conspiracy. A revolution is brewing in Hell… and nothing is what it seems.

THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE is an audacious, highly suspenseful thriller set against a nightmarish and wildly vivid world. Simon Kurt Unsworth has created a phantasmagoric thrill ride filled with stunning set pieces and characters that spring from our deepest nightmares. It will have readers of both thrillers and horror hanging on by their fingernails until the final word. In Hell, hope is your worst enemy.

THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE is due to be published in the UK by Del Rey next Thursday, March 12th.

Here’s just a small selection of the aforementioned critical response…

‘A clever spin on the traditional police procedural… a rousing success. The story is well crafted, and the setting is ingeniously conceived… We’ve seen other novels set in Hell, but we haven’t seen a Hell quite like this…’ — Booklist

‘With wit, ingenuity and prodigious timing, first-time British novelist Unsworth imagines an unsettling afterlife that at times feels uncomfortably close to some of the more unbearable regions of our waking dreams… visionary… A grand, nightmarish page-turner that will have you riveted.’ — Kirkus

Cover Reveal: THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD by Simon R. Green

Posted on Monday, January 12th, 2015

Above is the rather excellent, atmospheric cover for Simon R. Green‘s next novel, THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD. The first in a new series, the Ishmael Jones Mysteries, the novel is due to be published in the UK by Severn House, on January 29th, 2015. Here is the synopsis…

Introducing Ishmael Jones – a detective with a difference – in this compelling murder mystery.

Ishmael Jones can’t afford to be noticed. He’s employed to search out secrets and shine a light in dark places. Sometimes he kills people.

Invited by his employer, the enigmatic Colonel, to join him and his family for Christmas, Ishmael arrives at the grand but isolated manor in the midst of a blizzard to find that the Colonel has disappeared…

THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD is due to be published in the US, also by Severn House, on May 1st, 2015.

Simon R Green is the New York Times-bestselling author of the Nightside and Secret Histories urban fantasy series, both of which were recently released in eBook format in the UK by Jo Fletcher Books.

Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Cover Reveal: Simon Kurt Unsworth’s THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE (UK)

Posted on Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

We shared the US cover for THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, Simon Kurt Unsworth‘s upcoming new novel, a short while ago, and we’re happy to now share the UK cover! Due to be published by Del Rey UK in March 2015, here’s the synopsis…

Welcome to Hell…

…where skinless demons patrol the lakes, gardens of flame burn things into existence, and the waves of Limbo wash against the outer walls with the souls of the Damned floating on their surface, waiting to be collected.

When an unidentified, brutalised body is discovered, the case is assigned to Fool, one of Hell’s detectives, known as ‘Information Men’. With no memory of his past, and no idea why this case matters to him so much, he is determined to solve the mystery…

THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE is the first in a new horror/fantasy series. It is also due to be published in March 2015 the US, by Doubleday.

Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden novels to be adapted into movies!

Posted on Tuesday, July 15th, 2014

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Charlaine Harris‘s eight-book Aurora Teagarden series is being adapted into a movie franchise for Hallmark!

As reported in THR: ‘The Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie series will become part of its all-new Original Mystery Wheel franchise, with Full House alum Candace Cameron Bure on board to play Aurora “Roe” Teagarden in the series of movies based on Harris’ character. It’s unclear just how many movies Hallmark is currently planning for its franchise, or which book it will start with.’

Details about a UK release for the movies has not yet surfaced, but we’ll be sure to keep you informed as soon as this information is available. In the meantime, the complete Aurora Teagarden series is available now, published in the UK by Gollancz, and was re-issued with new covers last year…

The series is comprised of: REAL MURDERS, A BONE TO PICK, THREE BEDROOMS ONE CORPSE, THE JULIUS HOUSE, DEAD OVER HEELS, A FOOL AND HIS HONEY, LAST SCENE ALIVE, and POPPY DONE TO DEATH. Here is the sysnopsis for the first novel…

Real Murders is a crime club. A great opportunity for the people of Lawrenceton to get together, drink wine, eat chocolate and talk at length about grisly killings. It’s a strange but harmless pastime. That is, until the murders begin…

One night, librarian Aurora ‘Roe’ Teagarden finds a dead body. Killed in a manner eerily similar to a famous case they were about to discuss. And as more brutal copycat crimes follow, Roe must find the perpetrator. Quickly. Before she becomes the next suspect… or the next victim.

Zeno represents Charlaine Harris in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Trailer and Advance Praise for Charlaine Harris’s MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD

Posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2014

Charlaine Harris‘s new novel MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is due to be published in the UK next week by Gollancz, who produced the above trailer to mark the occasion. The novel is published in the US by Ace Books.

The novel is the first in a new series from the author of the mega-popular and successful Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood urban fantasy series. Along with that trailer, MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD has received some great advance praise…

‘A gently paced mystery with a supernatural slant, populated by endearing, varied and well-constructed characters… Definitely recommend.’ — Civilian Reader

‘I enjoy this kind of story, a mystery/crime/thriller/urban fantasy novel, there is something for everyone here and enough loose ends to keep you intrigued to find out what could happen next. If you have read anything by Charlaine Harris I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t read anything by Charlaine Harris, then MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD might be the book to get you started.’ — Fantasy Book Review

‘MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is a strong opener of the new series and often feels like a love letter from Charlaine to her faithful readers. This gentle mystery shows an author confident in her writing and perhaps heralds the arrival of the best stage of her work – one where she writes primarily because of the sheer love for writing. An excellent read.’ — Upcoming4.Me

‘I can see many nights being lost to the wonder of Midnight. 4/5’ — Backwards Compatible

‘A slow burning novel which successfully juggles setting the scene for an ongoing series with a self-contained story. 7/10’ — SciFi Bulletin

‘Fans might be sad to say good-bye to Sookie, but they’ll be so intrigued by the denizens of Midnight they won’t have time to mourn.’ — A Knife & A Quill

‘MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is another compelling book by Charlaine Harris. I love her storytelling style and the wonderful characters she creates.’ — Following the Nerd

‘I was blown away by Midnight Crossroad. It’s a wholly immersive, stunningly written adventure that I couldn’t put down. The characters are spot on and unforgettable, the plot is exciting – the only negative thing is that I have to (very impatiently) wait for book two!!!’ — Carly Bennett

‘The inclusion of a mystery that starts simply and then winds out of control so that no one can be trusted makes this is a blast to read. Everyone is your friend in Midnight, but you don’t know everything about anyone. I can’t wait for Midnight to come again. Overall grade: A’ — SciFi Pulse

In one additional piece of news, Audible UK are currently running a fantastic promotion for the whole of Charlaine’s mega-successful Sookie Stackhouse series! The audiobooks are just £4.99 each. This offer will end at 10am on May 2nd.

Zeno represents Charlaine Harris in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Publication Day – Randall Garrett’s LORD DARCY

Posted on Thursday, March 13th, 2014

Randall Garrett‘s LORD DARCY – a collection of short stories and the novel TOO MANY MAGICIANS – is published today! The book is published by Gollancz, as part of the Fantasy Masterworks series.

Here is the synopsis…

In a world where the Plantagenets never fell, Lord Darcy is Chief Investigator for the Duke of Normandy…

Welcome to a world where the Plantagenet kings survived, the laws of magic were discovered and the physical sciences never pursued. In the resulting Anglo-French Empire, a detective like Lord Darcy needs more than a keen mind and an observant eye. Luckily, Darcy can call on the aid of Master Sean O’Lochlainn, forensic sorcerer.

Here’s just a small selection of praise for Garrett’s Lord Darcy fiction…

‘I cannot count the number of times I have read TOO MANY MAGICIANS — each time with the same pleasure.’ — Andre Norton

‘Maddeningly intricate, well reasoned and great fun. his world was as utterly real as his characters, and his mysteries were of the first caliber.’ — Simon R. Green

‘… great fun for fans of mystery and SF alike.’ — SF Chronicle

Zeno represents Randall Garrett in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Artwork Reveal – Jim Shields’s BABY STRANGE

Posted on Tuesday, March 11th, 2014

We’re delighted to finally be revealing the new artwork for the limited edition of Jim Shields‘s BABY STRANGE. Spooky and gothic, we think it’s rather perfect. Jim Shields is a multiple award winning and multi BAFTA nominated director/writer. BABY STRANGE is his first novel. He lives in Glasgow.

Due to be published by PS Publishing to coincide with EasterCon 2014 (aka Satellite4) in Glasgow, BABY STRANGE is a real attention-grabbing and genre-mashing novel, mixing elements of a contemporary supernatural thriller, hard-as-nails gangland crime, an unlikely romance, and gonzo grotesques. Here’s some more info on the novel:

Con Man: ‘Reverend’ Joe McGill claims he’s a healer, but he’s chosen the wrong man to con.

Psychotic Gangster: Arthur Bewlay has cancer eating away at his face. He’s in no mood to be messed around – either by fake miracle workers or his dead brother Tommy… and he’ll stop at nothing in his desperate desire to live.

Eccentric Recluse: Maryam Clemenceau is just what both McGill and Bewlay need – a real miracle worker with a bona fide gift. But it comes at a considerable cost.

Architect: the sinister link between a Maryam’s Gothic apartment block, and Bewlay’s boarded up, abandoned Victorian pub – buildings that are contaminated with fear and the echoes of old and ominous power.

BABY STRANGE opens with Joe beaten and bound in the back of a car, on his way to an appointment with a cement pit under a Glasgow flyover… and this is not to be the lowest point of his day…

We believe BABY STRANGE is going to make waves, thanks to its dark brilliance. It is due to be published in April 2014, by PS Publishing.

Cover Reveal: Randall Garrett’s LORD DARCY

Posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2014

How great is this cover for Randall Garrett‘s LORD DARCY? The book has been selected for the Gollancz Fantasy Masterworks series, and is due to be published March 13, 2014. Here’s the synopsis…

In a world where the Plantagenets never fell, Lord Darcy is Chief Investigator for the Duke of Normandy…

This omnibus contains all of the Lord Darcy stories as well as the only Lord Darcy novel, TOO MANY MAGICIANS, and has a new introduction by Michael Dirda.

Here is a selection of reviews for Garrett’s work…

‘Some of the finest fantasy ever written … will certainly guarantee him a lasting place in the genre.’ — SF Chronicle (a Best Fantasy of 2002)

‘Garrett’s writing style is as elegant and charming as his setting, and his mastery of atmosphere is admirable … Garrett’s series is in fact one of the best of the genre-benders, which have proliferated so madly since these tales were first published. The stories deftly combine elements of mystery, espionage, suspense, Tolkienesque fantasy, science fiction, the techno-thriller, CSI-style forensic mystery, and swashbuckling historical romance.’ — National Review

‘He has combined the best of the fantasy and detective genres — and made them work as science fiction.’ — Marion Zimmer Bradley

‘Randall Garrett’s most satisfying and enduring literary accomplishment is the Lord Darcy series.’ — Robert Silverberg

Zeno represents Randall Garrett in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Happy Publication Day (tomorrow) Elizabeth Hand!

Posted on Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Congratulations to Elizabeth Hand, whose AVAILABLE DARK is published tomorrow in the UK by Constable & Robinson! It is the second novel featuring Cass Neary, and follows GENERATION LOSS. Below are the covers for both books (we think they look really great together)…

And here’s the synopsis…

As this riveting tour-de-force opens, the police already want to talk to the photographer Cass Neary about a mysterious death she was involved with previously, but before they can bring her in, Cass accepts a job offer from overseas and hops on a plane.

In Helsinki, she authenticates a series of disturbing but stunning images taken by a famous fashion photographer who has cut himself off from the violent Nordic music scene where he first made his reputation. Paid off by her shady employer, she buys a one-way ticket to Reykjavik, in search of a lover from her own dark past.

But when the fashion photographer’s mutilated corpse is discovered back in Finland, Cass finds herself sucked into a vortex of ancient myth and betrayal, vengeance and serial murder, set against a bone-splintering soundtrack of black metal and the terrifying beauty of the sunless Icelandic wilderness.

In this eagerly awaited sequel to the award-winning Generation Loss, Cass Neary finds her own worst fears confirmed: it’s always darkest before it turns completely black.

AVAILABLE DARK is a searing and iconoclastic crime novel, and preceding work GENERATION LOSS is generally considered an underground classic. In this latest installment, Hand sends our protagonist, Cass Neary into the shadowy world of crime in Scandinavia’s coldest corners.

‘A skin-blistering crime novel as edgy and black as dried blood on a moonlit night.’ – Robert Crais

‘Fiercely frightening yet hauntingly beautiful.’ – Tess Gerritsen

‘Intense and atmospheric… Hand writes with craftsmanship and passion.’ – George Pelecanos

‘There’s a deadly beauty to her bleak rendering of the Nordic landscape.’ – New York Times Book Review

‘Elizabeth Hand takes us on a dangerous and drug-fuelled trip through a world of art-fetishists, death metal bands, and Nordic blood cults. This book disturbs and delights.’ – Paul Doiron, author of The Poacher’s Son

Elizabeth Hand is represented by Zeno in the UK & Commonwealth on behalf of the Martha Millard Literary Agency in New York.