Tag: Crime

North American Edition of WINTER’S GIFTS Available for Pre-Order!

Posted on Thursday, August 24th, 2023

The North American edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s best-selling and acclaimed latest Rivers of London novella, WINTER’S GIFTS is now available for pre-order! Due to be published in December by Subterranean Press, in two limited editions, illustrated editions, here’s the synopsis…

With this long new novella, bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch has crafted yet another wickedly funny and surprisingly affecting chapter in his beloved Rivers of London series. 

WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY OVER HERE

When retired FBI Agent Patrick Henderson calls in an ‘X-Ray Sierra India’ incident, the operator doesn’t understand. He tells them to pass it up the chain till someone does.

That person is FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Leaving Quantico for snowbound Northern Wisconsin, she finds that a tornado has flattened half the town—and there’s no sign of Henderson.

Things soon go from weird to worse, as neighbors report unsettling sightings, key evidence goes missing, and the snow keeps rising — cutting off the town, with no way in or out…

Something terrible is awakening. As the clues lead to the coldest of cold cases — a cursed expedition into the frozen wilderness — Reynolds follows a trail from the start of the American nightmare, to the horror that still lives on today…

WINTER’S GIFTS and the other Rivers of London novels and novellas are published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion. Subterranean Press has published special editions of all of Ben’s novellas in the series. The novels are published in North America by JABberwocky (1-3) and DAW Books.

Rivers of London: HERE BE DRAGONS #2 Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023

The second issue in the latest Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS is out today! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel and James Swallow, it’s published by Titan Comics. Here’s the synopsis…

A dangerous monster is at large above the streets of London. And its name… Wyvern!

After a Met Police helicopter on night patrol is attacked by an unidentified aerial phenomena, the Met’s only sanctioned wizard, Peter Grant, and his mentor, Thomas Nightingale, are called in to investigate.

Series artwork is by José María Beroy; covers by Veronica Fish (above) and Patricio Clarey (below).

HERE BE DRAGONS is the eleventh Rivers of London comic series — all ten previous series are available now in collected editions (print and digital), published by Titan Comics.

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

RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS #2 & #3 Covers!

Posted on Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

The second and third issues in the new Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS, are due to be published by Titan Comics on August 23rd and September 6th, respectively. We thought we’d take the opportunity to share with you the covers! Above are the two variants for issue 2, and below are the covers for issue 3.

Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow, series artwork is by José María Beroy. Here’s the synopsis…

A dangerous monster is at large above the streets of London. And its name… Wyvern!

After a Met Police helicopter on night patrol is attached by an unidentified aerial phenomena, the Met’s only sanctioned wizard, Peter Grant, and his mentor, Thomas Nightingale, are called into investigate.

Issue #2 covers are by Veronica Fish and Patricio Clarey; Issue #3 covers are by Abigail Harding and Gyula Nemeth.

Ben’s latest book is WINTER’S GIFTS, a novel set in the Rivers of London universe — published by Gollancz in the UK (out now) and Subterranean Press in North America (forthcoming). Andrew’s latest book is DEATH IN FINE CONDITION, the first novel in his new Paperback Sleuth series — out now, published by Titan Books in the UK and North America.

ALL THE DEAD SHALL WEEP… in Four Weeks!

Posted on Monday, August 7th, 2023

In four weeks, Piatkus Books are due to publish the fifth novel in Charlaine Harris‘s acclaimed Gunnie Rose series. ALL THE DEAD SHALL WEEP will be available on September 5th in the UK. Here’s the synopsis…

Charlaine Harris returns to her alternate history of the United States where magic is an acknowledged but despised power in this fifth installment of the Gunnie Rose series.

Following the murderous events of The Serpent of Heaven, Lizbeth Rose is awaiting the arrival of her sister Felicia and her husband’s younger brother Eli in Texoma. Both needed to leave the seat of the Holy Russian Empire in San Diego after Felicia’s burgeoning wizardly power in death magic became the reason for kidnapping and assassination attempts from her mother’s family of high-powered wizards in Mexico.

Yet bad news has travelled ahead of them, as Eli is called back to San Diego, taking Peter along with him, splitting them apart in more ways than one as their enemies’ plans for revenge come to fruition…

Love The Walking Dead, Westworld or True Blood? You will ADORE this gritty and wildly entertaining tale, set in a parallel reality of the United States where magic is an outlawed power.

The first four titles in the series are also available in the UK, published by Piatkus, and now in paperback: AN EASY DEATH, A LONGER FALL, THE RUSSIAN CAGE, and THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN.

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

‘In this fast-paced thriller fueled by magic and gunslinging, no one can be trusted. Harris’s vividly detailed story will leave readers enthralled with the fascinating setting and a heroine who’s sure to be a new fan favorite.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on AN EASY DEATH

‘Harris […] populates her gritty, immersive new world with genuinely interesting characters, and chilling moments of horror—of both the human and supernatural kind—punctuate this relentlessly paced road trip. A refreshing and cinematic, weird Western starring a sharp-as-nails, can-do heroine. Harris’ many fans will surely follow Gunnie Rose anywhere.’ — Kirkus on AN EASY DEATH

‘Harris has a remarkable talent for world building […] In all, this looks like another winning series from a sure-bet author.’ — Booklist on AN EASY DEATH

‘It’s a thrill ride through a world transformed by magic and altered politics, with an excellent kick-ass guide in Gunnie Rose, making this a strong start to a new series.’ — Locus on AN EASY DEATH

‘[A] shoot’em-up, rollicking ride.’ — Kirkus on A LONGER FALL

‘Harris’ imagination is on high alert as she takes chances with A LONGER FALL and her characters.’ — Sun Sentinel

‘Left me wanting more’ — Locus on A LONGER FALL

‘Mixing in tidbits of real history with her own fictitious saga, the imaginative Harris creates an absorbing modern fantasy steeped in thoughtful action in THE RUSSIAN CAGE.’ — Sun Sentinel

‘An entertaining addition to a consistently fun series.’ — Kirkus on THE RUSSIAN CAGE

‘Rarely a dull moment. Fans of Harris’s daring heroine will be pleased to accompany her on her latest adventure.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE RUSSIAN CAGE

‘The fourth ‘Gunnie Rose’ novel… moves the setting from the rural west to an urban city, but contains just as much intrigue and action as the previous books.’ — Library Journal on THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN

‘Felicia proves an equally strong and magnetic heroine who’s sure to win fans over in the end. This takes the series in an exciting new direction.’ — Publisher’s Weekly on THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN

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

New Edition of RZEKI LONDYNU Out Now in Poland!

Posted on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023

RIVERS OF LONDON, the first of Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, best-selling Peter Grant/Rivers of London novels, is available in a new Polish edition! Published by Zysk I S-Ka Wydawnictwo as RZEKI LONDYNU, and translated by Małgorzata Szypuła, here’s the synopsis…

Pierwszy tom bestsellerowego cyklu o magicznym Londynie, który pokochali czytelnicy na całym świecie. Peter Grant, młody funkcjonariusz londyńskiej policji, marzy o zostaniu detektywem. Jednak po odebraniu zeznań świadka, który okazał się… duchem, Grant zwraca na siebie uwagę detektywa Thomasa Nightingale’a zajmującego się przestępstwami związanymi z wszel kimi przejawami niesamowitości. Tak zaczynają się jego przygody w pełnym magii mieście, w którym duchy, bogowie i wampiry żyją tuż obok zwykłych mieszkańców, a pradawne zło powraca wraz z falą dziwnych, brutalnych morderstw. Rzeki Londynu to niesamowita i dowcipna podróż w świat magicznych przygód, czarujących postaci i kryminalnych zagadek, która nie pozostawi obojętnym żadnego czytelnika.

RIVERS OF LONDON has been published far and wide, all around the world. Here are just a few of the editions that have been published so far…

RIVERS OF LONDON and the rest of Ben’s series is published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion; and in North America by JABberwocky (#1-3), DAW Books (#4-), and Subterranean Press (novellas).

Ben was recently in Poland for a literary festival, and he was interviewed about his books. Check out the interview, below…

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s SILVER NITRATE Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, July 18th, 2023

Silvia Moreno-Garcia‘s latest gripping horror/mystery novel, SILVER NITRATE is out today in the UK! Published by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

A breathtaking blend of Mexican horror movies and dark occultism from the bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.

Montserrat has always been overlooked. She’s a talented sound editor, but she’s left out of the boys’ club running the film industry in ’90s Mexico City. And she’s all but invisible to her best friend Tristán, a charming if faded soap opera star, even though she’s been in love with him since childhood.

Then Tristán discovers his new neighbour is the cult horror director Abel Urueta, and the legendary auteur claims he has a way to change their lives – even if his tales of a Nazi occultist imbuing magic into highly volatile silver nitrate stock sounds like sheer fantasy. The magic film was never finished, which is why, Urueta swears, his career vanished overnight. He is cursed.

Now the director wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him shoot the missing scene and lift the curse… but Montserrat soon notices a dark presence following her.

As they work together to unravel the mystery of the film and the obscure occultist who once roamed their city, Montserrat and Tristán might just find out that sorcerers and magic are not only the stuff of movies…

Jo Fletcher Books also publishes a number of the author’s other acclaimed and award-winning books in the UK:

Here are just a few of the many great reviews SILVER NITRATE has already received…

‘Combining real history with unsettling magic, Moreno-Garcia effortlessly ties explorations of misogyny, addiction, antisemitism, and racism into a plot that never falters from its breakneck pace… This is a knockout.’ — Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)

‘[T]his heart-pounding paranormal thriller melds real history with things that go bump in the night.’ — TIME

‘Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of the most unique and exciting voices in contemporary fiction, so when it comes to Silver Nitrate, each of these things only makes me want to read the novel even more. Moreno-Garcia makes darkness shine, and this one promises to be very dark.’ — NPR

‘Our lady of suspenseful horror, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is back with another trip into a spooky Mexico City’ — Shondaland

‘The intricate plot is supported by a fully realized setting and seamlessly integrated information about the detailed work of sound editing. Recommend to fans of Night Film, by Marisha Pessl (2013), Last Days, by Adam Nevill (2013), or Ring, by Koji Suzuki (2003).’ — Booklist

‘An engaging, inventive story of moviemaking and the occult for film geeks and genre buffs.’ — Kirkus

‘Moreno-Garcia effortlessly delivers the details of place and Montserrat and Tristán’s complicated personal relationship without sacrificing the novel’s compelling pace and intriguing plot, one that contemplates racism and sexism. Moreno-Garcia…has written a love letter to Mexico City’s film industry and an excellent entry into the popular horror subgenre of occult films.’ — Library Journal

‘This book has everything, and I could not recommend it enough!’ — CrimeReads

‘Moreno-Garcia is a master of pacing, gradually ramping up the supernatural stakes while peppering the tale with fascinating bits of occult esoterica….Moreno Garcia’s affection for a nearly forgotten corner of film history, as well as her almost gleeful appreciation of occult arcana, are undeniable fun, as are her two engrossing main leads.’ — Locus

‘I’m still thinking about this book. Still turning elements of it over to examine them, to better appreciate them. It’s a fabulous novel.’ — Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine

‘SILVER NITRATE is a popcorn thrill ride into the underbelly of 90s Mexican horror movie and occultism—Moreno-Garcia crafts a world so rich with details and history that you won’t be able to look away. Beyond being a break-neck read, this is a book that forces readers to reckon with the monsters that scare us, on screen and in the shadows.’ — Dana Schwartz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anatomy: A Love Story

‘Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a treasure and SILVER NITRATE is a gem: a chilling roller coaster of a tale that captures perfectly why we love horror movies, scary books, and things that go bump in the night.’ — Chris Bohjalian, New York Times bestselling author of The Lioness

‘You don’t just read this book, you live in it — and it will charm you, intrigue you, and scare the daylights out of you.’ — Tim Powers, World Fantasy Award winning author of The Anubis Gates

Zeno represents Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

ICYMI, Rivers of London HERE BE DRAGONS #1 Out Now!

Posted on Friday, July 14th, 2023

The first issue (of four) in the latest Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS is out now! The eleventh story arc in the Rivers of London comic series, it is written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow. Here’s the synopsis…

A dangerous monster is at large above the streets of London. And it’s name is… Wyvern!

After a Met Police helicopter on night patrol is attacked by an unidentified aerial phenomena, the Met’s only sanctioned wizard, Peter Grant, and his mentor, Thomas Nightingale, are called to investigate.

Peter and Nightingale find themselves drawn into a battle between two groups of hunters – one human, and one fae – as they uncover a legacy of events that extend back to the 1960s. To save the skies of the city, Peter must face the enraged beast – but can he end things peacefully… or will he be forced to destroy the last wyvern?

Series artwork is by José María Beroy, who also did Cover A (above). Covers B and C (below) are by David M. Buisan and Vv Glass, respectively.

The comic series is part of the overall Rivers of London canon, so if you would prefer to follow overall Rivers of London story in chronological order, here’s a handy graphic Titan Comics has created to help you out…

The only title missing on that graphic is Ben’s latest novella, the Sunday Times-bestselling WINTER’S GIFTS, which takes the action across the pond to the United States! The book is out now, published by Orion/Gollancz.

Alice Bell’s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is a BBC Radio 2 Book Club selection!

Posted on Tuesday, July 4th, 2023

In case you missed it, we’re very happy to report that Alice Bell‘s acclaimed debut, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is a BBC Radio 2 book club selection! Alice was interviewed by Zoe Ball on her show — you can listen to the interview on their website now.

The novel is published in the UK by Corvus Books (out now), and is due to be published in North America by Vintage on September 5th (cover below). 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 is just a small sample of the aforementioned acclaim…

‘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

‘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

DEATH IN FINE CONDITION: The Paperback Sleuth’s First Case, Out Now!

Posted on Friday, June 9th, 2023

A DEATH IN FINE CONDITION, the first novel in Andrew Cartmel‘s new Paperback Sleuth series, is out now! Published by Titan Books in the UK and North America, it’s a must read for crime/mystery fans and especially those who loved the author’s Vinyl Detective series! Here’s the synopsis…

Introducing a new series from the creator of the beloved, bestselling Vinyl Detective novels.

Cordelia knows books. An addict-turned-dealer of classic paperbacks, when she’s not spending her days combing the charity shops and jumble sales of suburban London for valuable collector’s items, she’s pining for the woman of her dreams and nimbly avoiding her landlord’s demands for rent.

The most elusive prize of all, her white whale, has surfaced — a set of magnificent, vintage Sleuth Hound crime novels. Gorgeous, and as rare as they come. Just one problem. They’re not for sale. Still, that won’t stop a resourceful woman like Cordelia… One burglary later, the books are hers. Unfortunately, the man she’s just robbed turns out be one of London’s most dangerous gangsters, and now he’s on her trail and out for blood.

Cordelia’s best laid plans to pay the rent and woo the object of her affections start to fall apart, and she realises she may have placed herself in the crosshairs of a villain torn straight from the pages of her treasured novels.

The novel has already received a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly: ‘Cartmel (the Vinyl Detective mysteries) has never been better than in this darkly funny series kickoff centered on London bookseller Cordelia Stanmer, a former addict who has fallen in love with vintage paperbacks and has no scruples about how she’ll feed her growing collection… Cordelia is a memorable, devilish antihero, and Cartmel’s delightfully dexterous plotting bodes well for a sequel. Fans of Lynne Truss’s Constable Twitten novels will find much to love.’

The aforementioned Vinyl Detective novels are also published by Titan Books in the UK and North America — the first six novels are out now.

ICYMI: Ben Aaronovitch’s WINTER’S GIFTS is Out in June!

Posted on Monday, May 15th, 2023

In case you missed it at the end of last week, Gollancz has unveiled all the details for the UK edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s latest Rivers of London novella: WINTER’S GIFTS is the first to star FBI Agent Kimberley Reynolds, and takes the action to the United States. Here’s the synopsis…

THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY ACROSS THE POND…

When retired FBI Agent Patrick Henderson calls in an ‘X-Ray Sierra India’ incident, the operator doesn’t understand. He tells them to pass it up the chain till someone does.

That person is FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Leaving Quantico for snowbound Northern Wisconsin, she finds that a tornado has flattened half the town – and there’s no sign of Henderson.

Things soon go from weird to worse, as neighbours report unsettling sightings, key evidence goes missing, and the snow keeps rising – cutting off the town, with no way in or out…

Something terrible is awakening. As the clues lead to the coldest of cold cases – a cursed expedition into the frozen wilderness – Reynolds follows a trail from the start of the American nightmare, to the horror that still lives on today…

The novella is due to be published on June 8th in Hardcover, eBook, and audiobook (narrated by Penelope Rawlins).

To celebrate the release of WINTER’S GIFTS, Ben is also embarking on a UK book tour! Information and tickets can be found as follows…

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.

Ben Aaronovitch Long-listed for a CWA Dagger Award!

Posted on Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

We’re very happy to report that Ben Aaronovitch has been long-listed for this year’s CWA Dagger in the Library Award!

The Dagger in the Library is a prize for a body of work by an established writer of crime fiction or non-fiction who has long been popular with borrowers from libraries. It also rewards authors who have supported libraries and their users through taking part in library events.

Ben is the author of the internationally-bestselling and acclaimed Rivers of London/Peter Grant series of novels and novellas — published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK; and in North America by JABberwocky (#1-3), DAW Books (#4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas). He is also the co-author of the Rivers of London comic series (published by Titan Comics).

The next book is WINTER’S GIFTS, a novella starring FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds, due to be published by Orion in the UK, on June 8th. Here’s the synopsis…

THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY ACROSS THE POND…

When retired FBI Agent Patrick Henderson calls in an ‘X-Ray Sierra India’ incident, the operator doesn’t understand. He tells them to pass it up the chain till someone does.

That person is FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Leaving Quantico for snowbound Northern Wisconsin, she finds that a tornado has flattened half the town – and there’s no sign of Henderson.

Things soon go from weird to worse, as neighbours report unsettling sightings, key evidence goes missing, and the snow keeps rising – cutting off the town, with no way in or out…

Something terrible is awakening. As the clues lead to the coldest of cold cases – a cursed expedition into the frozen wilderness – Reynolds follows a trail from the start of the American nightmare, to the horror that still lives on today…

WINTER’S GIFTS is already available in Germany, published by DTV as DIE SCHLAFENDEN GEISTER DES LAKE SUPERIOR.

Check Out the Covers for RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS #1!

Posted on Monday, April 17th, 2023

Last week, Titan Comics unveiled the three covers for HERE BE DRAGONS #1! The beginning of the 11th story arc in the Rivers of London comic series, it is written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow.

Issue #1 will arrive in stores on July 12th. Here’s the synopsis…

A dangerous monster is at large above the streets of London. And it’s name is… Wyvern!

After a Met Police helicopter on night patrol is attacked by an unidentified aerial phenomena, the Met’s only sanctioned wizard, Peter Grant, and his mentor, Thomas Nightingale, are called to investigate.

Peter and Nightingale find themselves drawn into a battle between two groups of hunters – one human, and one fae – as they uncover a legacy of events that extend back to the 1960s. To save the skies of the city, Peter must face the enraged beast – but can he end things peacefully… or will he be forced to destroy the last wyvern?

Series artwork is by José María Beroy, who also did Cover A (above). Covers B and C (below) are by David M. Buisan and Vv Glass, respectively.

The comic series is part of the overall Rivers of London canon, so if you prefer to follow stories in chronological order, here’s a handy graphic Titan Comics has created to help you out…

Simon R. Green’s NOT OF THIS WORLD Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

The fourth novel in Simon R. Green‘s Gideon Sable series, NOT OF THIS WORLD, is out now in North America and in the UK! Published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

This might be his biggest coup yet! Legendary master thief Gideon Sable is on the hunt for the ghost of an alien-possessed man in this fast-paced supernatural heist thriller.

The Preserve in Bath – the British Area 51 – is the secret government dumping ground for all things supernatural and out of space. It is one of the most heavily-guarded places in the world. However, it’s not what protects it that makes it so dangerous but the things that are inside . . .

Gideon Sable – master thief, con artist and self-proclaimed vigilante – faces a challenge he can’t refuse. His client, the former Head of the British Rocketry Group, Professor Neil Sharpe, wants him to break into the Preserve. Once inside, Gideon and his crew of supernatural misfits can get any mystical artefact they desire out of the Preserve’s collection. The catch? To reach it, they must go through the treacherous Box Tunnel complex and not only face trained guards and booby traps but steal something that can’t normally be stolen – a ghost!

Sharpe’s obscure motive leaves Gideon uncertain and suspicious. The only thing he knows for sure is that he can steal anything with just the right amount of preparation – but will he be prepared enough to face whatever the Preserve holds, or will he find himself a permanent part of the government’s collection?

Severn House also publishes the first three novels in the series: THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL, A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE, and WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG.

‘A blast for urban-fantasy readers looking for a broken fourth wall riddled with dry-witted commentary, evil getting its just deserts, and the good walking away to fight the good fight.’ — Library Journal on NOT OF THIS WORLD

‘Master thief and con man Gideon Sable has a plan. He intends to breach the private vault of Fredric Hammer, noted bad guy, and rob him blind. To do that, he needs to assemble a crack team of professionals. But this is no ordinary team, because this is no ordinary London. This is an alternate London, wherein ghosts and demons and people with special gifts coexist with regular human folk. And Gideon’s team consists of former girlfriend Annie Anybody, whose gift is luck; a fellow known as the Damned (because he’s, you know, damned); the Ghost, who retains the memory of what it is to be a man; and the Wild Card, who sees all the truths in the world. Each of them has a score to settle with Hammer, and each of them is willing to risk plenty to get revenge. This novel by the author of the terrific Ishmael Jones series is a treat for anyone who relishes the blending of alternate-world fantasy, urban fantasy, and the caper novel. Exciting, witty, and stuffed full of fun.’ — Booklist on THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL

‘[Green] gives an urban fantasy twist to Oceans 11.’ — Publisher’s Weekly on THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL

‘This book is pure fun.’ — Grimdark Magazine on THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL

‘It’s a wonderfully imagined setting, which will be no surprise for those familiar with Green’s oeuvre. The Sable novels make perfect fare for fans of urban fantasy, thrillers, or caper novels (or, especially, blends of all three).’ — Booklist on A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE

‘[F]eatures a crew of criminals with hearts of gold and one of the snarkiest antiheroes to ever front an urban fantasy series, turning the murder and mayhem up to 11 while telling a story where disaster is always just on the other side of the door.’ — Library Journal on WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG

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