Crime - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Two Weeks: Andrew Cartmel’s ATTACK AND DECAY out in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, May 5th, 2022

ATTACK AND DECAY, the sixth novel in Andrew Cartmel‘s acclaimed Vinyl Detective mystery series, is out in the UK in two weeks! Due to be published by Titan Books on May 17th, here’s the synopsis…

The Vinyl Detective goes Scandi noir in his sixth adventure. Disfigured corpse. Check. Grotesque snowman. Check. Headless animals. Check. But in fact the killer is taking their cue not from Scandi noir fiction but another popular Scandinavian export – death metal.

It starts with a perfectly normal evening in, except for the corpse-faced gentleman dressed all in black, with a crow on his shoulder, staring into the house, of course. And the visit from Owyn Wynter, head of Whyte Ravyn Records, who needs the Detective’s unique skills.

So begins an all-expenses-paid trip to Trollesko, Sweden for the Detective, Nevada, Tinkler and Agatha to track down a copy of the debut album from demonic metal legends, Storm Dream Troopers. Condemned by the church and banned on release, Attack and Decay is a legendary record.

But their trip to the homelands of Nordic noir is quickly thrust into a world of intrigue as the Detective closes in on the deal, the band unexpectedly converge on the peaceful town, And worse, their trip somehow coincides with a visit from Stinky Stanmer… Soon the bodies start piling up, and the Vinyl Detective is the only one who can solve the case.

The novel has been unfortunately delayed in North America, but is now scheduled to be published across the Pond on June 14th.

The first five novels in the Vinyl Detective series are all out now, also published by Titan Books: WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX, THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, FLIP BACK, and LOW ACTION.

Next Week: DEADLY EVER AFTER #1!

Posted on Monday, May 2nd, 2022

DEADLY EVER AFTER, the tenth Rivers of London comic series, begins next week! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and Celeste Bronfman, and with art by José Maria Beroy, the first issue arrives on May 11th. Published by Titan Comics, here’s the synopsis…

When Chelsea and Olympia accidentally break an enchantment in the woods, deadly fairy tales from a mysterious old book begin coming to life. To set things right, Chelsea and Olympia must unravel a mystery dating back to the 1800s before they become victims of a lethal sorcery.

The issue is available with four striking covers, by the following artists: Jung-Geun Yoon (above), Abigail Harding (below, left), Veronica Fish (below, centre), and David M Buisan (below, right).

DEADLY EVER AFTER is the tenth Rivers of London comic series — the first nine are also published in the UK and North America by Titan Comics, and are available now in collected editions (print and digital).

Meanwhile, Ben’s ninth novel in the Peter Grant/Rivers of London series, AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, reached #1 on the Sunday Times Bestseller list! The book is out now, published by Orion Books (UK), DAW Books (North America) and DTV (Germany).

USPB Edition of Simon R. Green’s THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL, Simon R. Green‘s first Gideon Sable novel, is now available in paperback in North America! Released a little while ago in the UK, it is published by Severn House. Here’s the synopsis…

Welcome to London, but not as you know it. A place where magics and horror run free, wonders and miracles are everyday things, and the dark streets are full of very shadowy people…

Gideon Sable is a thief and a con man. He specializes in stealing the kind of things that can’t normally be stolen. Like a ghost’s clothes, or a photo from a country that never existed. He even stole his current identity. Who was he originally? Now, that would be telling. One thing’s for sure though, he’s not the bad guy. The people he steals from always have it coming.

Gideon’s planning a heist, to steal the only thing that matters from the worst man in the world. To get past his security, he’s going to need a crew who can do the impossible… but luckily, he has the right people in mind. The Damned, the Ghost, the Wild Card… and his ex-girlfriend, Annie Anybody. A woman who can be anyone, with the power to make technology fall in love with her.

If things go well, they’ll all get what they want. And if they’re lucky, they might not even die trying…

The second novel in the series, A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE, is also published by Severn House — it’s out now in both North America and in the UK.

Here are just a few of the reviews THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL has received so far…

‘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

‘[Green] gives an urban fantasy twist to Oceans 11.’ — Publisher’s Weekly

‘You don’t so much read a Simon R Green novel as grab on with both hands and hope you’re still alive at the end of the ride… [Green’s] writing is the very definition of pure, unadulterated escapism.’ — The Eloquent Page

‘If you like the idea of a snark-sparked team coming together in order to pull off the caper of the century, Gideon Sable might just be your jam.’ — Reading Reality

‘If you like gritty, funny, slapdash urban fantasy heist novels with crazy characters… you will enjoy this.’ — Hidden in Pages

‘[Featuring] pacey writing, strong characters and tongue-in-cheek humour that doesn’t take itself too seriously.’ — Brain Fluff

Severn House is also the publisher of Green’s Ishmael Jones mystery series, in the UK and North America.

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

Ben Aaronovitch’s DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE is out now!

Posted on Thursday, April 14th, 2022

DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE, the highly-anticipated new novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed Rivers of London series, is out today! Published by DTV, and translated by Christine Blum, here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant, der Londoner Bobby und Zauberlehrling (sowie neuerdings Praktikantinnenausbilder), hat einen neuen Fall.

In den Silberkammern in der Chancery Lane hat es einen merkwürdigen Todesfall gegeben. Der Tote weist eine große Wunde im Brustkorb auf – als hätte man ihm das Herz herausgerissen. Die Ermittlungen führen zu einem zweiten Toten. Und dann zunehmend weiter über London hinaus – in völlig unerwartete räumliche, zeitliche und extradimensionale Gefilde. Dabei hat Peter eigentlich schon mehr als genug damit zu tun, sich auf ein ganz bestimmtes freudiges Ereignis vorzubereiten, das allmählich die Züge eines hochmagischen und illustren Großevents annimmt…

All of Ben’s Rivers of London novels and novellas to date are published in Germany by DTV. The Rivers of London comic series is published in Germany by Panini (1-9 available now).

AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is due to be published by Orion Books in the UK (April 7th), and DAW Books in North America (April 12th). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up.

Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

AMONGST OUR WEAPONS Out Tomorrow in North America!

Posted on Monday, April 11th, 2022

North American fans of Ben Aaronovitch‘s Rivers of London series only have to wait one more day before they can get their hands on book nine in the series! AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is out tomorrow, published by DAW Books in North America. Here’s the synopsis…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city.

The London Silver Vaults — for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a paparazzi convention.

Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace — only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light, and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon, because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something — and somebody — that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining — step into the world of the much-loved, bestselling Rivers of London series.

The novel was published last week in the UK, by Orion. It will also be published in Germany on April 13th, by DTV.

The other books in the series are published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas).

Ben Aaronovitch’s AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, April 7th, 2022

The wait is finally over: AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, Ben Aaronovitch‘s highly-anticipated ninth Rivers of London novel is out today in the UK! Published in the UK by Orion Books, here’s the synopsis…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up.

Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

The novel is also available as an audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. The novel is due to be published in North America by DAW Books (April 12th) and in Germany by DTV (April 14th).

The other novels and novellas in the Rivers of London series are published in the UK by Gollancz; by DTV in Germany; and by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas) in North America.

Simon R. Green’s A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE Out Now in North America!

Posted on Wednesday, April 6th, 2022

The North American hardcover edition of Simon R. Green‘s second Gideon Sable novel, A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE is out now! Published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

Master thief, rogue and chancer Gideon Sable is back for another fast-paced supernatural heist – and this time he has the vault of a Las Vegas casino in his sights

Judi Rifkin is one of the world’s most successful collectors of the weird and unnatural. In a London underworld filled with criminals with very special talents, Judi is a force to be reckoned with.

And Gideon Sable – thief, rogue and chancer – owes her a very large favour.

Judi makes him an offer he can’t refuse: steal her the legendary Masque of Ra, kept safe in a Las Vegas casino, and she’ll wipe the slate clean.

This isn’t Gideon’s first heist by a long shot. But with old grudges threatening to cloud his judgment, an unpredictable crew who don’t entirely trust each other and a formidable supernatural security team guarding his target, this job might be a gamble too far…

The novel is available in the UK (published back in January), and also widely available in eBook (published in March). The first book in the series, THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL is also available, published by Severn House.

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

‘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

‘[Green] gives an urban fantasy twist to Oceans 11.’ — Publisher’s Weekly

‘You don’t so much read a Simon R Green novel as grab on with both hands and hope you’re still alive at the end of the ride… [Green’s] writing is the very definition of pure, unadulterated escapism.’ — The Eloquent Page

‘If you like the idea of a snark-sparked team coming together in order to pull off the caper of the century, Gideon Sable might just be your jam.’ — Reading Reality

‘If you like gritty, funny, slapdash urban fantasy heist novels with crazy characters… you will enjoy this.’ — Hidden in Pages

‘[Featuring] pacey writing, strong characters and tongue-in-cheek humour that doesn’t take itself too seriously.’ — Brain Fluff

Green’s Ishmael Jones mystery series is also published by Severn House in the UK and North America.

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

Ben Aaronovitch’s DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE Out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Friday, April 1st, 2022

Ben Aaronovitch‘s highly-anticipated next Rivers of London novel, AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, will be available in Germany on April 13th! To be published by DTV, as DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE, this edition has been translated by Christine Blum. Here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant, der Londoner Bobby und Zauberlehrling (sowie neuerdings Praktikantinnenausbilder), hat einen neuen Fall.

In den Silberkammern in der Chancery Lane hat es einen merkwürdigen Todesfall gegeben. Der Tote weist eine große Wunde im Brustkorb auf – als hätte man ihm das Herz herausgerissen. Die Ermittlungen führen zu einem zweiten Toten. Und dann zunehmend weiter über London hinaus – in völlig unerwartete räumliche, zeitliche und extradimensionale Gefilde. Dabei hat Peter eigentlich schon mehr als genug damit zu tun, sich auf ein ganz bestimmtes freudiges Ereignis vorzubereiten, das allmählich die Züge eines hochmagischen und illustren Großevents annimmt…

DTV has published all of Ben’s Rivers of London novels and novellas in Germany to date. The Rivers of London comic series is published in Germany by Panini (1-9 available now).

AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is due to be published by Orion Books in the UK (April 7th), and DAW Books in North America (April 12th). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up.

Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

New RIVERS OF LONDON Comic Series: DEADLY EVER AFTER!

Posted on Wednesday, March 16th, 2022

We’re very happy to report that DEADLY EVER AFTER, the next Rivers of London comic series begins in May! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and Celeste Bronfman, and with art by José Maria Beroy, the first issue will arrive in stores on May 11th. Due to be published by Titan Comics, here’s the synopsis…

When Chelsea and Olympia accidentally break an enchantment in the woods, deadly fairy tales from a mysterious old book begin coming to life. To set things right, Chelsea and Olympia must unravel a mystery dating back to the 1800s before they become victims of a lethal sorcery.

The issue will be available with four covers, by the following artists:

Jung-Geun Yoon (above)
Abigail Harding (below, left)
Veronica Fish (below, centre)
David M Buisan (below, right)

DEADLY EVER AFTER is the tenth Rivers of London comic series, all of which have been published in the UK and North America by Titan Comics — they are also all available now in collected editions (print and digital).

Short Fiction Watch: Lavie Tidhar’s SEVEN VAMPIRES and Ian R. MacLeod’s THE CHRONOLOGIST

Posted on Thursday, March 10th, 2022

Two Zeno clients have work included in Tor.com’s January/February 2022 collection, which is available free from their website: Lavie Tidhar and Ian R. MacLeod.

First up, Lavie’s SEVEN VAMPIRES, which is his fourth Judge Dee mystery…

Paris is burning and Judge Dee and Jonathan are on the run. To guarantee their safety, they join a band of seven vampires escaping to England. The only problem? Someone in their midst is killing off members of their group one by one. It’s of no matter to the Judge, provided they don’t breach the Unalienable Obligations, but inevitably he’s drawn into events.

Tor.com also publishes the first three Judge Dee mysteries: JUDGE DEE AND THE LIMITS OF THE LAW, JUDGE DEE AND THE THREE DEATHS OF COUNT WERDENFELS, and JUDGE DEE AND THE POISONER OF MONTMARTRE.

Ian’s story is the stand-alone THE CHRONOLOGIST…

A boy, desperate to escape the drudgery of life in his small town, gets caught up in the machinations of a traveling time keeper, and slowly watches his town and his life unravel by the seams.

Both of these stories are great ways to try these two authors’ work, if you haven’t already; and if you have already enjoyed Ian’s and Lavie’s work, then we’re sure you’ll also love these two.

Both stories have covers by Red Nose Studios (who also created the first three Judge Dee covers).

A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE eBook Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, March 1st, 2022

The eBook edition of Simon R. Green‘s A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE is now available in the UK and North America! The second novel in the author’s Gideon Sable urban fantasy/mystery series, it’s published by Severn House. Here’s the synopsis…

Master thief, rogue and chancer Gideon Sable is back for another fast-paced supernatural heist – and this time he has the vault of a Las Vegas casino in his sights.

Judi Rifkin is one of the world’s most successful collectors of the weird and unnatural. In a London underworld filled with criminals with very special talents, Judi is a force to be reckoned with.

And Gideon Sable – thief, rogue and chancer – owes her a very large favour.

Judi makes him an offer he can’t refuse: steal her the legendary Masque of Ra, kept safe in a Las Vegas casino, and she’ll wipe the slate clean.

This isn’t Gideon’s first heist by a long shot. But with old grudges threatening to cloud his judgment, an unpredictable crew who don’t entirely trust each other and a formidable supernatural security team guarding his target, this job might be a gamble too far…

A Matter of Death and Life is the sequel to The Best Thing You Can Steal, and is the second supernatural heist thriller featuring master conman Gideon Sable from British SFF veteran and New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green.

The hardcover edition is already out in the UK, and it will arrive in hardcover in North America on April 5th (we’ll post a reminder). The first novel in the series, THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL, is also published by Severn House (and out now).

Green’s Ishmael Jones mystery series is also published by Severn House in the UK and North America.

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

Simon R. Green’s THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL Out Now in UK Paperback!

Posted on Thursday, February 24th, 2022

Simon R. Green‘s first Gideon Sable novel, THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL is now available in paperback in the UK! Published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

Welcome to London, but not as you know it. A place where magics and horror run free, wonders and miracles are everyday things, and the dark streets are full of very shadowy people…

Gideon Sable is a thief and a con man. He specializes in stealing the kind of things that can’t normally be stolen. Like a ghost’s clothes, or a photo from a country that never existed. He even stole his current identity. Who was he originally? Now, that would be telling. One thing’s for sure though, he’s not the bad guy. The people he steals from always have it coming.

Gideon’s planning a heist, to steal the only thing that matters from the worst man in the world. To get past his security, he’s going to need a crew who can do the impossible… but luckily, he has the right people in mind. The Damned, the Ghost, the Wild Card… and his ex-girlfriend, Annie Anybody. A woman who can be anyone, with the power to make technology fall in love with her.

If things go well, they’ll all get what they want. And if they’re lucky, they might not even die trying…

The second novel in the series, A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE, is also published by Severn House — it’s out now in the UK, and due out in April in North America.