Tag: Horror

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

Posted on Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

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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.

Freda Warrington’s THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES Out Now in the US!

Posted on Tuesday, October 14th, 2014

Warrington-BW3-BloodOfDarkPoppiesUK-Blog

We’re delighted to announce that the wait is over! Readers in the US can now pick up the third novel in Freda Warrington‘s critically-acclaimed Blood Wine series, THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES! The series is published by Titan Books. Here’s the synopsis…

The ballerina Violette Lenoir has fallen victim to the bite of the vampire Charlotte. Her fire and energy have fuelled a terrifying change and a dreadful realisation; that Violette has become Lilith, the demon mother of all vampires. Haunted both by what she has done and by Violette’s dark sensuality, Charlotte and her immortal lover Karl are drawn towards the dancer and the terrible destiny that has fallen on her shoulders. But other, far more dangerous shadows are gathering around Violette. To the vampire Sebastian and to the dark heirs of Kristian, she threatens to wreak havoc with their plans to bring all of mankind under their dark wings. Innocently embroiled in the endgame, courtesan extraordinaire Robyn Stafford finally meets her match as she is torn between the two ultimate lovers: Sebastian, and Violette…

The fourth, never-before-released fourth novel in the series, THE DARK ARTS OF BLOOD, is due out in the UK in May 2015 – it will follow shortly afterwards in the US. Check back soon for an official cover reveal. The first three novels – A TASTE OF BLOOD WINE and A DANCE IN BLOOD VELVET – are also available in audio, too, from Audible.

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

Posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2014

Unsworth-DevilsDetectiveUS-Blog

Last Friday, we shared a teaser image for the Simon Kurt Unsworth‘s upcoming THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE – the UK edition, that is. Today, we’re delighted to be sharing with you the US cover art. Due to be published by Doubleday in the US on March 3rd, 2015. Here’s the synopsis…

Debut novelist Simon Kurt Unsworth sends the detective novel to Hell. In THE DEVIL’S DETECTIVE, 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 UK on March 12th, 2015. We’ll share with you the UK cover as soon as it’s available.

Freda Warrington’s THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, May 8th, 2014

Warrington-BW3-DarkBloodOfPoppies-BlogAs part of their ongoing re-issue program, Titan Books have just published the third of Freda Warrington‘s Blood Wine novels, THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES. Previously published in 1996, but long out-of-print, we’re delighted readers will be able to (re-)discover this series anew!

THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES follows A TASTE OF BLOOD WINE and A DANCE IN BLOOD VELVET – the latter of which is released this month in the US, too.

Here’s the synopsis…

The ballerina Violette Lenoir has fallen victim to the bite of the vampire Charlotte. Her fire and energy have fuelled a terrifying change and a dreadful realisation; that Violette has become Lilith, the demon mother of all vampires. Haunted by Violette’s dark sensuality, Charlotte and her immortal lover Karl are drawn towards the dancer and the terrible destiny that has fallen on her shoulders.

THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES will be published in the US in October 2014. Also in October, Titan are due to publish in the UK a new, never-before-published fourth novel in the series: THE DARK ARTS OF BLOOD.

Here’s some recent praise for the series…

‘… a really, really splendid read… Warrington shows her writer’s chops, layering in exquisite period detail. Sometimes the effect is playfully satirical… but more often it’s lusciously picturesque… Freda Warrington is like a cross between Anne Rice and Kim Newman – she has the sweep of one, the cleverness of the other… they’re not to be missed.’  —  Starburst on A TASTE OF BLOOD WINE

‘… a tale of lust and passion that survives beyond the grave… More an erotic Wuthering Heights than Interview with a Vampire… a beautifully written tale… It is very impressive… if you like your romance novels with a bit of bite you will love this book.’  —  Follow the Nerd on A DANCE IN BLOOD VELVET

‘A gorgeous grave-throbber.’  —  Time Out on THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES

‘A great novel, which is entertainingly frightening, splendidly romantic and erotic, and darkly suspenseful. The true Queen of the vampire novel.’  —  Black Tears Magazine on THE DARK BLOOD OF POPPIES

If you’d like to learn more about this third Blood Wine novel, be sure to check out this interview Freda did with Female First.

And, one other piece of Freda-related news: the cover for GRAIL OF THE SUMMER STARS, the third novel in the Aetherial Tales series, has been nominated in the Annual Cover Contest, in the Avant Garde category. The novel is published in the US by Tor Books.

Jim Shields and PS Publishing Launch BABY STRANGE

Posted on Tuesday, April 29th, 2014

Shields-BabyStrangePS-Blog

At the recently-held Eastercon in Glasgow, Zeno client Jim Shields‘s new novel, BABY STRANGE, was launched. Published by PS Publishing, it is a pretty awesome, unique novel. As the publisher’s newletter stated, ‘Jim did an absolutely superb reading.’ The event, which also included a short reading (see right), seems to have done just the trick – increasing interest in and raising awareness of Jim’s new book.

Shields-Signing1The two chapters that Jim read, as well as some clips of Jim’s reading are apparently soon to hit the internet. We’ll be sure to share them here with you as soon as we can. Just in case you can’t recall seeing our artwork reveal for the novel, here’s the synopsis for BABY STRANGE…

A Dark Intelligence Has Been Poisoning Carefully Selected Lives.

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

The 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.

The 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.

The 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 . . . this is not to be the lowest point of his day.

Jim Shields is a director/producer living and working in his home town of Glasgow. His work has been BAFTA-nominated and he has spent much of his career happily killing people who aren’t real and blowing stuff up. BABY STRANGE is his debut novel.

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Another Big Day for New Audible Releases

Posted on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014

Today, we are delighted to share with you information and links for some more great titles, including a wealth of new audiobook editions for James P. Blaylock‘s backlist, as well as Ian McDonald, Jennifer Fallon and Freda Warrington. As before, below you’ll find the author, title, print publisher, and narrator.

First up, here are the Blaylock titles that have most recently been added to Audible…

AudibleZeno-20140331-1-Blaylock

Blaylock’s backlist are also available as eBooks from the JABberwocky eBook Program and also the Gollancz SF Gateway.

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More Audible Releases for Warrington, Robson & Fallon!

Posted on Monday, March 17th, 2014

This past week, Audible released a veritable flood of new audiobook editions from Freda Warrington‘s, Justina Robson‘s and Jennifer Fallon‘s backlists.

March 18th…

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March 20th…

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March 21st…

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Also, and these were slightly delayed last week, but two of Lavie Tidhar‘s backlist titles have also been released:

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Artwork Reveal – Jim Shields’s BABY STRANGE

Posted on Tuesday, March 11th, 2014
Shields-BabyStrangeFull-Blog

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.

JimShields

Simon Unsworth Interviewed by This Is Horror…

Posted on Thursday, January 30th, 2014

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In the latest This Is Horror podcast, Dan Howarth interviews Zeno client Simon Unsworth, the author of QUIET HOUSES and the forthcoming horror novel THE SORROWFUL (which we announced on the site last year). During the interview, Simon talks about his writing, the editorial process; working with literary agents, small and large presses; film adaptations and more. You can listen to the interview on This Is Horror, or download it from iTunes, or just press play, below…