Mystery - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Coming Soon: MY BROTHER’S KEEPER by Tim Powers!

Posted on Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

We’re very happy to announce that there’s a new novel on the way from Tim Powers! MY BROTHER’S KEEPER is due to be published by Head of Zeus, on October 12th. Here’s the synopsis for the highly-anticipated novel…

Howarth, 1846. The edge of the Yorkshire moors.

Here, in solitude, live a widowed parish priest and his family: three daughters and their single brother.

Though the future will celebrate the three daughters, right now they are unknown, their genius concealed. In just a few short years, they will all be dead.

And it will be middle daughter Emily’s chance encounter with a grievously wounded man on the moor that sets them on the path to their doom.

My Brother’s Keeper introduces an ancient secret haunting the moors, a dark inheritance in the family bloodline and something terrible buried under an ogham-inscribed slab in the church.

An atmospheric, claustrophobic gothic novel from a revered fantasy author… featuring… have you not guessed yet?

This highly-anticipated new novel from one of the masters of Science Fiction and Fantasy has already been generating a lot of interest an praise from those who have received early review copies.

Tim Powers is the author of a great many acclaimed science fiction and fantasy novels. The author’s Fault Lines trilogy is published by Gollancz, as part of their Fantasy Masterworks series; other novels of his have been published in the UK by Corvus.

Lavie Tidhar’s ADAMA Out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Monday, August 28th, 2023

Lavie Tidhar‘s latest masterpiece, ADAMA, is out in two weeks! Due to be published by Head of Zeus, on September 14th, it’s the second novel in the author’s ambitious, asynchronous trilogy about Israel. Here’s the synopsis…

THERE IS NO LAND WITHOUT BLOOD, AND I WATER THIS LAND WITH THE BLOOD OF MY MEN.

Ruth’s family were in Budapest when the Nazis came.

Now Ruth is in Palestine, amid the bare hills inland from Haifa, breaking the rocky soil of an unyielding land before it breaks her.

With her comrades, her fellow kibbutzniks, she will build a better world. There will be green grass, orange trees and pomegranates, a land that is their own and no one else’s.

So they till their fields, dig their wells, build their homes and forge a new way of living, fiercely proud of their shared pursuit of a dream.

But as one generation begets another, the dream unravels, twisted into a dark tapestry of secrets and lies; sacrificed for revenge, forbidden love and murder.

A sweeping historical epic following four generations of a single family as they struggle to hold on to their land and each other.

The audiobook edition of the novel will also be published on September 14th, by W. F. Howes, narrated by Levi Goldmeier.

‘ADAMA is an unstoppable masterpiece… Tidhar is a magician, a time-traveler, a historian, a comedian, a raconteur, a subversive, a truth teller and also one of the finest writers around. If history is a nightmare we’re all trying to wake up from, then ADAMA is a trumpet blast that rings out the past and into the future.’ — Junot Diaz

‘A propulsive, decades-spanning noir saga. I couldn’t put it down.’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia

‘Lavie Tidhar’s prose is beautiful, his characters lacerating and heartbreaking… I loved it.’ — Catriona Ward

The first novel in this trilogy is MAROR, which is out now and also published by Head of Zeus.

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.

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

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.

Brandon Sanderson’s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, July 27th, 2023

Brandon Sanderson‘s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND is out now in the UK! Published in hardcover by Gollancz, it’s the second novel from the author’s smash-success Secret Projects Kickstarter. A blend of Jason Bourne, epic fantasy, and time travel, here’s the synopsis…

An amnesiac wizard’s only hope of survival in medieval England lies in recovering his missing memories.

A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the “real world” should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive?

In addition to Sanderson’s Mistborn, Stormlight Archive and Skyward series, Gollancz also publishes the first book in the Secret Projects range, TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA, in the UK.

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

UK Paperback Edition of THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, July 20th, 2023

The UK paperback edition of Silvia Moreno-Garcia‘s acclaimed THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU is out now! Published by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

A dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.

‘The deeply atmospheric novel blends horror, science fiction, and historical events’ Time, 100 ‘Must Read Books of 2022’

Carlota Moreau: growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatan peninsula, she is the only daughter of an eccentric, and dangerous, genius. His experiments, a motley group of hybrid monstrosities, are blindly loyal to their creator.

Into Carlota’s strange but perfectly balanced world comes Eduardo Lizalde, the charming, careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patrons. In the sweltering heat of the jungle, amidst her father’s secrets and her own awakening feelings, Carlota will begin asking questions that could ignite a conflagration.

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

‘Genius . . . combine[s] contemporary political awareness with the appeal of a creepy gothic romance’ — Guardian

‘An evocative slow-burn SF drama about colonialism, heredity and scientific hubris, couched in lush prose’ — Financial Times

‘The imagination of Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a thing of wonder, restless and romantic, fearless in the face of genre, embracing the polarities of storytelling’ — New York Times

‘Paints a vivid picture that is as alluring as it is unsettling, filled with action, romance, and monsters’ — Booklist

‘She deftly combines fantasy, adventure, and even romance; the result is hard to classify but definitely a lot of fun. This isn’t the first book to riff on H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), but it’s definitely one of the better ones. A fun literary remix’ — Kirkus

‘Cements Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s incredible versatility as an amazing writer who moves between genres effortlessly’ — S.A. Cosby, bestselling author of Blacktop Wasteland

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

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.

UK Hardcover Edition of Brandon Sanderson’s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND Out Next Week!

Posted on Monday, July 17th, 2023

The UK hardcover edition of Brandon Sanderson‘s THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND is due to be published next week by Gollancz! The second novel from the author’s smash-success Secret Projects Kickstarter, this book has been described as ‘mesh[ing] Jason Bourne, epic fantasy, and time travel’. Here’s the synopsis…

An amnesiac wizard’s only hope of survival in medieval England lies in recovering his missing memories.

A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the “real world” should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive?

In addition to Sanderson’s Mistborn, Stormlight Archive and Skyward series, Gollancz also publishes the first book in the Secret Projects range, TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA, in the UK.

Zeno represents Brandon Sanderson 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.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s SILVER NITRATE Out Next Week!

Posted on Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

SILVER NITRATE, the latest gripping horror/mystery from Silvia Moreno-Garcia is out next week in the UK! Due to be 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 books in the UK: