ORENDA BOOKS ACQUIRE WORLD ENGLISH LANGUAGE RIGHTS TO TWO WILL CARVER THRILLERS

We are delighted that Orenda Books will publish two more thrillers by Will Carver. Karen Sullivan acquired World English Language rights from Kate Burke in a two-book deal. Orenda will publish PSYCHOPATHS ANONYMOUS in late 2021, followed by a currently untitled thriller in 2022. 

In order to quit, you have to hit rock bottom. Most nights, Maeve drinks two bottles of wine and falls asleep in front of America’s Next Top Model. But she’s not dependant on alcohol. She attends Simply AA because the men there are vulnerable and easy to pick up for the evening. But she doesn’t have a sex habit. And she goes to Emotional Sobriety and Women’s Reflections and New Beginnings, not because she wants to quit, not because she enjoys a twelve-step program, but because she is addicted to other people’s misery.  She also likes to kill men. But there’s no support group for that. 

When a work project forces her together with a new client, Maeve feels something she never has before: a connection. But can a psychopath really experience love or is this man another thing Maeve is addicted to that is absolutely no good for her?

Will Carver said ‘I’m thrilled to be working with Karen and the Orenda team again. There’s a reason they won best crime publisher at the CWA awards; Orenda publish consistently high-quality, brave fiction that pushes the boundaries of the genre in new and interesting directions. There is a freedom and support to try something new and I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to increase my output with a series book and a stand-alone story in the same year.’

Will’s most recent novel for Orenda, THE BERESFORD, was published in ebook in May 2021 and will be published in paperback in July 2021. The audio edition is available now, published by Bolinda.  

 About Will Carver
Will Carver lives in Reading, though his younger years were spent in various parts of West Germany. He is the author of four books in the JANUARY DAVID thriller series as well as four thrillers for Orenda Books: GOOD SAMARITANS, NOTHING IMPORTANT HAPPENED TODAY, HINTON HOLLOW DEATH TRIP and THE BERESFORD.

Carver likes to work his body as much as his mind and runs his own fitness and nutrition company, though he prefers to talk about his writing more than how he consumes adequate protein as a vegan.

Praise for Will Carver
‘If you like your comedy pitch black and your thrillers more than a little bit twisted, you’ll love it… So dark, so cool.’ — Heat

‘Totally addictive. Like Fight Club, only darker’ — S.J. Watson

‘A blend of serial killer thriller and domestic noir… An unsettling but compelling mixture of the banal, the horrific and, at times, the near-comic, wrong-footing the reader at every turn.’ — The Guardian, The best recent crime novels – review roundup

'A bleak vision of life - true enough to impart the reader with the thrill of genuine discomfort presented with the chilly conviction of Simenon’s most unflinching romans durs and just as horribly addictive.' — The Telegraph

'Outstanding... Fans of classic downbeat noir from Cornell Woolrich and the like will find Carver has brilliantly translated their themes for the 21st century.' — Publishers Weekly

'Heavy gusts of bedsit nihilism usher in this strange mystery... Weirdly page-turning.' — The Times, November Pick

Follow Will on Twitter.

‘Dark and twisty’ debut thriller from L.V. Hay, THE OTHER TWIN, published by Orenda today

L V Hay’s debut psychological thriller, THE OTHER TWIN, is published today in paperback by Orenda Books.

When India falls to her death from a bridge over a railway, her sister, Poppy, returns home to Brighton for the first time in years. Unconvinced by official explanations, Poppy begins her own investigation into India's death. But the deeper she digs, the closer she comes to uncovering deeply buried secrets. Could Matthew Temple, the boyfriend she abandoned, be involved? And what of his powerful and wealthy parents and his twin sister, Ana? Enter the mysterious and ethereal Jenny: the girl Poppy discovers after hacking in to India's laptop. What is exactly is she hiding, and what did India find out about her?

Taking the listener on a breathless ride through the winding lanes of Brighton, into its vibrant party scene and inside the homes of its well-heeled families, THE OTHER TWIN is a startling and up-to-the-minute thriller about the social media world, where resentments and accusations are played out online, where identities are made and remade and where there is no such thing as truth....

The novel is already receiving raving reviews from authors and bloggers alike. Peter James, author of the Roy Grace series, praises Hay’s “sharp, confident writing, as dark and twisty as the Brighton Lanes.” Pail Finch, author of the DS Heckenburg series, describes the novel as a “superb, up-to-the-minute thriller. Prepare to be seriously disturbed.”

Lucy V. Hay is a novelist, script editor and blogger who helps writers via her Bang2write consultancy. She is the associate producer of Brit Thrillers Deviation (2012) and Assassin(2015), both starring Danny Dyer. Lucy is also head reader for the London Screenwriters’ Festival and has written two non-fiction books, Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays, plus its follow-up about Drama Screenplays. Her next book, WRITING DIVERSE CHARACTERS FOR FICTION, TV OR FILM will be published in August by Kamera books.

Praise for THE OTHER TWIN:

'This chilling, claustrophobic tale set in Brighton introduces an original, fresh new voice in crime fiction.' — Cal Moriarty, author of THE KILLING OF BOBBI LOMAX

‘If your sister died under suspicious circumstances, how far would you go to uncover the truth? L V Hay's THE OTHER TWIN crackles with tension as Poppy's search for answers leads only to more questions, her grief palpable and real as she learns her sister India's deepest secrets. Hays' impressive debut is a complex, twisty, disorienting tale that truly keeps readers guessing until the very end.’ — Karen Dionne, author of THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER.

‘Wonderfully layered and gripping, I had to take breaks just to catch my breath.’ — Jendella Benson, writer and filmmaker

‘A cracker of a debut! I couldn’t put it down,’ – Paula Daly, author of JUST WHAT KIND OF MOTHER ARE YOU

‘The writing shines from every page of this twisted tale … debuts don’t come sharper than this’ — Ruth Dugdall, author of THE WOMAN BEFORE ME

EXQUISITE, Sarah Stovell’s ‘expertly crafted’ thriller debut, published today by Orenda

Sarah Stovell’s ‘powerful and assured’ debut thriller, EXQUISITE, is published in paperback today by Orenda books. It is also available on audiobook from WF Howes, narrated by Katie Scarfe. Sarah will be celebrating the launch at Cogito Books in Hexham at 7.30pm tonight.

The book is already generating huge amounts of praise. It is a Lovereading book of the month, with Shelley Fallows writing: ‘I was completely swept up in the brilliance of Sarah’s carefully constructed plot that had me constantly questioning the outcome and eagerly turning the page… It was a chilling read, expertly crafted and difficult to put down.’ The Sunday Times Crime Club also called it ‘a remarkable debut in the crowded psychological thriller field, written with great sureness of touch and tone — it already feels like a summer bestseller’ in a starred review.

Bo Luxton has it all - a loving family, a beautiful home in the Lake District, and a clutch of bestselling books to her name. Enter Alice Dark, an aspiring writer who is drifting through life, with a series of dead-end jobs and a freeloading boyfriend. When they meet at a writers' retreat, the chemistry is instant, and a sinister relationship develops ... Or does it?

Breathlessly pacey, taut and terrifying, EXQUISITE is a startlingly original and unbalancing psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

The EXQUISITE book tour began on 1st June and runs for 38 days with almost 80 blogs involved - see the poster below to catch up with its journey!

Rights are sold in Germany, France and Sweden.

Sarah Stovell was born in 1977 and spent most of her life in the Home Counties before a season working in a remote North Yorkshire youth hostel made her realise she was a northerner at heart. She now lives in Northumberland with her partner and two children and is a lecturer in Creative Writing at Lincoln University.

Praise for EXQUISITE:

‘EXQUISITE is a powerful and assured debut thriller. Slickly claustrophobic and delicately wrought this arch story of obsessive forbidden love taken to the extreme will have you squirming in your seat even as you're driven to turn the next page. A must-read for 2017’ — Sarah Pinborough, author of BEHIND HER EYES

‘I bloody loved it. So clever, so beautifully written, such brilliant characterisation and THAT ENDING! This book is going to be MASSIVE! It has all the special little things that make it stand out from other psychological thrillers and it had my tummy in knots. I'm going to be shouting about this one for a long time. Definitely in my top reads for 2017’ — Lisa Hall, author of BETWEEN YOU AND ME

‘A perfect literary thriller. A moving, gripping story told in beautiful prose. The twists keep coming until the very last page. I loved this book.’ — Erin Kelly, author of THE POISON TREE

‘Sarah Stovell writes beautifully. In her latest novel she combines that skill with a thrilling dramatic narrative. Exquisite in every way.’ — Essie Fox, author of THE SOMNAMBULIST

‘Whip-smart, lushly written and truly page-turning. I loved EXQUISITE, from the misleading simplicity of the premise and right down through all the dark depths of the she said/she said narrative. Sarah Stovell is a thrilling talent’ — Holly Seddon, author of TRY NOT TO BREATHE

‘Beautifully written and perfectly twisted, I was sucked deeply into the intertwined worlds of Alice and Bo and found myself reading through my fingers, compelled yet terrified at what the outcome might be ... And that ending. Just wow. There could not be a better title for this book’ — S J I Holliday, author of the BANKTOUN series

 ‘Addictive, terrifying and beautifully written, EXQUISITE is up there with the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever read. Fucking awesome’ — Chris Whitaker, author of TALL OAKS

 ‘Beautifully written, atmospheric and sexy, EXQUISITE is a satisfying psychological thriller with real class' — Cass Green, author of THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR

Orenda Books signs THE OTHER TWIN, a dark, sexy debut psychological thriller

Lucy V. Hay's debut thriller THE OTHER TWIN has been acquired by Karen Sullivan of Orenda Books in a two-book World English Language deal negotiated with Hattie Grünewald. Orenda is delighted to publish in early 2018.

Karen says: ‘This is a book whose premise grabbed me from the outset, and the writing, sublime and complex plotting, and very contemporary setting and storyline made it stand out from the rest. THE OTHER TWIN focuses on twenty-something Poppy and her quest to find out the truth behind the death of her sister India, who has fallen to her death from a bridge over the London to Brighton railway. Taking the reader into the lanes of Brighton, into the city’s gay scene and well-heeled families, THE OTHER TWIN is not just a fabulously layered, dark and twisty psychological thriller, but also an expose of the social media generation, where resentments, attachments and accusations are all played out online and identities are made and remade according to what is convenient or expedient at the time. This is an exceptionally relevant thriller, with an unforgettable cast of characters, a relentless tension and a chilling denouement, and Lucy is an unbelievably talented writer. I am looking forward to see her soar in the Orenda stable, and could not be more excited to welcome her to the team.'

Hattie says: ‘Lucy and Karen make a dynamic team and THE OTHER TWIN is a wonderful debut – dark, sexy and with twists you won’t see coming. I’m very excited to see Orenda publish.'

Lucy says: ‘I'm delighted to be working with Karen. As a crime fiction fan I've loved Orenda's output, so feel THE OTHER TWIN couldn't be in better hands.’

THE OTHER TWIN will be published in early 2018. For more information, please contact Karen@orendabooks.co.uk.

Read more about Lucy and follow her on Twitter.

Orenda Books signs an EXQUISITE psychological thriller

Karen Sullivan, publisher of Orenda Books, is delighted to announce the acquisition of World English Language Rights for Sarah Stovell’s debut thriller EXQUISITE in a two-book deal negotiated with Hattie Grünewald at Blake Friedmann Literary Agency.

Karen says, ‘Hattie pitched this book to me at the London Book Fair earlier this year, and I was immediately intrigued; in fact, it’s possibly the first submission that I’ve ever “chased”. This is a sophisticated, exceptionally well-written, dark and twisty psychological thriller that revolves around the intense, sinister relationship that develops between two women: one an aspiring young writer who is drifting through her life, with a dead-end job and a freeloading boyfriend, and the other a successful author living an apparently idyllic life in the Lake District with her husband, children, and a clutch of bestselling books. Driven by a dual first-person narrative, EXQUISITE is a breathlessly pacy, relevant and original thriller, with a genuinely astonishing twist that will have readers flipping back the pages to see what they’ve missed. Beautiful prose, superb characterisation, atmospheric descriptions of the Cumbrian setting and an outstanding plot make EXQUISITE, quite simply, everything that its name suggests. It’s a perfect fit for the growing Orenda list and I am very excited to welcome Sarah to the team.’

Hattie says, ‘I’m thrilled that Sarah Stovell’s intense and captivating thriller has found a home at Orenda. I’m sure that with Karen’s help this will be a book on everyone’s 2017 wishlist!’

Sarah says, ‘I am delighted to be working with Karen on EXQUISITE and my next thriller. She's a great editor with a fantastic group of authors, and I feel really hopeful about our future together.’

EXQUISITE will be published in June 2017. For more information, please contact Karen@orendabooks.co.uk.