Gallic Books have acquired World English Language rights to the first two novels in the Minnie Ward and Albert Easterbrook series by Bridget Walsh from Isobel Dixon. Set in Victorian London, both THE TUMBLING GIRL and THE INNOCENTS are fast paced, gripping mysteries that will delight fans of Janice Hallett and Anthony Horowitz’s Sherlock Holmes novels.

The first, THE TUMBLING GIRL, follows Minnie and Albert as they investigate the brutal murder of Minnie’s best friend Rose. But there is more to this murder than meets the eye, and as the bodies pile up and danger closes in, Albert’s feelings for his new partner start to interfere with the investigation. THE INNOCENTS continues their story…

Joe Harper, MD at Gallic Books, says: ‘We are delighted to be publishing Bridget’s debut. THE TUMBLING GIRL is the first in a gripping, evocative mystery series and we can’t wait to introduce readers to Minnie Ward and Albert Easterbrook.’

Bridget Walsh says: ‘These books grew out of my fascination with the darker, sometimes unexpected side of Victorian life. I’m delighted that Minnie Ward and Albert Easterbrook have found such a great home and am very excited to develop the series with the team at Gallic.’

Isobel Dixon says: ‘When I first heard Bridget read at an event, I was immediately struck by the story, characters and atmosphere she so deftly conjures. I’m delighted that Gallic Books are giving THE TUMBLING GIRL a good home and can’t wait for readers to meet Minnie Ward and Albert Easterbrook too!’

THE TUMBLING GIRL will be released in May 2023, with its sequel, THE INNOCENTS, following in 2024. You can pre-order THE TUMBLING GIRL now.

About Bridget Walsh

BRIDGET WALSH was born in London to Irish immigrant parents. She studied English Literature and was an English teacher for 23 years, before leaving the profession to pursue her writing. Bridget lives in Norwich with her husband, Micky, and her two dogs.

THE TUMBLING GIRL is her first novel and won the UEA Little, Brown Award for Crime Fiction 2019.

Follow Bridget on Twitter.

Karen Sullivan at Orenda books has acquired UK & BC (ex Can) rights to two new novels from Will Carver.

GOOD SAMARITANS is a dark and daring new high-concept thriller, with all the right ingredients for a bestseller: one crossed wire, three dead bodies and six bottles of bleach.

Seth Beauman can’t sleep. He stays up late, calling strangers from his phonebook, hoping to make a connection, while his wife, Maeve, sleeps upstairs. A crossed wire finds a suicidal Hadley Serf on the phone to Seth, thinking she is talking to The Samaritans. But a seemingly harmless, late-night hobby turns into something more for Seth and for Hadley, and soon their late night chats are turning into day-time meet-ups. And then this dysfunctional love story turns into something altogether darker, when Seth brings Hadley home. Dead.

Maeve can’t believe Seth’s done it again. Can’t believe she’s trimming another person’s fingernails, removing traces of evidence, burning her clothes, wrapping someone in plastic. Can’t believe the police on the news are getting it so wrong. Can’t believe she and Seth are talking again, having sex again. It might not be traditional marriage counselling but it’s working.

For now.

Because somebody saw Seth the night he killed Hadley. And he wants something more than justice. He wants a taste.

GOOD SAMARITANS is cool, dark, and sexy, with a plot wound more tightly than its characters. A highly original thriller, that plays with and subverts the reader’s expectations.

Sullivan said: "I was riveted by this book and I can’t remember the last time I read a submission in one go … nor felt such a visceral sense of anxiety as I read. It’s stunning: dark, dangerous, sexy, wildly readable, brilliantly plotted and paced and, yet, completely different to anything I’ve ever read. In a nutshell, it is exactly the kind of book I want to be publishing at Orenda, and it’s going to be huge. This is a scorching return to the crime-fiction scene for the unbelievably talented Will Carver, and I am absolutely elated to get this on my list. It’s quite simply outstanding."

Carver said he is "absolutely thrilled" with the deal.

"I know how passionate they are about the books that they publish and the writers they represent. There’s a real sense of spirit and daring to the way they work that I admire. And I believe it to be the perfect fit for my books and the way that I write. Exciting times ahead", he said.

Carver's agent, Tom Witcomb, said: "I'm so pleased that Will is joining the Orenda family. There are few who match Karen and her team in terms of passion and enthusiasm for the books they publish, and that shows in the results they get. I can't wait to see what they do with GOOD SAMARITANS, a pitch perfect, subversive genre novel, that's sure to invigorate readers looking for a fresh, exciting voice. It seems a match made in heaven.'

Orenda will publish in Autumn 2018.