First adult novel from CJ Daugherty to HarperCollins

HarperCollins is to publish the first novel for adults from Christi Daugherty, who is a YA author under the name CJ Daugherty.

Sarah Hodgson, deputy publishing director at HarperCollins, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) for two thrillers by Christi Daugherty from Madeleine Milburn from Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency.

The first novel in the deal, The Echo Killing, tells the story of Harper McClain, who was just 12-years-old when her mother was murdered. Now a successful crime reporter, Harper is the first journalist at the scene of the murder of a local woman. And what she sees shocks her to the core: a twelve-year-old girl being led away by the police, the dead woman naked and stabbed on the kitchen floor. The echoes of her own mother’s murder are undeniable. Harper is convinced that if she can find the killer, she’ll also solve the crime that destroyed her life. And she’s willing to put her job, relationships and even her life on the line to do so.

This is the first novel for the adult market from Christi Daugherty, a former newspaper reporter from Texas who has lived in the UK for the last 10 years. She has published several novels for the YA audience under the name C. J. Daugherty, including the Night School series and The Alchemist Chronicles (co-written with Carina Rosenfeld).

The Echo Killing will be published in the US by St Martin’s Press / Minotaur in early 2018, and foreign rights deals have already been concluded at auction in Germany: Rowohlt, Italy: Corbaccio/Garzanti, The Netherlands: Meulenhoff Boekerij, Spain: HarperCollins Iberica; Portugal: HarperCollins Iberica, Poland: Czarna Owca and Turkey: Penguen Kitap.

Daugherty said: "I started my career as a crime reporter so, with The Echo Killing, I've gone back to my roots. It feels good to be back on those southern streets again. I'm thrilled and honoured to be working with Sarah Hodgson and her outstanding team at HarperCollins. I cannot wait for readers to discover Harper McClain."

Hodgson said: "I’m absolutely delighted that Christi is joining the crime and thriller list at HarperCollins. The Echo Killing is a brilliantly fast-paced and entertaining read, and in Harper McClain Christi has created an incredibly engaging heroine whose mix of strength and vulnerability will draw readers in and keep them turning the pages."

Milburn said: "After Christi’s international success with her bestselling YA series, now translated into over 24 languages, it’s the perfect time to introduce her to a whole new market of readers."

HarperCollins UK will publish The Echo Killing in paperback original in Spring 2018, with a second novel featuring Harper McClain to follow a year later.