PRH poaches Horowitz to write new crime series

Penguin Random House has poached bestselling author Anthony Horowitz from Hachette imprint Orion to write a new series of 'whodunnit’ crime novels for Century and Arrow. 

Horowitz, author of the teen spy Alex Rider books and fantasy and suspense series The Power of Five, will join PRH to write a new present-day UK-based series of crime novels featuring a seasoned detective and his accomplice. The novels promise to both “celebrate and subvert” the genre by offering "a surprising twist” examining the relationship between the detective, the writer and the reader. "Each book will have an astounding solution, and will challenge the way it's been reached,” a spokesperson for PRH said.

Horowitz has recently penned a James Bond novel Trigger Mortis for Orion, along with a set of Sherlock Holmes novels, including The House of Silk.

The Bookseller understands that Horowitz was out of contract with Orion and has signed his next two adult books with PRH.

Selina Walker, publisher of Century and Arrow, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, for two new novels by acclaimed author Horowitz, through agent Jonathan Lloyd of Curtis Brown.

Horowitz said: “I met Selina Walker at the Dubai International Literary Festival and we ended up talking late into the night about a new series I was planning to write. She rang my agent the next day. I have to say that I was completely knocked out by her enthusiasm and excitement - and this led to a meeting with the entire team at Penguin Random House. I knew at once that I'd found the perfect home for the books that I had in mind and I'm confident that this is the start of a long and fruitful relationship.”

Walker said: “Anthony is one of our country’s most brilliant storytellers. I have read and loved all his books, and have long been an admirer of the masterly way he handles complex plots, his ability to create richly varied and hugely empathetic characters, and of the way he dives into a period and makes it come alive so intensely that it is more real than the reality that surrounds one. To be able to publish his new series is, for me, a dream come true, and I could not be more excited to welcome him to the list.”

The first novel in the series will be published by Century in October 2017 with an Arrow paperback the following year.

Horowitz has written over 40 books selling 6.2m copies for £35.8m, including the Alex Riders, according to Nielsen's Total Consumer Market.

Horowitz's first standalone crime novel, Magpie Murders, inspired by Agatha Christie and the golden age of crime fiction will be published by Orion on 6th October 2016.

Horowitz also works in film, theatre and television, and has contributed scripts to ITV's "Poirot" and "Midsomer Murders", as well as being the writer and creator of award-winning drama "Foyle’s War". He has also written other dramas including "Collision", "Injustice" and most recently "New Blood" which premiered on BBC iPlayer earlier this year.