Simon Lelic moves in 'new direction' to Viking

Simon Lelic is moving from Mantle (Pan Macmillan) to Viking (Penguin Random House) for the publication of his new novel, a husband-wife psychological thriller, The House.

Katy Loftus acquired world rights from Caroline Wood at Felicity Bryan Associates for this and another novel by Lelic.

The House is a dual narrative thriller about a young couple who move into their dream home in London, only to find out that someone is playing a sinister game with them. When a local man is murdered on their doorstep they decide to write separate accounts of their story.

Loftus said: "Simon is an original and brilliant writer whom I’ve admired for a long time, and this is undoubtedly his breakout novel. Everyone wants to know where the thriller genre is going next, and all I can say is, I have never read one like this. With its spookily prescient setting in London’s gentrifying suburbs, and the most compelling husband-wife narrative I’ve read since Gone Girl, this book had the entire Viking team hooked. I really couldn’t guess where it was going next, and the twist blew me away. Viking is tremendously excited to be publishing Simon, and I can’t wait to work with this extraordinary writer who brings something completely new to the genre."​

Lelic said: "I'm genuinely thrilled to be working with Katy and the rest of the team at Viking. The House marks a new direction for me - my first foray into the realm of psychological thrillers - and it's incredibly exciting to have such a talented and dynamic team behind me."

Lelic’s first novel, Rupture, was acquired at auction by Picador in September 2008, won a Betty Trask Award and was shortlisted for the John Creasy Debut Dagger. His second and third novels were The Facility and The Child Who (Picador).