Couple Next Door's Lapena signs two more with Transworld

Transworld has acquired two more books from Shari Lapena, debut author of The Couple Next Door.

Richard & Judy Book Club pick The Couple Next Door was the second biggest-selling hardback fiction debut of 2016, selling 37,685 copies in hardback through Nielsen while, according to Transworld, selling over a million copies overall worldwide. The paperback is on track to be the biggest debut of 2017, having sold 263,417 copies through Nielsen in 17 weeks since publication.

The two new books in the new deal will also follow Lapena’s second novel, A Stranger In The House, which has sold 5,466 copies through Nielsen since it published last month.

Frankie Gray, publishing director, commercial fiction at Transworld, acquired British Commonwealth rights including audio to two new thrillers from Lapena from Helen Heller at the Helen Heller Agency. No further details around plot, or the books' estimated dates of publication, have been divulged, but they will both be psychological thrillers.

Gray welcomed the opportunity to build Lapena's brand, praising her "storytelling prowess, not least her ability to keep her readers furiously turning the pages, and to surprise and compel at every turn".

"It has been a privilege to work with Shari on her first two thrillers, and to see them enjoy such richly deserved success," said Gray. "When we all first read The Couple Next Door, we were blown away by Shari’s storytelling prowess, not least her ability to keep her readers furiously turning the pages, and to surprise and compel at every turn. With A Stranger In The House she has shown once again that she is queen of the one-sit read. We are delighted to be continuing to publish Shari’s market-leading thrillers and to have the opportunity to build her brand over the coming years."

Lapena said: "I am beyond delighted that my next two thrillers will go to Transworld. They are absolutely first rate – brilliant at bringing books to market. They’ve done a tremendous job on my novels and they’re a great group of people to work with."