Death in Paradise books for Harlequin

Mira Harlequin UK has acquired UK & Commonwealth rights to three books by the creator of BBC television series "Death in Paradise", Robert Thorogood.

The show, currently airing every Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One, has previously attracted audiences of nearly 8m.

Thorogood’s three novels will take inspiration from the television show and feature Met police officer Richard Poole and Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey as the lead protagonists along with other show favourites.

Harlequin UK editorial director Donna Hillyer acquired UK & Commonwealth rights from Ben Mason of Fox Mason Ltd Literary Agency, in association with Knight Hall and Red Planet Pictures.

Thorogood added: “I’ve been a passionate reader of murder mysteries my whole life, and in many respects "Death in Paradise" has always been my homage to the queen of the genre, Agatha Christie. As the TV show evolves I am thrilled that MIRA are letting me bring Richard and Camille back together again. I can’t wait to see them once more outwitting the very many murderers that live on Saint-Marie.”

Hillyer said: “We’re thrilled to have Robert onboard. He’s a marvellous addition to the MIRA list and I’m extremely excited to bring his gripping, addictive whodunnit series to life in novel format, at a time when we are expanding the crime side of the list.”

"Death in Paradise" is a British crime comedy-drama filmed on the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe. The plot centres on the character of strait-laced British policeman Richard Poole (played by Ben Miller, pictured), a detective from London's Metropolitan Police, who is sent to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint-Marie to solve the case of the death of a fellow British policeman.

In the latest series, Miller's character has been killed off, and replaced with a new detective played by actor Kris Marshall.