Harvill Secker's Chandler to head new John Murray crime list Baskerville

Jade Chandler is leaving Harvill Secker to head Baskerville, a distinctive new crime and thriller imprint at John Murray Press.

She will become publishing director of the new imprint on 13th September and will report to Jocasta Hamilton, John Murray's publisher. Chandler, who will be based in Bristol for the new role, has been at Harvill Secker for five years and is currently editorial director.

Her authors include bestselling author Jo Nesbo, award-winning Abir Mukherjee, Costa Prize-shortlisted Denise Mina and Emily Koch, whose debut If I Die Before I Wake was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month.

In 2018, Chandler set up the Harvill Secker/Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Award to find the most exciting new crime fiction by writers of colour. The Waiter, by inaugural winner Ajay Chowdhury, was later picked as a Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining Jocasta and the team at John Murray to build the Baskerville list. John Murray’s reputation for publishing distinctive, entertaining and award-winning fiction provides the perfect grounding for a crime list made up of the best and brightest talent. I will be based at Hachette’s Bristol office and am excited at the prospect of finding outstanding writers from all parts of the UK. I have had a wonderful time at Harvill Secker and will miss my colleagues and authors who work with such energy and creative drive.”

Hamilton commented: “With Jade's knowledge and passion for the crime and thriller market, her experience in building brands and flair for discovering original new writing, Baskerville will become a destination imprint for authors who defy expectations and whose work haunts the imagination. As Arthur Conan Doyle's long-term publisher, we're incredibly excited to be expanding John Murray in this way and thrilled that Jade will be joining our talented editorial team.”