Hera Books acquires Dickinson's first crime fiction series

Hera Books has aquired Miranda Dickinson's first crime fiction series, to be written under the pseudonym M J White.

The publisher acquired world English language rights from Hannah Ferguson at Hardman Swainson. The series will follow Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist with an "incredibly unique ability" who is called upon to assist in the case of a missing child in a sleepy Suffolk village. The first title will be published in early 2022, with the second book to follow later in the year. 

Keshini Naidoo, publishing director, said: "I’ve long been an admirer of Miranda’s writing, so when I was lucky enough to receive her first ever crime novel, I knew it would be something special… and I was not wrong! Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist with a rare form of synaesthesia that enables her to sense emotional echoes hidden in discarded objects, is such a captivating, intriguing character. As she teams up with Acting DS Rob Minshull to investigate the disappearance of a young child in the Suffolk village of St Just, Cora’s rare skill comes into play, and the result is a novel that breathes new life into the police procedural.  I was absolutely swept away by this detective novel with a twist, and I just know that this series will delight crime fiction readers and Miranda’s fans alike. We’re so proud that M J White will be joining us at Hera, and can’t wait for readers to take Cora Lael to their hearts."

The author added: "This series has been my secret passion for years and I am thrilled that Dr Cora Lael and Acting DS Rob Minshull are finally going to meet readers thanks to Keshini and the brilliant team at Hera. I love their passion and plans for my crime thrillers and I’m excited to see what the future holds for M J White."

Dickinson is the author of novels including Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Pan), The Day We Meet Again (HQ) and Our Story (HQ).