Hodder & Stoughton snaps up two from Marques

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired Patricia Marques’ "wonderfully inventive" début novel The Colours of Death, as well as a second novel.

Senior commissioning editor Eve Hall acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Oli Munson at A M Heath. The first title will be published in hardback, e-book and audio in June 2021, with a second novel in the series planned for 2022.

The Colours of Death will be set in an alternative present-day Lisbon where members of the population possessing certain powers are diagnosed as "Gifted". Inspector Isabel Reis is called to investigate a mysterious, violent death which looks like it may have Gifted involvement – though she soon discovers that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Hall said: "The Colours of Death has the pace of a thriller, the feel of a procedural and a unique, speculative twist on our world that completely sets it apart. Marques is hugely talented, and I can’t wait to be part of bringing Inspector Isabel Reis to readers."

Marques added: "I was completely thrown by the enthusiastic response to The Colours of Death and I'm beyond excited to be working with Eve and the Hodder team!"