Joffe buys crime fiction specialist Ostara Publishing

Joffe Books has acquired crime and thriller specialist Ostara Publishing, taking on its "superlative" backlist. 

Jasper Joffe, c.e.o. of Joffe Books, stuck a deal with Ostara owner Andrew Cocks for an undisclosed sum, after Cocks said he was "no longer in a position" to continue the press.

The indie will be taking on the Ostara list of around 120 titles, publishing new editions in late 2022 and 2023. Ostara specialises in re-issuing titles that have become unavailable, featuring books from the 1920s through to the 21st century on its list.

Joffe Books will keep the Ostara name in use, branding new releases as "Joffe Books presents Ostara Classics". Award-winning crime writer and former Ostara consultant editor Mike Ripley has been approached to write new introductions to the Ostara Classics.

Joffe Books publishing director Kate Lyall Grant said: “Ostara has a well-deserved reputation for the superlative quality of its crime list, and with Joffe Books’ commercial success and expertise in the digital market, we think this is the perfect fit to reach a widespread new readership for these fantastic books."

"We will be staying true to the spirit of Ostara", she added. 

Cocks added: "Regrettably I am no longer in a position to publish new books and give my existing titles the attention they deserve in an fast-developing publishing environment. I am delighted to have found in Joffe Books a kindred spirit to take over the Ostara list of authors and truly believe that Joffe will give the Ostara authors the opportunity to reach new readers and prosper. It has been a privilege to have been involved with all these books and I could not have wished for a better home for them."