Michael Joseph acquires Woodhouse

Michael Joseph has acquired two novels by debut British thriller writer Jake Woodhouse, following a multi-publisher auction.

Publishing director Rowland White bought UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Simon Trewin at William Morris Endeavor. The first title, After the Silence, is the opening book in a quartet of inter-connected books set in modern-day Amsterdam. It introduces Inspector Jaap Rykel, and the plot is described as being "set over five days in the city of vice where three cops are thrown into a race against time to find a missing child, and a brutal killer who keeps on killing".

White said: "The quality of Jake's writing was in evidence from page one. Great plotting, vivid characterisation and a wonderful feel for the city of Amsterdam made it a full house. It's a huge pleasure and privilege to welcome Jake—and Inspector Jaap Rykel—to the Michael Joseph/Penguin crime list."

German rights were pre-empted overnight through Annemarie Blumenhagen at WME and the project is now on offer through WME's Jay Mandel in New York.