Michelle Davies moves from Pan Mac to Orion Fiction in two-book deal

Crime writer Michelle Davies is moving from Pan Macmillan to Orion Fiction in a two-book deal.

Publishing director Francesca Pathak acquired world English rights from Jane Gregory. First book, Shadow of a Doubt, will be released in winter 2020 as a paperback original.

The synopsis states: “Inspired by real events, the novel is a thriller about a woman accused of causing her brother’s death as a child in 1994 – only to blame it on a paranormal entity she swore was haunting their house at the time. No one believed her and after two years of treatment in a psychiatric unit for delusional disorder, Cara was shunned by her remaining family and put into foster care. Now 34, she’s returning to the empty family home for the first time since her brother’s death and she’s about to re-discover the evil that was lurking inside its walls..."

Davies said: “I am thrilled to be joining Orion, a publisher I've long admired. Francesca is a brilliant editor with a fantastic track record and I've been bowled over by her enthusiasm for Shadow of a Doubt.”

Pathak said: “I’ve been a huge fan of Michelle’s since reading her novel Gone Astray and it’s a joy to work with her on her first standalone novel – I’m delighted to welcome her to Orion Fiction.”