Mystery new project for Nesbo

Harvill Secker has acquired two new books from Jo Nesbo, in a new project that will see the bestselling crime novelist writing under the pseudonym Tom Johansen.

Publishing director Liz Foley acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Niclas Salomonsson at the Salomonsson Agency.

The first book in the deal will be called Blood on Snow, and will be published in autumn 2014, with the second, currently under the working title Blood on Snow 2, to follow in spring 2015. No further details on the novels are currently being revealed.

Foley said: "After the huge success of Headhunters and the Harry Hole series, we're absolutely thrilled to be working with Jo on this very exciting new project and we're looking forward to revealing more about the mysterious world of Tom Johansen in the near future."

Norwegian Nesbo's novels—including the Harry Hole series—have been translated into more than 45 languages. He is the recipient of the Glass Key Award for the best Nordic crime novel, a prize which has also been won by Henning Mankell and Steig Larsson.