'Twisted and sophisticated' debut thriller Trance to Thomas & Mercer

Amazon Publishing’s crime and thriller imprint, Thomas & Mercer, has signed a "twisted and sophisticated" thriller in a two-book deal with IT consultant and debut author Adam Southward.

World rights were acquired from Julie Fergusson at The North Literary Agency for Trance, to be published in July 2019, and a second (untitled) novel, scheduled for November 2019.

In Trance, three victims are found dead in what appears to be a gruesome murder-suicide and the only suspect, Victor Lazar, is quickly captured. When several inmates commit suicide, Victor is moved to a high security prison for the criminally insane. After his assigned psychologist also inexplicably takes his own life, Alex Madison, a former forensic psychologist turned private therapist, is brought in to dig deeper.

Thomas & Mercer editor Jack Butler said: "Trance is a twisted and sophisticated thriller and I read the manuscript in one sitting. The writing is deliciously dark and the antagonist drew me into the story, bending my will and not allowing me to stop reading till I’d finished! The whole team was bowled over by this debut and we can’t wait to bring Adam Southward and Trance into the world."

Director of Amazon Publishing EU, Dominic Myers, added: "Adam is a talented writer. Everyone in the team shared Jack’s vision and we’re delighted to add Adam to our Thomas and Mercer list."

Southward said: "I’m completely thrilled to be joining the Thomas & Mercer family. The Amazon Publishing team are exciting and innovative, and in Jack I’ve got a hugely supportive editor. I count myself lucky to have found such a wonderful publishing home."