Lecturer wins Richard and Judy ‘Search for a Bestseller’ competition

University lecturer Claire Gradidge has won the Richard and Judy ‘Search for a Bestseller’ competition for her World War Two crime novel The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox.

The competition for first-time unpublished writers was launched in April 2018 by television stars Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan in association with WH Smith and Bonnier Zaffre.

Gradidge, who has a PHD in creative writing and has taught at the University of Winchester as an associate lecturer for six years, will now receive a publishing contract for world rights with Bonnier Zaffre, worth £30,000, representation from agency YM&U (formerly Furniss Lawton) and assurance her book will be stocked in WH Smith stores across the country.

The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox will be published by Bonnier Zaffre in July 2019. 

“Josephine returns to her home town of Romsey after a long absence on a quest to solve the mystery of who her father was. She arrives in the town just after an air raid has destroyed a local pub. Seven known bodies are retrieved from the ruins, but an eighth body – that of an unknown girl – is also recovered,” says the blurb. “As Josephine works alongside the coroner to establish the identity of the girl and discover who the murderer is, she also uncovers her own personal mystery.”

Madeley and Finnigan hailed Gradidge as a “compelling new voice” and felt that in Josy Fox we have “a feisty, modern character who eschews the traditional mores of the period in this brilliantly researched tale of war time Britain”.

Gradidge said: “I am absolutely delighted – and very excited – to have won the Richard and Judy ‘Search for a Bestseller’ competition. It’s such a wonderful opportunity for me . . . I can’t quite believe it!  I’m looking forward to working with the team at Bonnier Zaffre and YM&U, and, of course, to seeing my novel in print later this year.”

Editorial director for crime fiction at Bonnier Zaffre Katherine Armstrong said: “I read The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox in one sitting and what kept me turning the pages was Claire’s brilliant characterisation of Josy Fox – she’s sparky and determined and I know that readers will enjoy getting to know her as much as I did.”