Alan Parks moves to Baskerville with a 'beautifully written' Second World War crime series

Baskerville, the literary crime and thriller imprint of John Murray, has snapped up a new Second World War crime trilogy by Alan Parks.

Editorial director Yassine Belkacemi acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Isobel Dixon at the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency. 

Gunner is the first instalment of the "suspenseful, atmospheric and beautifully written" crime series and will be published in July 2025. Translation rights for the book have already sold in France to Editions Payot & Rivages, and in Italy to Bompiani, while all three books in the series have been sold in Spain to Tusquets.

"Joseph Gunner, an ex-cop of Swedish heritage, arrives back in Glasgow after being wounded in combat," says the synopsis of the book, which is partly inspired by the true story of Rudolph Hess. "His old boss persuades him to help investigate a body found in the wreckage of a bombed-out building. But when the body turns out to be that of a German, mutilated to disguise his identity, Gunner finds himself embroiled in a high level conspiracy that may well cost him his life."

The author’s debut novel, Bloody January (Canongate Books), was shortlisted for the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, while his book February’s Son (Canongate Books) was nominated for an Edgar Award. Moreover, Bobby March Will Live Forever (Canongate Books) won a Prix Mystère de la Critique Award and an Edgar Award, while The April Dead (Canongate Books) was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year, which the author won in 2022 for May God Forgive (Canongate Books).

Parks said: "I’m delighted to be embarking on this new series with Yassine and all at John Murray Press. Gunner has found a great home."

Belkacemi added: "I’ve been a huge admirer of Alan’s work for a number of years and I’m buzzing that he has entrusted his brilliant new series to us at Baskerville. Gunner is a riveting and extremely stylish work and Alan’s latest creation, Joseph Gunner, shows a great depth of humanity and complexity."