Avon scoops host of crime titles from début authors Minix and Payne plus bestseller Hunter

Avon has scooped a host of new crime titles, including a three-book series from début author Sue Minix, a psychological thriller début from Annie Payne, and a third title from bestseller Alice Hunter. 

Minix’s Murder at the Bookstore introduces readers to crime writer Jen Dawson. She can write the perfect murder mystery, but can she solve one in real life? This first novel in the Bookstore Mystery series is slated for publication in early 2023, followed by two more Jen Dawson novels later that year. Thorne Ryan, publishing director, struck the deal for world all language rights with Dawn Dowdle at Blue Ridge Agency. 

Minix said: “I am an author with no words to describe how happy and excited I am to have my début novel in the hands of the amazing team at Avon. This story has taken me decades to tell, and I am so grateful to Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge for taking a chance on me and to Avon for making my lifelong dream come true.” 

Payne’s début novel, The Doctor, explores a nightmare of very real proportions. Set against the backdrop of an NHS decimated by cuts, a killer is lurking in the hospital corridors… and they’re hiding in plain sight. Payne’s heart-stopping twists are backed by a wealth of expertise, as she spent many years working as a nurse, midwife and clinical manager, with this first-hand experience shining through on the page. Slated to publish in spring 2023, commissioning editor Molly Walker-Sharp agreed the deal with Annie Payne directly. 

Payne said: “I am so excited to be working with Avon and loving every minute of working with such lovely people. It’s a new chapter for me and I never imagined I would get the chance to work with such a terrific team.” 

In addition to these two débuts, Avon has also bought another thriller from Hunter, author of bestselling The Serial Killer’s Wife. Publishing in May 2023, The Serial Killer’s Sister sees teacher Anna Price discover that family is for ever…unless he kills you first. Publishing director Thorne Ryan struck the deal for world all language rights with Anne Williams at the Kate Horden Literary Agency. 

Hunter said: “It’s been so exciting to see how well The Serial Killer’s Wife and The Serial Killer’s Daughter have been received and I can’t wait to introduce readers to Anna in The Serial Killer’s Sister. Working with Thorne Ryan and the Avon team has been a dream. They have really pulled out all the stops to ensure the books have reached as many readers as possible and I’m looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for this new addition to the serial killer’s family series.” 

Ryan added: “The whole Avon team could not be more delighted to be adding even more strings to our already strong bow for 2023 with these new killer acquisitions. We are immensely proud of our crime and thriller publishing programme, and with the exciting additions of new talents Sue Minix and Annie Payne, as well as established bestselling phenomenon Alice Hunter, it is stronger now than ever before.”