Avon to publish Silent Evidence and two more by forensic anthropologist Clea Koff

Avon Books has snapped up Silent Evidence, the first in a new series by forensic anthropologist Clea Koff.

Publisher Helen Huthwaite and senior commissioning editor Amy Mae Baxter acquired world rights from Carla Briner at the Pontas Agency.

Silent Evidence introduces Jayne and Steelie, founders of Agency 32/1, which specialises in using forensic skills to help police solve crimes. It will be published this month, to be followed by the second book in the series in April 2025 and a third in autumn 2025.

The synopsis states: "When a bundle of frozen body parts fall out of a van on a Los Angeles freeway, FBI agent Scott Houston knows just where to go for an off-the-record post-mortem. But to everyone’s horror, Jayne and Steelie quickly determine the parts aren’t from one body. The body parts are from multiple bodies. A serial killer is on the loose. Worse, Scott’s call has put Jayne and Steelie’s lives in jeopardy, as their unique skills can uncover evidence to unmask the killer. Can they find the killer, before the killer finds them?"

Baxter said: "As a lifelong fan of any forensic thrillers I could get my hands on, reading Clea’s bone-chilling debut novel was a real treat."

Koff addd: “Knowing what comes next in the Jayne and Steelie stories, I am almost rubbing my hands with glee at the launch of book one. If people are like me, they’ll want to collect them all and then choose their favourite."