Bonnier Zaffre acquires own lawyer's debut

Bonnier Zaffre has acquired all publishing and broadcasting rights to The Mayfly, an “electrifying" debut by James Hazel.

Hazel was formerly lawyer for the Totally Entwined Group, which Bonnier Publishing bought last year.

Rights to the book, described as "Thomas Harris meets M J Arlidge”, plus two other novels in the same series, were acquired directly since Bonnier Zaffre has a pre-existing relationship with the author. Hazel was discovered by the Totally Entwined publishing director.

Hazel's book is about Charlie Priest, a brilliant lawyer who suffers from dissociative disorder. When he’s hired by influential entrepreneur Kenneth Ellinder to investigate the murder of his son, his life and the lives of those closest to him are put in danger. As Priest investigates, he is drawn into a deadly conspiracy, the origins of which lie 70 years ago in the Nazi death camps. 

Katherine Armstrong, senior editor at Bonnier Zaffre, called the debut "a page-turning thriller”. 

Bonnier Zaffre will publish The Mayfly in June 2017.