Canelo Crime snares 'gripping' crime thriller debut by journalist Cassidy  

Canelo Crime has snapped by Breaking, a “gripping” crime thriller debut novel from Amanda Cassidy.  

Publishing director Louise Cullen acquired world English language rights from Madeleine Milburn at Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency. Breaking will be published in October 2022, marking the second hardback for Canelo Crime.  

“I was gripped by Amanda’s sharp voice when I first read Breaking,” commented Milburn. “This propulsive mystery speaks to how women are scrutinised and at times vilified under the harsh glare of the media spotlight, and I cannot wait for readers to fall in love with this story. I’m delighted that Amanda’s debut has found a home with Canelo, and I am so excited to see them champion this novel.” 

Cassidy is a freelance journalist, commissioning editor and former Sky News reporter. She has been shortlisted for the Irish Journalist of the Year Awards and recently her work was recognised at the Headline Media writing awards.  

Breaking explores the intricacies of motherhood and looks at the uncomfortable truth about collective desire to create “worthy” victims.

The synopsis reads: “A family’s luxury holiday in the Florida Keys turns into a waking nightmare when their youngest daughter, Alannah, goes missing from the beach. It soon transpires that her mother, Mirren, was seen drinking heavily at a bar prior to the disappearance, causing her actions to be held up for judgement by the press and viciously pulled apart on social media. She becomes the focus of the investigation, while desperately seeking to hold herself – and her family – together, and find her little girl." 

Cullen said: “It is rare to discover a novel that delivers so successfully on as many fronts as Amanda’s debut does. The premise allows for a compulsive crime novel with excellent police procedural elements at its heart, but it is also so much more. Reading about Mirren’s raw, unfiltered feelings towards her children makes for an utterly absorbing read, while the conclusion is like a gut-punch.”  

Cassidy added: “With Breaking, I wanted to shine a light on some of the complexities of motherhood I’d never seen written about before. I’m so thrilled that this novel is being championed by Canelo, who have published so many writers I admire. I’m hugely grateful to my brilliant agent Madeleine Milburn and my skilful editor Louise Cullen for their enthusiasm and insight – the dream team for any debut novelist.”