Canelo's Cullen buys two 'major' novels for its 2017 list

Canelo has bought two “major” novels for its 2017 list including a debut thriller about a child abduction and a story about a woman whose struggle to conceive leads her to accept an “unconventional offer”.

Louise Cullen, editorial director at the digital publisher, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) to debut thriller I Know Where She Is by S. B. Caves from Tom Witcomb at Blake Friedmann. Canelo will also publish Let Her Go by "an exciting new voice in women's fiction", Dawn Barker (pictured), in May after buying world English language rights (excluding ANZ) from Sharon Galant at Zeitgeist Media Group Agency.

I Know Where She Is features a mother, Francine, whose child was abducted ten years earlier, and seems unlikely to ever be found until a mysterious young woman appears claiming that Francine’s daughter is being held captive. The novel will be published in late summer 2017 and is reflective of Canelo’s expanding the crime and thriller list.

Cullen said: “S. B. Caves’ novel grabbed me from the first page and did not let go. I read much of it on the edge of my seat and raced through to the breathless finale. This novel has pace, tension, action aplenty and is an unsettling exploration of a dark side of human nature. Most of all, it is about a mother who will do whatever it takes to save her child.”

Caves added: "I'm delighted that Canelo have faith in my writing and I'm really looking forward to working with them."

Let Her Go It is about a woman whose inability to have children causes her to take up an "unconventional offer" with unintended consequences. The London-based indie will publish a second novel by Barker in 2018 that will be a key title for their spring schedule.

Cullen said: “Dawn has a wonderful ability to evoke sympathy for her characters. Let Her Go is a book that stays with you long after reading as you reflect on what you may do in a similar situation to that described in the novel. Dawn will be a key author for Canelo in future and we’re looking forward to introducing readers to this exciting new voice in women’s fiction.”

Barker said: “I'm looking forward to working with the fantastic team at Canelo, which is such an exciting publisher. I’m thrilled that my books now have a home with them in the UK.”