Canongate acquires 'breathless' crime novel from Parks

Canongate has acquired the next novel from Alan Parks, To Die in June, to publish on 25th May. 

Francis Bickmore, publisher at large, bought world rights in the English language from Isobel Dixon at the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency.

The latest instalment in the Harry McCoy Thriller series follows the McIlvanney prize-winning book May God Forgive (Canongate). In the new title, protagonist Harry McCoy is thrust into the case of a missing boy. 

The synopsis continues: “A woman enters a Glasgow police station to report her son missing but no record can be found of the boy. When Detective Harry McCoy, seconded from the cop shop across town, discovers the family is part of the cultish Church of Christ’s Suffering, he suspects there is more to Michael’s disappearance than meets the eye.

“Meanwhile, reports arrive of a string of poisonings of down-and-outs across the city. The dead are men who few barely notice, let alone care about but, as McCoy is painfully aware, among this desperate community is his own father.

“Even as McCoy searches for the missing boy, he must conceal from his colleagues the real reason for his presence—to investigate corruption in the station. Some folk pray for justice. Detective Harry McCoy hasn’t got time to wait.”

Bickmore described To Die in June as Parks’ most “brilliant, brutal and breathless” novel yet. Dixon said it goes from “nail-biting to heart-breaking with the turn of a page”. 

Parks added that he was looking forward to working with Canongate again. “To Die in June is Harry’s most difficult case yet, a case that takes its toll on him and the people around him. This time no one escapes unscathed”.

Parks worked in the music industry for over 20 years before turning to crime writing. His debut novel, Bloody January, was shortlisted for the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, February’s Son was nominated for an Edgar Award, Bobby March Will Live Forever was picked as a Times Best Book of the Year, won a Prix Mystère de la Critique Award and won an Edgar Award. The April Dead was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year and May God Forgive won the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2022. All titles are published by Canongate. Parks lives and works in Glasgow.