Century snares Hindle's mystery novels in two-book deal

Century has snapped up two more crime novels from Tom Hindle, whose debut, A Fatal Crossing, has just been crowned Waterstones Thriller of the Month for August. 

Publishing director Emily Griffin acquired world rights including audio to The Murder Game and an untitled novel from Harry Illingworth at D H H Literary Agency.

The Murder Game is a contemporary locked-room crime novel centred around a killing which takes place at a murder mystery party in a crumbling country hotel on the Devon coast.

"In the seaside town of Hamlet Wick, guests assemble for a New Year’s Eve party to remember," the synopsis reads. "It’s a murder mystery evening with a 1920s twist, and everyone has their own part to play. But the game has barely begun when one of the guests is found dead – killed by a fatal injury to the head. With no phone signal and no way out of the house, the guests are trapped with a killer amongst them. Someone is playing by their own rules. Can the guests unmask the culprit before they strike again?"

"Seeing readers give A Fatal Crossing such a warm reception has been nothing short of incredible," he said. "I wrote this book as a passion project at my kitchen table, hardly daring to think that I’d finish it, let alone that folks might one day want to read it – to be announcing today that it’s featuring as Waterstones Thriller of the Month is beyond anything I could have imagined. Looking to the future, I’m proud to be teaming up with the brilliant team at Century on two more novels. I’ve been working hard to cook up a pair of mysteries just as thrilling as A Fatal Crossing and I can’t wait to see what readers make of A Murder Game when it hits shelves in February."

Griffin said: "The reader response to A Fatal Crossing has been incredible and Tom Hindle has outdone himself with this follow-up – which is three murder mysteries in one! With its stand-out concept, immersive setting, a cast of characters that leap from the page and fiendishly plotted twists, I have no doubt that readers will devour this in droves. This publication will be a major focus for Century in 2023 as we build on the exciting momentum ignited by Tom’s debut."

Century will publish The Murder Game in hardback in February 2023, with the paperback edition following later on in the year.