Constable pre-empts ‘addictive, page-turning’ début thriller by Zeno agent Pérez

Constable has pre-empted an “addictive” and “page-turning” début thriller by Kristina Pérez, literary agent at Zeno Agency.

Krystyna Green, publishing director at Constable, signed world rights excluding North America to The Many Lies of Veronica Hawkins from Alloy Entertainment.

Pitched as Big Little Lies (Penguin Michael Joseph) meets Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Many Lies of Veronica Hawkins is set in the rarefied and privileged world of Hong Kong’s monied elite, and asks the question: who was Veronica Hawkins, really?

The publisher’s synopsis continues: “When news of her shocking and unexpected death circulates around the island, narrator Martina Torres is left wondering just who her best friend was: scion of industry or vestige of colonialism? Tragic heiress or manipulative socialite? And… who would want her dead?”

Green said: “I was totally blown away by the addictive, page-turning quality of Kristina’s writing; the sights, smells and atmosphere of frenetic, glamorous Hong Kong are vividly evoked, where the relationship between the two women is brilliantly dissected.”

Pérez, who has previously been published in non-fiction, as well as authoring several YA novels, commented: “I have long been an admirer of the Constable list and I’m over the moon to make my adult fiction début with them.

“Steeped in my years reporting from China and Hong Kong, The Many Lies of Veronica Hawkins is a love letter to the city and a satire of the expat world, the power and the lies we tell ourselves. Krystyna is a smart and savvy publisher and she understood the heart of the story straight away. I am thrilled to be working with her and the incredible team at Little, Brown.”

Constable will publish The Many Lies of Veronica Hawkins as a trade hardback in April 2024 with a substantial marketing and publicity campaign planned.  

Alloy Entertainment is developing the property in TV with an eye towards a premium streaming service. Jessica Purdue is fielding all enquiries at jessica.purdue@hachette.co.uk.