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Corvus pre-empts two cosy crime novels from début author Lucy Andrew
Corvus, an imprint of Atlantic, has pre-empted rights to two novels in a new Regency cosy crime series by début author Lucy Andrew.
Sarah Hodgson, publishing director of Corvus, acquired the UK and Commonwealth rights from Euan Thorneycroft at A M Heath. The first in the series, titled A Very Vexing Murder, reimagines Harriet Smith from Jane Austen’s Emma as a skilled con artist turned detective. Book two in the series will see Harriet Smith solve another murder in the Jane Austen universe.
A Very Vexing Murder was shortlisted for the Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers’ Prize 2022-23 in the Crime & Thriller category, was a finalist at Pitch Perfect 2023 at the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival and was highly commended in the Spread the Word Case Closed First Chapter competition 2023. It was also the runner-up in the A M Heath Crime Writing Prize this year.
Dr Lucy Andrew is a senior lecturer in English Literature at the University of Chester, where she teaches and researches crime fiction, children’s and YA fiction and creative writing.
Andrew said: "I’m delighted to be working with Sarah and Corvus on my novel. Their enthusiasm for the project and for Jane Austen blew me away and they will be the perfect home for Harriet’s investigations."
Hodgson said: "I haven’t had this much fun with a novel in ages! Lucy Andrew has created a hugely entertaining and page-turning Regency cosy crime romp. While fans of Austen will delight in the clever interweaving of the plot with the events of Emma, Lucy has done an outstanding job of ensuring that A Very Vexing Murder works brilliantly as a crime novel in its own right—no previous knowledge necessary. I couldn’t be happier that she has chosen Corvus as the home for these wonderfully witty tales."
