Hachette Children's Group buys three tongue-in-cheek supernatural YA novels from debut author Felicity Epps

Hachette Children’s Group has acquired three YA books from debut author Felicity Epps.

The first, A Grave Inheritance, is a humorous, tongue-in-cheek approach to historical crime fiction, with a supernatural twist. It will publish in paperback in August 2025, followed by two further novels in the Society of Free Spirits series.

Jadene Squires, editor at HCG, acquired world translation rights in a three-book deal with Jessica Hare at The Agency.

After mysterious deaths in the family, a young woman inherits a fortune along with haunting visions of her deceased sister. Messages from beyond the grave all point to the same thing – murder. A society of underestimated heroines is poised to investigate.

Squires said: "Felicity has such a strong and witty narrative voice, I found myself immersed in her story from the first page – and I thought about it long afterwards. Combining ghostly occurrences, a classic detective-style murder mystery, a trio of underestimated women and even a love triangle, A Grave Inheritance is the perfect escape."

Fascinated by history and true crime, Epps is a UK-based children’s author living by the sea in Kent.