HarperCollins signs romance writer Suzy K Quinn

HarperCollins Publishers has acquired a "gripping and darkly twisty" domestic thriller, Don’t Tell Teacher, and a second untitled novel, from author Suzy K Quinn.

Senior commissioning editor, Emily Kitchin signed world all languages rights in the two novels for HQ direct from the author.

The former Guardian journalist most recently self-published The Bad Mothers' Diary and Bad Mother's Holiday, romantic comedies that became Kindle bestsellers, and before this a range of books featuring forbidden romances in the Ivy Lessons series. According to HarperCollins, her books have now sold over half a million copies worldwide and have been translated into seven languages. 

Don’t Tell Teacher is about young mother Lizzie Riley, who moves away from London with her six-year-old son Tom for a fresh start after a difficult divorce. She enrols her son in the local academy school, based on its excellent reputation, thinking that he’ll be safe there from the clutches of her disturbed ex-partner. But there’s something strange going on at school: Tom starts coming home exhausted, unable to remember anything about his day and prone to uncharacteristic bouts of violence – and with mysterious bruises on his arm. Lizzie is convinced that Tom is in terrible danger – but when her past catches up with her, the questions is, can she protect him before something terrible happens?

Kitchin said Don't Tell Teacher represented "a fresh and surprising twist" on the domestic suspense genre whilst being "so nail-bitingly addictive that once you start reading you simply cannot stop until you’ve unravelled its dark secrets".

"As well as being wonderfully, shockingly twisty, it also explores themes of motherhood, domestic violence and mental health. I can’t wait to work with Su, whose publishing I’ve admired for a long time, and to swing our exciting plans into action," she said.

Quinn in turn paid tribute to Kitchin as "a talented, forward-thinking editor and really gets the modern book market". "I can't wait to see what HQ do with these books – I know they have found a good home," said Quinn.

Don’t Tell Teacher will be published in e-book in January and in paperback in July 2019.