Hartswood Films acquires TV rights to Louise Candlish thriller

Hartswood Films, the studio behind BBC1 success "Sherlock", has acquired television rights to The Sudden Departure of the Frasers by Louise Candlish.

The story, which Michael Joseph published in 2015, tells the story of a couple who buy their "forever home" on a "picture-perfect" suburban street, only to discover strange circumstances surrounding the previous owners' departure.

Luke Speed at Curtis Brown brokered the deal ahead of the publication of Candlish’s new novel, The Swimming Pool, which is out in paperback this week. The rights were bought by Elaine Cameron at Hartswood Films.

Maxine Hitchcock, head of fiction at Michael Joseph, said: "Louise Candlish has already captivated many readers with the dark goings-on in Lime Park Road. We can’t wait to see her sensational characters and their secret lives translated to the screen and know she will win even more fans."

Candlish is a bestselling author of 11 novels, who worked as an editor in art publishing and as a copywriter before becoming a writer. She moved to Michael Joseph from Little, Brown in May 2014. 

Candlish said: "I’m delighted that Hartswood have optioned The Sudden Departure of the Frasers. Amber Fraser is one of my favourite creations, an anti-heroine who has provoked a strong reaction in readers, and I can’t wait to see her brought to life on screen."