Harvill Secker snaps up Nesbo's 'page-turning' short stories

Harvill Secker has signed a “page-turning” first collection of short stories from bestselling author Jo Nesbo, with film rights already snapped up for two tales.

Publishing director Liz Foley acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Niclas Salomonsson at the Salomonsson Agency. The Jealousy Man & Other Stories will publish in hardback, e-book and audio on 30th September 2021. 

Film rights to the title story, “The Jealousy Man”, and another, “London”, have already been sold. Amazon Studio and Makeready, the production company behind drama “Queen & Slim”, have teamed up to develop the former, with screenwriter Roberto Bentivegna, and William Oldroyd attached to direct. Ben Stiller will direct Oscaar Isaac in an Eric Roth adaptation of  “London” for Lionsgate. Nesbo and Salomonsson are executive producers on both projects.

The publisher said: “Filled with dark intrigue, shocks and unforgettable characters, The Jealousy Man & Other Stories will have you reading late into the night.”

Nesbo is the bestselling creator of the Harry Hole series whose books have been published in 50 languages and sold 50 million copies worldwide, according to the publisher. In the UK, he has sold 4.04 million print copies through Nielsen BookScan for £23.8m, with his bestseller The Snowman, on 490,806 copies sold in paperback.

“It’s a thrill to see Jo at work in the short story form for the first time with this powerful and chilling collection,” said Foley.